ISRO has recently launched several student related research project to expand the space science activities in the country. Kalamsat is the lightest and smallest satellite in the world

1. Kalamsat, The Lightest Satellite made by Student
• The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has recently launched the lightest and smallest satellite in the
world, Kalamsat, named after Indian former President APJ Abdul Kalam and built by a student start-up from
Chennai, Spacekidz as part of the science project.
• A new variant of PSLV- PSLVC44 will carry Kalamsat along with another earth imaging satellite, Microsat-R.
PSLVC44 will not only launch satellite but also act as a booster for more space experiments. ISRO wants to
launch the satellite from the first launch pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra
Pradesh.
• PSLV has four-stages of launching vehicle. In the current project, scientists have tried to utilize the fourth and
final stage of the launch vehicle by moving it to higher circular orbit and joining a power system, which will
stabilize it and keep it alive for minimum six months. Kalamsat will be that first satellite to use the fourth
stage as orbital platform
• In one of the major outreach programmes this year, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has recently
launched several student related research projects to expand the space science activities in the country.
Kalamsat, named after our former President APJ Abdul Kalam and built by a student start-up from Chennai,
Spacekidz is such a student based science project. Till date it is the lightest and smallest satellite in the
world.

2. A new variant of PSLV- PSLVC44 will carry Kalamsat along with another earth imaging satellite, Microsat-R. PSLVC44
will not only launch satellite but also act as a booster for more space experiments. ISRO wants to launch the satellite
from the first launch pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
Although similar kind of student satellite has been developed earlier in 2017 by the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration, US, it was put into sub-orbital flight. Now, this is the first time ever that such a satellite has been
launched into the orbital flight by ISRO.
PSLV has four-stages for launching vehicle. In the current project, scientists have tried to utilize the fourth and final
stage of the launch vehicle by moving it to higher circular orbit and joining a power system, which will stabilise it and
keep it alive for minimum six months. Kalamsat will be that first satellite to use the fourth stage as orbital platform.
• ISRO Chairman, K. Sivan while announcing the launch of Kalamsat in New Delhi said, “The main purpose of student
satellites is to enable students to conduct experiments in space. We see that students get involved in the whole
process of building the associated systems, including the satellite bust and power system, instead of concentrating
on the main science. We wanted to tell them that they can just bring their payload and we will plug in. All the
paraphernalia is available with us. Students should just focus on the science, experiment, research and innovation.”

3. ISRO chairman, Kailasavadivoo Sivan said, “In this mission, the fourth stage... will be moved to higher circular
orbit so as to establish an orbital platform for carrying out experiments.”
Based on the lines of a similar program run by NASA, interested students in space need to worry about
launches or rocket modules for their satellites and can concentrate on their experiments instead. These PS4
platforms provide their satellite both with platform and power.

4. Key Points
• The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has recently launched the lightest and smallest
satellite in the world, Kalamsat, named after Indian former President APJ Abdul Kalam and built
by a student start-up from Chennai, Spacekidz as part of the science project.
• In the Kalamsat project, scientists have tried to utilize the fourth and final stage of the launch
vehicle by moving it to higher circular orbit and joining a power system.
• This is the first time ever that such a satellite has been launched into the orbital flight by ISRO.
• ISRO wants to launch the satellite from the first launch pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre at
Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
• The main purpose of student satellites is to enable students to conduct experiments in space.
Published by Brainware University