Turkish universities to compete in int'l model satellite contest

By Gokhan Ergocun</p> <p>ISTANBUL (AA) – Three Turkish universities, which showed great success in the pre-selection stage online, will represent Turkey at CanSat model satellite competition in the U.S.’s state of Texas in June.</p> <p>While Istanbul Technical University's (ITU) APIS team ranked first in the pre-selection stage of the competition, two more Turkish universities were among top 10 teams.</p> <p>CanSat, one of the prestigious space technologies competition, will be organized by the American Astronomical Society (AAS) with the collaboration of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). </p> <p>In the pre-selection stage this year, the competition saw the participation of the 93 world-known universities such as Manchester, California, Arizona State, Degli Studi Di Roma La Sapienza, and Virginia Tech.</p> <p>Aykut Uctepe, leader of ITU APIS’ Research and Development Team, said his team has made all calculations and designs carefully.</p> <p>&quot;We used domestic and foreign sources for our model satellite, most of our materials were locally sourced,&quot; he noted. </p> <p>He underlined that if the investment would be made in youth correctly, young people can improve themselves.</p> <p>Muzaffer Duysal, the leader of Zonguldak Bulent Ecevit University's Grizu-263 Uzay Team that came in fifth in the pre-selection stage, said the team has made several tests and that they are looking forward to win the competition.</p> <p>&quot;Our team was the second in the last year's competition due to our tests,&quot; he stressed. </p> <p>He said his team made the model satellite without professional support and used local sources mostly.</p> <p>Kaya Tarik Seker, the spokesman of Istanbul Medeniyet University's Thread Team which came in seventh in the pre-selection stage, noted his team made an original design with local materials.</p> <p>&quot;Turkey is developing technology day-by-day with supports of its universities,&quot; he added.