At precisely 9:18 am, August 7, ISRO launched the AzaadiSAT made by 750 school girls from India to celebrate 75 years of Independence. The 750 girls from several parts of the nation have created history by creating a small 8 kg weighing microsatellite which will carry 75 small payloads developed at 75 schools across the nation. The all-girls project was kicked off six months ago and Sunday saw its successful fruition. ISRO’s SSLV (Small Satellite Launch Vehicle) was launched for its first ever spaceflight from the Sriharikota base. This also makes it ISRO’s smallest rocket launch. The SSLV (small satellite launch vehicle) is 34 m tall and 34m tall, about 10m less than the PSLV and it has a vehicle diameter of two metres as compared to 2.8 metres of PSLV.
It may be recalled that on August 15, 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an announcement that the Tricolour will be unfurled in space during India’s 75th year of Independence. The same is about to come true. Besides its scientific and flight instruments on board, the rocket will also carry a few special packages. Among them is the Indian tricolour, which will be unfurled in space to mark the India’s 75th year of Independence.
To mark country’s celebrations of Azaadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the SSLV will have a co-passenger satellite, “AzaadiSAT,” comprising 75 payloads built by 750 young girl students from 75 rural government schools across India.
What is AzaadiSAT?
“AZAADISAT” is a satellite mission with the ambitious vision to encourage Government school children (from economically weak backgrounds) with the basic understanding and knowledge of space and tutor them to build a small experiment and launch it to the edge of space through a “Balloon Satellite” or through an “Orbital Satellite”,” the Government’s brief reads.
How 750 Girls Took Part in AzaadiSAT Program?
For the initiative, 75 government schools for girls across nation were selected. From each school, a total of 10 girl students were selected to take part in the opportunity. The students were selected from Class 8 to Class 12 for the first of its kind space mission to provide an opportunity for women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). The mission was overseen by Space Kidz, a Chennai-based organization. In association with NITI Aayog, the instructors at Space Kidz, taught the students how to build and helped them to develop as many as 75 payloads that will be loaded in the SSL (Small Satellite Launch Vehicle).
The Schedule and Launch:
If things work according to the plan, the SSLV would have separated from the EOS-02 about 12.3 minutes after the scheduled launch from the Sriharikoata space base. A minute later, the rocket will separate from the AzaadiSAT, which will be sent to the LEO (Lower Earth Orbit). The AzaadiSAT is an 8-kg microsatellite with 75 Femto experiments, long-range communication equipment, and selfie cameras. The mission’s life-span is expected to be six months.
Satellite will have Jana Gana Mana Recording:
According to Srimathy Kesan, CEO of Space Kidz: “We are using hardcore technology, which is an enhanced version from the Satish Dhawan set. Power systems have also been enhanced.” The satellite will also be launched with a recorded version of India’s national anthem sung by Rabindra Nath Tagore, which will be played in the space as a tribute to the nation.
Also Read: ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ Design Coins Launched By PM Modi
