Indonesian Students from PENS Shine at Global CanSat Competition

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia’s Bamantara EEPISAT Team from the Surabaya State Electronics Polytechnic (PENS) has once again showcased its global competitiveness, securing third place at the prestigious CanSat 2026 international aerospace technology competition.

The contest, organized by the American Astronautical Society (AAS) in collaboration with NASA, drew 40 university teams from around the world.

Indonesia’s achievement earned praise from Ambassador Indroyono Soesilo, who highlighted the importance of nurturing the inventive spirit of young Indonesians.

“The future of our nation lies in the hands of creative, innovative youth who can compete with the best globally,” he said in a statement from the Indonesian Embassy in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, June 10, as quoted by Antara.

CanSat challenges students to design, build, and operate a miniature satellite the size of a 350-milliliter soda can. Teams must integrate subsystems ranging from communications and sensors to power supply and parachute recovery.

During the mission on Sunday, June 7, the Indonesian team successfully launched its payload to an altitude of 714 meters. After fuel burnout, the payload deployed a paragliding descent system, followed by a secondary parachute to ensure a safe landing.

The mission’s success was confirmed when the sensitive cargo--an egg--remained intact, while onboard sensors transmitted real-time data on altitude, GPS position, and air pressure to a ground station three kilometers away.

The Bamantara EEPISAT team consists of Adam Kandias, Rafida Azis Al Habib, Ax’l Nurrahim, Lintang Arum Sari, Fatma Aliea Wibowo, Muhammad Tsaqif Mukhayyar, Muhammad Rizky, Immanuel Valentino Wibowo, Tsania Zahira Soffa, and Callista Salsabila Sugianto.

According to the Indonesian Embassy, the achievement underscores the ability of Indonesian students to compete in global aerospace innovation.

It also continues a strong track record: PENS secured third place at CanSat USA 2022 and improved to second place at CanSat USA 2023 in Virginia.

This consistency demonstrates Indonesia’s growing strength in aerospace technology, competing alongside teams from India, Türkiye, Mexico, Poland, and Argentina.

Beyond national pride, the success opens opportunities for future innovation and potential aerospace startups.

Looking ahead, Bamantara EEPISAT is preparing to represent Indonesia at an international rocket launch competition in Germany in 2027. ***