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ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet has the pleasure to announce a new challenge for students 16 years old and under from all ESA Member States*. Thomas is looking forward to his upcoming Proxima mission, but before flying to the International Space Station (ISS), he would like to invite you to take part in the 2016/2017 European Astro Pi Challenge.
Send your code to space!
On board the ISS there are two Astro Pi computers - Ed and Izzy. One of these Astro Pis is available for use by Thomas and can run computer codes developed by…you! Watch Thomas Pesquet’s message here
Ed, one of the Astro Pis in space
What is an Astro Pi?
Astro Pi is the name given to the specially adapted educational Raspberry Pi computers which are on board the International Space Station. The Raspberry Pi is a computer much like the computers that you use every day, except that Raspberry Pi is much smaller and has a different package! The two Raspberry Pis on board the ISS are equipped with a Sense HAT that will allow you to sense movement, measure humidity, temperature and pressure, and detect radiation. All of this while interacting with a joystick and buttons just like a videogame console! Each Astro Pi is also equipped with a different kind of camera: Izzy has a camera that can ‘see’ in infrared, and Ed has a standard visible spectrum camera.
Ed is ready and anxious to run your code. What are you waiting for?
Astro Pi inside its flight case
What do you have to do?
First, you need to be curious about space exploration and life on board the ISS, and submit a mission plan that will give you and your class the chance to win an Astro Pi kit. Then you and your team will have to solve a specific challenge that Thomas will prepare. This solution will be in the form of Python programs, written and tested by you using your own Astro Pi computer ! ESA will send the best codes to Thomas and Ed on board the ISS and they will send back the results of the selected experiments.
Inside the Astro Pi kit you will find a Raspberry Pi computer similar to the one in the European Columbus module on the ISS. The kit you can win will also come equipped with a Sense Hat, two cameras – although these are not available for use in this year’s challenge – and all the components you need to assemble your flight case.
Not an expert in coding? Don’t worry! ESA will provide you with educational resources that explain how to use and write code for Astro Pi, and that will provide you with ideas for using Raspberry Pi in the classroom. Teachers will also have the opportunity to attend the Astro Pi workshops and webinars.
You can even start trying to use the Sense HAT yourself. Explore what it can do by using this web-based emulator especially designed for the Sense HAT.
Who can take part?
Students 16 years and under from an ESA Member State*. You have to enter as a team, and teams must be supported by at least one teacher.
How do you enter?
The challenge is organised in two different phases. In the first phase, teams have to register online and submit their mission plan (you can download it here). The first phase ends on 1 November 2016.
Teams from France should register through the Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES). (In French)
Teams from Poland should register directly through ESERO Poland. (In Polish)
Teams from other ESA Member States should register and upload their mission plan here. (All entries must be submitted in English).
In the second phase, Thomas will announce the challenge and selected teams will write and test their code solution. This phase will be open from 15 November 2016 until 28 February 2017.
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