IIT satellite to be launched into space : (Jugnu)

The satellite designed by a group of students from IIT Kanpur in collaboration with scientists from the ISRO scientists is one of the smallest satellites built till date.

A satellite built by students of IIT Kanpur, 'Jugnu', was launched with the latest version of India's indigenous Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) by Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday.

The satellite designed by a group of students and teachers from the institute in collaboration with scientists from the ISRO scientists is one of the smallest satellites built till date.

Students, felt that they were given a golden opportunity to work on a project and got a chance to look at India's space research programme closely.

It took the team three years to give the satellite 'Jugnu' its final shape.

"This was a good experience for everyone. All of us got to learn a lot of things in the last three years. We got to meet with the scientists of ISRO, the chairman and the director as well," said Shantanu, a student.

"Apart from being knowledgeable, it was also a fun experience for us as we all worked together as a team. All of us performed as a team," he added.

Team Jugnu was upbeat about the fact that such a small satellite has been made with some of the latest technologies available.

"This satellite is of about three kilograms in weight. This satellite functions in just three watts of power. There are two small computers implanted into the satellite," said Professor Vyas, project head of 'Jugnu'.

"There is also an infra-red camera, a GPS (Global Positioning System) unit, an inertia measurement unit and also other things which have been put into a satellite for the first time, that too in such a small satellite. It is a complex system and it is a good platform to test small and micro technologies," he added.

Apart from 'Jugnu', the PSLV carried two other smaller satellites for launching into the orbit. This was ISRO's third rocket launch from India in 2011.

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U.S. SATELLITE “UARS” FALLS FROM THE SKY

 

NASA’S UARS Satellite and the U.S satellite Number 21701 launched in 12 September 1991 inside STS -48 falls back to Earth from the sky. NASA officials don’t know exactly where it will fall until about two hours before it enters the Earth’s atmosphere. Usually, satellites and payload modules disintegrate into smaller pieces as they enter the atmosphere, and the danger to people is not as high as one might imagine. 

 

 

The Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite, shown in this conceptual image, was launched in 1991 by space shuttle Discovery. The 35-foot-long, 15-foot-diameter UARS was decommissioned on December 14, 2005. The nearly 12,500-pound (5,668-kilogram) satellite will fall over a stretch of land more than 500 miles (804 kilometers) long somewhere between northern Canada and southern South America, said NASA officials. 

 

NASA expects the UARS to re-enter Earth's atmosphere in late September or early October but does not have a clear idea of where the satellite will fall until two hours before it enters the Earth’s atmosphere.
REUTERS/NASA/Handout

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