India is moving towards a better future day by day with the new inventions and discoveries. Yesterday on 24th January, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully launched the World’s lightest satellite – Kalamsat which is made by Indian students. Interestingly, ISRO didn’t even charge a single penny for the launch by the students. This is indeed a proud moment for the nation and that’s why it took off free of cost.
The incredible launch took place around 11:40 PM from the first launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Center at Sriharikota.
🇮🇳 #ISROMissions 🇮🇳
Take a look the mission at a glance.#PSLVC44 #MicrosatR#KalamsatV2 pic.twitter.com/GTlKYY3dhZ
— ISRO (@isro) January 24, 2019
This lightest satellite is designed and built by the students who work with an organization called ‘Space Kidz India’ in Chennai.
Excited as the countdown has begun this evening at 19:37 (IST). Launch is scheduled for tomorrow i.e; 24th Jan at 23:37 (IST). #ISRO #Kalamsat #PSLVC44 https://t.co/4tjh7uOM39
— Space Kidz India (@SpaceKidzIndia) January 23, 2019
With the launch of Kalamsat, India becomes the first country to utilize the fourth stage of a space rocket as an orbital platform.
After the launch, ISRO update the current situation on their Twitter official and wrote, 🇮🇳 Mission Accomplished! 🇮🇳
Thank You for your support!#PSLVC44 #MicrosatR#KalamsatV2″.
🇮🇳 Mission Accomplished! 🇮🇳
Thank You for your support!#PSLVC44 #MicrosatR#KalamsatV2 pic.twitter.com/uNqK8vf74L— ISRO (@isro) January 24, 2019
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also congratulated the ISRO and said, “Heartiest congratulations to our space scientists for yet another successful launch of PSLV. This launch has put in orbit Kalamsat, built by India’s talented students.”
Heartiest congratulations to our space scientists for yet another successful launch of PSLV.
This launch has put in orbit Kalamsat, built by India's talented students.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 25, 2019
And also announced another feat conquered by India.
With this launch, India also becomes the first country to use the fourth stage of a space rocket as an orbital platform for micro-gravity experiments. @isro
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 25, 2019
The weight of this satellite is just 1.26 kg, lighter than a wooden chair. It is built within six days and took an estimate of Rs 12 Lacs. The hard work of students who took 6 years of study to build this satellite finally pay the reward. The whole nation is proud of them.
🇮🇳 #ISROMissions 🇮🇳#PSLVC44 sits pretty on the launchpad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota under the watchful eyes of the #Moon, ahead of its midnight launch tomorrow (Jan 24), carrying #Kalamsat and #MicrosatR.
Updates will continue. pic.twitter.com/DA1fatQA5U
— ISRO (@isro) January 23, 2019
Going by the name, this satellite is a tribute to former President, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam and is named after him. The project is head by Rifath Sharook, an 18-year-old from the Tamil Nadu town of Pallapatti.
Earlier in 2017, NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) launched the 64-gram version of Kalamsat nicknamed as ‘gulab jamun’ but it never reached the orbit.