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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CDOSR Selected for 2026 Romanian CanSat National Competition – 7th Qualification in 8 Years
Oradea, Romania – March 2026 – CDOSR (CoderDojo Oradea Space Robotics) has been selected to compete in the 2026 Romanian CanSat National Competition, an ESA-affiliated challenge. This marks the team's seventh selection in the last eight years, a testament to their consistent excellence in space robotics education since the project began in 2018.
A Legacy of Student Innovation
Originating as a spin-off from the volunteer CoderDojo programming clubs, CDOSR is a student-led initiative where young engineers design and build space-grade hardware under the guidance of mentors. Their repeated success in the national finals highlights a sustainable model for STEM education in Oradea, producing a new generation of aerospace talent year after year.
The 2026 Mission: Glider-Parachute Hybrid
For this year's competition, the team is deploying a unique glider-parachute hybrid CanSat. Unlike traditional payloads that rely solely on parachutes for descent, CDOSR's device deploys as a fixed-wing glider after rocket ejection.
Mission Highlights:
- Autonomous Navigation: The CanSat uses GPS and inertial sensors to guide itself back toward the launch site, extending flight time significantly compared to a standard drop.
- Atmospheric Science: While gliding, the payload collects high-resolution vertical profiles of temperature, humidity, pressure, and air quality (VOCs) from 0 to 1,000 meters altitude.
- Real-Time Telemetry: Critical data is streamed live to the ground station via GSM, while full datasets are logged onboard for post-flight analysis.
"This selection validates our team's dedication to pushing the boundaries of what small-scale atmospheric platforms can achieve. By combining autonomous flight with scientific sensing, we are turning a recovery mechanism into a powerful data collection tool."
— CDOSR Team Representative
About the Competition
The Romanian CanSat National Competition is part of the European Space Agency's (ESA) global CanSat program. It challenges teams to design, build, and launch a miniature satellite (the size of a soda can) that simulates real space missions, integrating scientific instrumentation with reliable flight systems under strict weight and size constraints.
About CDOSR
CDOSR (CoderDojo Oradea Space Robotics) is an educational project based in Oradea, Romania. Active since 2018, the team operates as a volunteer-driven hub where students learn aerospace engineering through hands-on CanSat development.
Website: www.cdosr.space
Published: March 18, 2026