Wildfire Prediction and AI Analysis with Can-Sized Satellites: "Small Space" Project Launched by Students

181 Teams Compete in Can Satellite Contest

Gyeonggi Science High School and Kyung Hee University Win Grand Prize

Technology that can predict the spread of wildfires and analyze the ground using artificial intelligence (AI) has been applied to a small satellite the size of a beverage can. These are some of the ideas that emerged from the "2026 Can Satellite Competition," where high school and university students design, build, and compete in satellite mission execution.

The Korea Aerospace Administration (KASA) announced on September 11 that it held the "2026 Can Satellite Competition Awards Ceremony" at the Satellite Technology Research Center at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) in Daejeon.

The Canvas team, the best team in the Creative Department (university students), developed Can Satellite. Can Satellite is an educational satellite that simplifies satellite components and is implemented at the size of a beverage can. It falls from a few hundred meters above the ground (300 to 500m) using a small rocket and performs a series of pre-planned tasks just like a real satellite. Provided by the Korea Aerospace Administration (KASA)

This year's competition included 181 teams: 127 teams of high school students in the Wisdom Division and 54 teams of university students in the Creative Division. After a document review in May, presentation evaluation in July, and the final round and presentations in August, a total of 10 teams—5 from each division—were selected as award recipients.

The grand prize, the Korea Aerospace Administration Director's Award, was awarded to the "meCANic" team from Gyeonggi Science High School and the "Canvas" team from Kyung Hee University. The Gyeonggi Science High School team implemented a mission using a can satellite to predict the path of wildfires and to identify optimal locations for water drops. The Kyung Hee University team carried out an "onboard AI" mission, where the AI on the satellite directly classified ground cover and selectively transmitted only essential data.

The Excellence Award, the KAIST President's Award, went to the "CanWeStar?" team from Chungbuk Science High School and the "Ddalgi Jam" team from Yongin Hankuk Academy of Foreign Studies at the high school level, and to the "LANDER" team from Yonsei University and the "ALL-STEP" team from Inha University at the university level. The Encouragement Award, the Korea Aerospace Research Institute President's Award, was given to the "Yes I CAN" team from Hanmin High School, the "Bbyiyung" team from Daegu Science High School, and the "RECON" and "CanSar" teams from the Korea National University of Hanbat.

The can satellite is an educational satellite designed in the size of a beverage can. Participating students directly define their mission, design and manufacture the satellite, and operate it, providing experience with the fundamental processes of actual space development. The competition, launched in 2012 to increase student interest in aerospace, was held for the 15th time this year.

Tae seog Oh, head of the Korea Aerospace Administration, said, "This is a valuable opportunity for students to experience the entire process of space development by setting up their own missions, building satellites, and carrying out those missions. We will continue to expand opportunities for young people and university students to experience space first-hand and to realize their dreams."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.