Team Ababil, a group of students from Aviation and Aerospace University, Bangladesh (AAUB), has recently secured sixth place globally in the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) phase of the CanSat Competition 2025, organized by the American Astronautical Society (AAS) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

They are the first Bangladeshi team to qualify for the next phase, ranking first nationally and earning a spot among the top 40 teams worldwide, which includes 20 from the USA and 20 from other countries.

The CanSat Competition challenges university teams to design and build a can-sized satellite capable of collecting environmental data, deploying an autogyro and parachute descent system, and transmitting real-time telemetry to a ground station.

Team Ababil — led by Muhtasim Redwan and comprising Benzir Ahammed, Shafeen Ahmed, Moontaha Morshed, Md. Rafi, Md. Mahdi Kamal Alif, Md. Anwarul Islam Aion, and Md. Saymum Islam Siyam, alongside faculty advisor Md. Samin Rahman — developed an innovative design featuring a precise descent control system, sensor integration, and efficient power management. Their efforts earned them an impressive 98.2% score in the PDR phase, securing their place in the global top six.

While the team has received support from their university and the Bangladesh Air Force, they are seeking sponsorships and funding to cover material costs and travel expenses for the upcoming launch event.

Having cleared the selection round, Team Ababil will now compete in the final launch phase from June 5 to 8, 2025, in Virginia, USA. This stage will require them to deploy and operate their satellite in real-world conditions.