Not a day goes by without looking back on the successes and failures of the CanSat Competition. It defined much of our Year 10 experience - while others spent lunchtimes playing football in the playground, we were in Room 23, working tirelessly on our satellite-in-a-can. Evenings and weekends blurred into hours of teamwork, coding, soldering, and testing.

Among the most vivid memories were the drop tests from the MFL block windows, the drone trials at Northey, and the long, exhausting nights in our York dormitories spent troubleshooting and perfecting our CanSat. But perhaps the most unforgettable moment for every member of the team was CanSat Noctua UK’s trip to the Netherlands.

When the judges in York announced that the winning UK team would get the opportunity to visit the European Space Agency headquarters in the Netherlands, it hardly felt real. When our name was read out, it took a moment to sink in.

Mr Turner would need to organise an international trip. We were going to the Netherlands.

Even after the competition, CanSat remained very much alive. Three members of our team - Harry, Hayden, and Indivar of 10 Greyhound - had the privilege of presenting our project to education representatives from the Kingdom of Brunei. We showcased not only the CanSat itself, but also the poster that would represent our team at the ESA event.

On the 18th of June, after passports were scanned and bags packed, the CanSat UK team, along with Mr Turner and Mr Humphries, boarded the infamous SL7 bus. A few dozen rounds of Photo Roulette later, we arrived at one of the world’s busiest and most connected airport. London Heathrow Airport.

Security proved to be more eventful than expected. Multiple team members were selected for random pat-downs, but most memorable was Mr Turner’s bag check - his infamous card games were flagged, and each deck had to be searched. The Board Game Club host watched as his once-organised decks became a mess, but eventually we were cleared, and our journey truly began.

Upon arrival, we were welcomed to a dozen of teams from across Europe, and our first task was to give a short presentation introducing ourselves. We were the last to present, due to it being organised in alphabetical order, but each presentation was equally as interesting as the previous one, and in quick procession, all the presentations had been completed. We then were tasked with an Icebreaker activity, a bingo styled game where we had to learn and guess the fun facts about other teams. Many found our fun fact particularly interesting, with it being “During the competition, we were only pulled over once.” but if you wish to know more about this

story, I suggest you speak to our members in person. We will be more than happy to tell you about CanSat UK’s secrets which will not be revealed in this article.

Dinner that evening marked the start of friendships that, although short-lived, left a lasting impression.

The second day began by coach to ESTEC - the ESA’s engineering hub. We were given time to explore the campus, followed by a series of engaging talks.

The highlight of the day was the Concurrent Design Facility (CDF) task, where we were split into international groups to simulate the management and development of a space mission. My role was Programme Management - a task that involved coordination, decision-making, and navigating challenges, much like the real ESA engineers. The mission was the create a plan for a satellite mission, much larger than any CanSat mission, to detect solar flares near the Sun.

Later, we toured the ESTEC facilities, marvelling at full-scale satellite replicas. However, the most enjoyable part of this trip was the conversations we had with the other teams. Conversations with the international students shifted from satellites to saunas, from the education system to school house points. It was a fascinating cultural exchange beyond just science.

Our final day saw us return to ESTEC. We heard from Massimo Bandecchi, who delivered a stirring message: “You are Europe. You are ESA. You are the future.”

Then came the final presentations. The Systems Engineering team revealed the outcomes of the previous day’s CDF projects, including work from our own member, Avaneesh.

A CanSat-themed quiz brought out our competitive spirits one last time. But the mood soon shifted to something more bittersweet as we said our goodbyes. On the coach back, we sang French songs as well as English songs double our age (the Europeans seemed to really enjoy English songs from the 70s) with our new friends - many of whom we knew we’d never see again. It was undeniable that this was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Back at Heathrow, a final surprise awaited us: an invitation to visit the cockpit, a fitting close to our aviation-themed adventure. But as we stepped off the plane, the realisation hit us - we were no longer “Team UK.” We were just Sutton Grammar Students again. However, it was important to remember. We would always be members of CanSat Noctua UK, proudly representing the United Kingdom internationally.

For CanSat Noctua UK, this may have been the last step of the journey - but the launchpad for what comes next has only just been built.

If it wasn’t for Harry Kirk asking me if I was going to ‘the Physics Competition’ meeting, a meeting that I had disregarded on Satchel One as I did not feel like I was good enough at Physics, I wouldn’t be here today. I chose to skip a wonderful lunch

in the summer heat of Year 9, and that decision has given me experiences I will never forget. Take opportunities. You never know what may come from them.

So, as I write my final article, I will sign off for the last time. This was Hayden Lo. Outreach Lead for CanSat Noctua UK. Thank You for supporting us in this journey.

By Hayden Lo