In a massive step to accelerate student innovation, Marwadi University (MU), the youngest institution to be recognized as a Centre of Excellence (CoE) by the Government of Gujarat, signed a MoU today with the Indian Technology Congress Association (ITCA). The aim is to develop and launch student-built satellites into orbit under the aspirational and ambitious 75 Students’ Satellites Mission 2022 in collaboration with Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). A special space lab will be set up at the University with INR 1.9 crore funding by the university itself.
This will be the first student satellite to be launched from Gujarat. The satellite being built under the Mission by MU students and faculty will have a mass of 1300 grams and a payload of 260 grams. The mission’s purpose is to educate students on how to design, develop, manufacture, integrate, test, launch, and monitor SmallSats through a hands-on paradigm.
The 75 Students’ Satellites Mission 2022 aims to have students pursuing higher education build and launch small satellites (SmallSats) into low earth orbit. It envisioned 75 satellites being launched to commemorate the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, with 75 notable institutions deploying their student-built SmallSats.
The collaboration leverages the immense opportunities presented to students by a growing space-tech industry. The global small satellite market is currently valued $325 billion,
and is projected to reach $1371 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 16.4%. As per reports, India’s space sector stands at only $7 billion, out of the $447 billion global space economy in 2020 and has a vast potential for employment and entrepreneurship.
“At MU, we are excited to offer our students emerging opportunities in deeper tech cultures and multidisciplinary learning in NewSpace. Only 12 institutions so far have been able to build and launch their own satellites. This opportunity puts MU in the league of some of the very top institutions in India and abroad. This will help to attract bright teaching and learning talent, as well as add value with respect to learning and research outcomes, placements, and better NBA/NAAC/NIRF scores” shares Prof. Sandeep Sancheti, Provost, Marwadi University.
The Space Lab will teach Satellite Communications in real-time in-orbit. The data collected from the ground station can be processed with AI-ML algorithms to predict the necessary information required, which can also be shared with other stakeholders like industries or the government. The Mission 2022 will provide science-based education and experience-based learning to students with mentoring by ITCA’s renowned SpaceTech team, strengthening skills in systems engineering and project management.
“This Mission’s science-based approach and experience-based learning would build a culture of innovation in the country in alignment with the NEP 2020. These NewSpace skills would be of significant value to the students and would also enhance the education and research levels of the institution. We are glad to onboard Marwadi University as a participating institution with proven design and launching capabilities. The program will build and sharpen students’ skills in design, development, manufacture, integration, testing, launch, and monitoring of small satellites,” says L.V. Muralikrishna Reddy, President, ITCA.
