The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) plans to send eight to ten payloads, including experiments and prototypes, on Isro’s PSLV Orbital Experiment Module (POEM) in June. A national daily has reported that the payloads will be stabilised in orbit for at least seven days.
Interestingly, one of these prototypes is linked to Ahmedabad. Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) prototype, ideated by Gaurav Seth and Vinit Bansal, was developed by PierSight.
“An Ahmedabad-based company manufactured the printed circuit board (PCB). The equipment was tested at IN-SPACe in Bopal, and we received incubation support from IIMVentures. “Thus, Ahmedabad plays an integral role in this endeavour,” Seth, a former Isro scientist, told The Times of India.
According to the TOI report, the SAR prototype can be folded for transport and unfolded into three parts, each functioning as a small radar panel for advanced imaging.
PierSight, specialising in satellite-based maritime surveillance, has secured approximately Rs 58.02 crore in seed funding and earned rave reviews in its five-month existence. “Building on the prototype’s success, our final product aims for a 2-metre span of SAR,” Seth was quoted as saying.
Rajeev Jyoti, technical director of IN-SPACe, said, “The final selection of 8-10 payloads will be based on the performance evaluation and will be decided after a full cycle of deadlines.”
The In-Space chairman, Pawan Goenka, emphasised the importance of the In-Space Technical Centre in helping startups and industry test equipment against POEM’s system and provide insights into the issues facing space missions. Sensors, microsatellites, and antennas have all been used in previous POEM initiatives.
POEM was deemed successful by Isro Chairman S Somanath for testing novel and indigenous applications, ranging from payloads to satellites.
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