The ‘Youth and Science’ programme brings the world of space to young Catalans with the IEEC
From 24 June to 6 July, the project ‘Small satellites to change the world’ immersed 10 young people from 4th ESO in the world of space. The initiative, which is part of the Catalunya La Pedrera Foundation’s ‘Youth and Science’ programme to promote scientific vocations, provides, every year, an overview of the opportunities offered by space and the various applications of nanosatellites through a series of workshops, talks and activities.
A team from the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC — Institut d’Estudis Espacials de Catalunya) accompanied the students at all times in this experience, carried out at the MónNatura Pirineus centre. The activity is framed within the Talent and Society axis of the NewSpace Strategy of Catalonia promoted by the Government of Catalonia, and also has the collaboration of the association GoSTEM.
Thus, the first block of the project allowed participants to explore NewSpace and Earth observation to learn about research and applications in this field. This part included a workshop of the Cartographic and Geological Institute of Catalonia (ICGC), as well as talks and activities on space communications, the Internet of Things (IoT) and satellite navigation systems (GNSS), among others.
The second block focused on designing, building, testing and launching two ‘analog’ missions (simulations of missions in real conditions) of nanosatellites with different objectives. The participants applied the knowledge acquired during the previous days to launch a High Altitude Balloon (HAB) with all its subsystems.
Finally, the third block dealt with the analysis of the probe’s flight data to draw the appropriate conclusions and check the validity of the hypotheses posed before the launch. All in all, they were able to prepare the presentation of their project with the results obtained, which they shared with the fellow participants from other ‘Youth and Science’ projects, their families, and the teaching and research staff.
The IEEC team, made up of Paula Lomascolo Pujadó, Talent and Society coordinator at the Area for the Promotion of the Space Sector of Catalonia (APEC); Lluís Foreman Campins, project engineer at the APEC; and Jan Gómez Escoda, research engineer, shared their knowledge about the space world with the youngsters and guided them through the activities.
During the stay, the students also enjoyed talks from various associations and organisations, such as SPASCAT, Women4Space, UPC Space Program and Hypatia Mars Association, among others.
This experience corresponds to the first phase of the Youth and Science project. Next summer, the same students will enjoy a stay in a research centre in Catalonia to continue discovering the world of aerospace research.
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