Who We Are

We are UC Irvine CanSat, a vibrant and enthusiastic student engineering team. Our team is composed of a diverse blend of passionate students unified under one mission: to excel in the International CanSat competition. This annual student design-build-launch event, spearheaded by the American Astronautical Society (AAS), provides an opportunity for us to experience the entire development cycle of a small satellite – from conceptual design through integration and testing, to real-world operation and post-mission summary. Last year, we placed 11th in the World and 4th in the United States out of over 100 participating teams. The previous year we placed 9th in the World and 3rd in the United States. 

            CanSat Members at the International CanSat Competition.

Our 2026-27 Goals

The requirements of the 2027 International CanSat Competition are to safely deploy a PocketQube stored in the container and read telemetry from both pods simultaneously during descent. We will also be participating in the optional Mark Walker competition where teams create a physical ground station that is judged on both functionality and creativity. 

Our goal for this year is to create robust structures with failsafes to ensure that all electronics function properly throughout flight and our mechanisms actuate at desired altitudes. Beyond the competition, we want all members of the team to see how the topics they learn in class can be applied to a real-world application project. 

We also want them to gain experience with skills that will be applied for the rest of their engineering careers, including engineering design, interdisciplinary communication and project management. With your support, we can give our team the best experience and prepare them well for the competition and their future careers. 

                    ..........2025 Dean's Choice Award Winner!

Where CanSat Graduates Are Now

Interdistrict Graduates from our program are making meaningful contributions at top-tier companies, utilizing the technical expertise, problem-solving abilities and teamwork skills cultivated during their time on the team to address complex industry challenges.

Our alumni have continued their engineering careers at the following organizations: Amazon, Anduril Industries, Applied Medical, Boeing, Epic Systems, Google, LG Electronics, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Panasonic Avionics, Parker Aerospace, Qualcomm, Tesla, TP-Link Systems, K2 Space, The Walt Disney Company and more!

We are proud that this project has taught our members hands-on experience with engineering problems and helped prepare them for success in any industry field. 

                        AntSat - 2025 Competition Satellite Payload

Where Your Donations Are Going

We are raising funds to cover materials, testing and travel and we would be incredibly grateful for your support. Your contribution allows us to put our best foot forward at the competition. Every dollar you donate directly funds:

• Materials and Components: Each year brings new competition guidelines, which means designing and building an entirely new payload with specialized materials and sensors.
• Testing and Optimization: Airspace regulations in Irvine prevent us from conducting proper flight tests. Your support helps us build reliable lab testing setups that replicate launch-day conditions and ensure our payload's success.
• Travel Expenses: The competition is held in Virginia. Your donations help cover our team's flights, lodging and transportation to and from the launch site.
  
  

Join Our Journey

Supporting UC Irvine CanSat means investing in the future of aerospace and satellite technology. Your donation means the world to us.

If you’d like to sponsor or partner with us or contribute in other ways, please reach out to us.

Check out our website, stay connected with us on Instagram and LinkedIn or contact us directly by emailing our Project Manager at huynha20@uci.edu. Be sure to send us your email if you'd like to be included in our newsletter!