The National University of Mongolia is hosting the opening ceremony for the First National CANSAT contest aimed to launch the National Satellite today, Tuesday April 9th. The Contest is being organized by the Information and Communications Technology and Post Authority of Mongolia (ICTA) with the sanction of Prime Minister Norov Altankhuyag.

Opening the ceremony, the Prime Minister made a speech saying “Young Mongolian engineers will undoubtedly elevate Mongolia with their brilliance and capability in the modern world.” CANSAT is an abbreviation of the two terms “can” and “satellite”. CANSAT will be a satellite that will be suited in a can.

Such a satellite consists of only a GPS, censor to measure pressure and temperature, a tiny camera and only weighs 350 grams and can be fitted into a can.

CANSAT is launched using a rocket or air balloon. When it reaches a limited altitude it falls slowly with a parachute. During this time it can complete orders such as taking pictures, sharing information or analysis based on image and video.

Competing in the contest are 30 students with 6 teachers from the School of Physics and Electronics, the School of Information and Technology of the National University of Mongolia, the School of Communication and Information of MUST, the School of Computer and Information Technology of MUST, a team from the Defense University of Mongolia and the Mongolian State University of Agriculture.

The contest winners, when they are announced in August, will be given the opportunity to participate in the International CANSAT competition representing Mongolia.

Contest organizers plan to launch the first National Satellite by February 2014.

A joint team NUMSAT and GAINT from the School of Physics and Electronics of NUM and the School of Mechanical Engineering of MUST successfully participated in the 3rd international CANSAT competition that was held in Madrid, Spain in July 2012 for the first time from Mongolia.

A Mongolian team won 1st and 3rd place winning the “Gold Award” and “Bronze” in the telemetry category of the competition.