We are pleased to introduce ourselves as the Sapienza Space Team (https://www.sasa-aerospace.it/space-team/), a student-led team from Sapienza University of Rome, and part of SASA – the Sapienza Aerospace Student Association, a nonprofit organisation.

The team is divided into several subsystems:

• Mechanical Subsystem, responsible for studying aerodynamics and designing and constructing the structures and mechanisms;
• Flight and Ground Software, which develop the control systems for both the mechanical and electronic components;
• Electrical Subsystem, which selects the sensors (magnetometers, altimeters, gyroscopes, cameras, etc...) and designs the PCBs.

Our mission is to design and implement systems capable of simulating a full space mission, through the development and construction of a planetary probe that, once launched, must perform an autonomous atmospheric reentry. The probe - entirely designed and built by us - is launched aboard a rocket and tested at an altitude of approximately 600 meters.

To test our skills, we participate annually in the CanSat Competition (cansatcompetition.com), a prestigious aerospace engineering contest organized by the American Astronautical Society and sponsored by major organizations such as NASA, Lockheed Martin, and Siemens.

Over the past two years, we’ve proven our capabilities by placing in the top ranks. This year, thanks to our accumulated experience, we scored over 97% in the preliminary round, securing a spot among the top 20 international teams invited to launch their projects in the United States.

The activities of the Space Team represent a high-value, cross-disciplinary educational opportunity. Team members operate within a realistic engineering environment, learning to work collaboratively, meet tight deadlines, and communicate effectively across different areas of expertise—mechanical, electronic, software, and project management—while avoiding siloed approaches.

The constant engagement with complex technical challenges fosters problem-solving skills, adaptability, and critical thinking. The need to meticulously document every phase of the project (including the production of technical reports exceeding 300 pages, PDR, CDR, PFR) and to translate concepts into practical solutions that meet strict requirements—validated through rigorous environmental testing (thermal vacuum, vibration, shock)—helps to develop solid engineering competencies.

The team would be grateful to receive support from PCBWAY, as the complex systems it utilizes are of a manufacturing, IT, and electronic nature within the engineering field, aligning well with the company’s expertise.

Here is the probe that took part in the CanSat Competition 2024 (2025 coming soon with the launch in June, in Virginia, USA):

• Aerospace CarbonFiber 3DPrinting