A CanSat is a type of miniaturized satellite. In CanSat competitions, it's required to fit inside of a soda can (66mm diameter and 115mm height) and have a mass below 350g.[1] Antennas can be mounted externally, but the diameter can't increase until the CanSat has left the launch vehicle. The CanSats are deployed from small rocket at height of 610 meters.[2] CanSats are equipped with a recovery system, usually a parachute, to limit damage upon recovery and to allow the CanSat to be reused. CanSats are used to teach space technology, because of their inexpensive price and small volume.
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CanSat competitions are conducted in Europe, the United States and Japan.
In the United States, the CanSat design-build-launch competition is organized by the American Astronautical Society and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Other sponsors of the competition include the Naval Research Laboratory, NASA, AGI, Orbital Sciences Corporation, Praxis Incorporated, and SolidWorks.[3]
The European Cansat Competition is organized by the European Space Agency and this contest is for high school students.