CanSat News: FloraSat Visit Sydenham Gardens

CanSat team, FloraSat, are trying to single-handedly rewild the UK through ‘bluebells and a lot of physics’.  

CanSat is a national competition run by the European Space Agency, in which teams must design and launch a mini model satellite that fits into the dimensions of a standard soda can.  

The challenge for students is to fit all the major subsystems found in a satellite, such as power, sensors and a communication system, into this small dimension. 

The FlorSat team will launch a Can with the primary mission of measuring Pressure, Altitude, Temperature and Humidity during its descent. Secondary to this mission, they want to determine the viability of a plant species in a specific area, by ejecting a seed-ball of Bluebells from their Can as it is in the air, before monitoring the long-term development of the plants via a camera system.  

As part of their work, FloraSat recently visited nearby Sydenham Gardens looking for insights and information for their CanSat project. Sydenham Garden is a unique wellbeing centre that utilises its gardens, nature reserve and activity rooms to help people in their recovery from mental and physical ill-health in Lewisham. 

There, the FloraSat team talked to the Garden Project Lead, who explained how the Sydenham Garden project has developed over time, and their work to improve biodiversity and mental health in the area. While onsite, FloraSat collected soil samples from different areas, which will be used in the testing of their can’s sensors.   

The visit to Sydenham Garden was helpful for FloraSat, as the core operations of the Garden closely overlap with FloraSat's secondary CanSat mission of improving biodiversity. It was a good chance for the team to connect with the local community, and importantly, gather learnings (and soil) that they will be using in their CanSat project. 

Well done Esmé, Zach, Alex, Esther, Mani and Zoe of FloraSat! 

Follow the FloraSat journey on Instagram via @f1orasat