A number of universities across the country have expressed interest in building satellites and have sent proposals to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) after the success of StudSat, which was built by engineering students and was launched last month.
Engineering students from about 25 universities in the country have approached ISRO to help them develop small satellites and also provide a free launch pad. However, ISRO is unable to accommodate as it already has four student satellites lined up for launch until next year.
Project Director of Small Satellites, ISRO, Raghav Murthy said, "We have been receiving letters, phone calls and proposals from students who want to build their own satellites. Our task is now to review them."
Most of the students who have approached the agency intend to build, either a nano-satellite that weighs between 1 to 10 kg or a micro-satellite weighing in the range of 10 to 100 kg.
The student satellites lined up for launch by ISRO are Jugnu of the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur and Pratham of Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay and other two from Satyabhama University and SRM University.
IIT Kanpur's `Jugnu' will be equipped with a near-infrared imaging system and weigh around five kg while `Pratham' from IIT Bombay will be a 10-kg satellite and will have a `total electronic content' measuring instrument.
Jugnu aims to study the near infrared region, Pratham's will measure total electron content in the ionosphere. The satellites of the students of Satyabhama and SRM are aimed at measuring the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of lower earth orbit.
Mr. Murthy further said that the satellites will cost eh universities about Rs. 1 crore and will be launched by the end of 2011. He pointed out the benefits of small satellites by saying that they can be useful in training students and one launch vehicle can launch multiple small satellites.
He said that it is encouraging to see the level of interest about space technology on the rise in the country. The while experiment of developing and then seeing the satellite in orbit offers a great experience to the students, he expressed.
