The Regional Director for Science and Technology stated that the CanSat competition gives students and teachers in the archipelago the opportunity to "have a close contact" with an aerospace project that "replicates a real operation scenario."

Nelson Simões spoke at Capelas Vocational Training School during the opening session of the training course for the teachers that will be part of the teams of the 16 Azorean schools competing in CanSat Açores 2015.

Integrated in the educational programme of the European Space Agency (ESA), this competition is addressed at students attending secondary schools and vocational training schools. Participants will have to build a working model of a microsatellite that will be about the size of a soda can.

The training course for teachers, which runs until Saturday, will be held at Capelas Vocational Training School, Santana Astronomical Observatory and João Paulo II Observatory.

Aerospace techniques, parachute technology, material mechanics, rocket launch, telemetry and antennas, and electronic welding are some of the subjects that will be taught in the training course by six specialised technicians, guided by a TAP pilot.

Nelson Simões revealed that this training course will be concluded with a test flight of CanSat aboard a plane.

The Regional Director for Science and Technology pointed out that "the Azores already have a long tradition in these competitions," emphasising that "the teachers who won the European CanSat 2013 competition will be part of the teams in competition.

"This competition represents the effort the Azores made in space technologies and shows the potentialities of the Region in this area," Nelson Simões said, conveying his belief that CanSat Açores 2015 be "a success."

"It is very important that students become motivated to develop space-related activities from an early age," defended the Regional Director.

The final phase of CanSat Açores 2015 will take place on the island of Santa Maria on April 18 and 19. The winning team of this regional competition will have the opportunity to participate in the national edition of CanSat, scheduled for early May.