Waikato CanSat Challenge

This competition involves the design, build and launch of a soda can-sized rocket payload and offers a unique opportunity for students to apply their classroom knowledge to real-world challenges.

The challenge is open to teams from secondary schools and home-school groups.  Teams must be able to design and build a space-type system, following the approved compeition guide, and then compete against other teams on launch day to determine the winners.  Rockets will be provided by the University, but teams are responsible for funding the construction of their CanSat and all Travel/accommodation expenses.

Launch day is 7th September 2025 (weather permitting) at the Orini launch site.

This programme is supported by the University of Waikato, and the University of Waikato Astronautics Club with the assistance of the New Zealand Rocketry Association (NZRA)

• Hands-on learning: Engage your students in a hands-on, practical application of their STEM education.
• Rocket science experiment: Gain valuable experience in the field of aerospace engineering.  This challenge provides a rare chance for students to work on a project that involves actual rocket launches.
• Build key skills:  Problem solving, teamwork and critical thinking skills are encouraged as students collaborate to overcome the unique challenges presented by the CanSat competition.

1. Assemble your team of enthusiastic students (maximum of 10) with an interest in mathematics, science and technology. click on the link above to register your team.
2. Complete your registration:  Registrations close on Tuesday 20th May 2025
3. Imagine: Get together with your team to design a CanSat that will achieve the mission requirements.
4. Bring your design to life:  Work with your team to build and test your CanSat - a miniature payload housed in a standard-sized beverage can.  Teachers play a crucial role as mentors and in guiding students through the design, construction and testing phases.  Entries are reviewed by our experts and entrants given feedback at several stages during the process.
5. Launch: the culmination of the CanSat Challenge - Flight Day!  On 7th September 2025 (weather permitting), from the Orini launch site, students can watch their creations soar into the skies on one of the University of Waikato's rockets and complete their missions.

Costs

• Entry fee $50
• Materials - approx $200 - $500 all up
  (but see below support for the first 10 teams who register).

Note: Any transport or other costs are the responsibility of the participating schools.

We will provide each team with:

• Zoom sessions with one of our rocket experts, including tips on design, technical support and problem-solving.
• Feedback and updates at various points during the design process helping ensure your team has a successful mission.
• For the first 10 teams who register, we will cover the materials cost, including an Arduino-based flight computer to a maximum of $300, to get you started. We can make these flight
  computers available at cost to other teams.

CanSats that meet the technical requirements will be launched on one of our rockets to an altitude of around 1 km. As the Cansat descends, its mission to take measurements and transmit the data back to earth, begins.

Links to other resources:

• Entry form - 2025
• CanSat Mission Guide 2025 (download pdf)
• Competition Calendar 2025 (download pdf)
• Promotional flyer CanSat 2025 (download pdf)
• Preliminary design concepts (pdf)

This is the coversheet and specifications for the Preliminary Design Concepts.  It should be a short summary of the first design meetings and the report should be 5 to 10 pages long, including hand-written notes and hand-drawn figures.

• Proposed Arduino Kit for Schools

We would like to thank the following for their assistance:

• New Zealand Rocketry Association (NZRA)
• Reliable Rocketry
• Aerospace Education
• Van Tiel Pyrotechnics