The first phase of the Azerbaijan National Satellite Innovation Competition has been started

On January 22, 2025, the official launch of the national phase of the “Azerbaijan National Satellite Innovation Competition” took place for the first time in Azerbaijan, with the participation of 650 schoolchildren selected from 41 general education institutions. The competition is organized by the Azercosmos’ SPACE Academy, with the support of the State Agency for Preschool and General Education, the Institute of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Innovation and Digital Development Agency, Pasha Holding, the Brazilian Space Agency, and Brazil's “IDEIA Space”company. 

The opening ceremony was attended by students participating in the competition, representatives of the State Agency for Preschool and General Education, the Institute of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Brazilian Space Agency, and the Brazilian “IDEIA Space” company, international partners, school principals, facilitator teachers, and project coordinators. The event participants were provided with detailed information about the goals and objectives of the competition, the participation rules for each phase, and the process for executing and approving tasks. This competition aims to increase students' interest in space technologies, develop their scientific and practical skills, and strengthen their innovative thinking abilities.   

Within the framework of the “Azerbaijan National Satellite Innovation Competition,” teams of 650 students from 41 secondary schools of the country will prepare their model satellites. The main goal of the competition is to create conditions for launching the 101st PocketQube pico-satellite, developed by Azerbaijani schoolchildren, into low Earth orbit via a carrier rocket.  

The national phase of the competition will cover the 2025-2026 academic year and will consist of 3 main stages:

First stage:

• Training of trainers on scientific methodology,
• Presentation of the space environment and contextualization of topics,
• Recognition of satellites and initial design stages,
• Student presentations.  
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Second stage:

• Research on satellite on-board computers,
• Satellite control and communication methods in orbit,
• Study of space energy systems,
• Application of ground stations and other practical tasks,
• Selection of stage winners.

Third stage:

• Investigation of the requirements for space projects,
• Working with telemetry and communication of orbital satellites,
• Integration and testing stages,
• Final presentations and selection of the overall winner.  

This project aims to increase students' interest in science and technology, ensuring their participation in international space research. Organizing this competition is an important step to demonstrate the potential of Azerbaijani schoolchildren at the global level and to strengthen the country's position in the field of space.