Chennai students climb sky high

Students and faculty members of Sathyabama University had tears in their eyes as they watched their pet project fly high, literally. Their 1.5 kilo satellite ‘Sathyabamasat’ was one of the 20 satellites launched by ISRO on Wednesday at Sriharikota. The satellite that has been built to collect data on greenhouse gases is now successfully orbiting the earth and its creators are simply overjoyed!

It’s been 48 hours since its launch and it is indicating good health parameters. “The students and faculty who were involved in the project are busy tracking the satellite at the down station. They are thrilled and proud of their achievement. It’s no simple feat,” beams the proud Vice Chancellor of Sathyabama University Dr B. Sheela Rani.

The project was launched in 2010 by the then students and staff. And it took six years to complete the satellite and ensure there weren’t any defects. “The children designed the satellite themselves with the support of the faculty and were working with a few scientists from ISRO. It was a great learning experience for all. We were very careful while designing it, since it is a nano satellite and had many other limitations,” she adds.

The team had to face lots of rejections and failures for the first three years. “We were closely collaborating with the ISRO and they had high expectations. Each task was challenging for anything can be done on the ground, but doing something connected with space is completely different. ISRO had proper requirements and that helped us give our best,” Sheela Rani reminisces.

She thanks the late Jeppiaar for all the support. “He is the man behind it. Also, the directors of the University Dr Mariazeena Johnson and Regeena Wilson were very supportive.”

Nihal Reddy, the student-in-charge, cannot contain his happiness. Though his seniors started the project in 2010, Nihal and team joined the group only in June 2015. “Our seniors had a particular design and they’ve shared every detail of the project with us juniors. We worked on the project for nine months and that was the most crucial stage,” he says.

The team has made two models — engineering or the qualification model and the second is the flight model. “We conducted many tests on the satellite and had to make it perfectly tolerable to the conditions in space. Over 40 students and seven staff members were involved in the project from day one,” Nihal says, adding that the last nine months were crucial for the entire team. “We had to concentrate on academics and also had to find time to work on the project. Without the support of the college management, nothing was possible.”

Presently the team is busy tracking down the satellite at the down station. “We are receiving the beacon signal and the satellite is showing good health parameters, so far. Sathyabamasat will have a six-month life and we will decommission it if it does not work post six months.”

The final year engineering student says that one of the best moments during the whole process was after clearing the critical design review by ISRO. Project head Dr K Vasanth says,  “I am so glad that we could successfully put the satellite into the right orbit. The students and faculty are equally thrilled. This will definitely pave the way for a career in space technology.”

Students used to come up with 25-30 ideas and it was the duty of the faculty to select the best five. “They were very keen in making the satellite and were very enthusiastic about it. It was a good learning ground, both for students and teachers."

He also says that team had two major problems – sharing of knowledge and students’ exams. “Each year, the students and the faculty have to pass on the details of the project to their respective juniors. Also, students had to concentrate on their academics as well. But with the support of the management, everything went well,” he says adding that it was mentally and physically challenging. “ISRO wants the satellite with zero defects and they keep on pushing us to come up with perfect output. Eventually, we became quick learners. It was physically demanding for the faculty and students and we used to be continuously working on the project day-in and day-out.”