Space Centre launched at NITC

Ananth Technologies managing director Subba Rao Pavuluri and former ISRO Chairman S. Somnath checking an exhibit during the launch of the Centre for Space Science and Technology at the National Institute of Technology-Calicut on February 7.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Former Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) S. Somnath inaugurated the Centre for Space Science and Technology (CSST) at the National Institute of Technology- Calicut (NITC) on Friday (February 7).

The Centre has been set up using the ₹2 crore funds provided by Subba Rao Pavuluri, chairman and managing director of Ananth Technologies, and an alumnus of the Institute. The facilities at the centre include a clean room and associated rooms such as air shower rooms, mechanical lab, ground station and discussion areas. The facilities are on par with similar facilities available at ISRO and Vikram Sarabhai Space Centres.

In his address, Mr. Pavuluri said the continued success of the facility was a challenge while establishing it was quite easy. He expressed confidence in NITC’s faculty and students, predicting that it was possible to build a fully functional experimental satellite within a year to address Kerala’s climate change and disaster management needs.

Former Director of ISRO and another alumnus of the Institute J.A. Kamalakar spoke about the vision and mission of the newly established centre and hoped that the lab at NITC would contribute to POEM (PSLV orbital experiment module) which allows academic institutions, research organisations, and Indian start-ups to test their space technologies without having to launch entire satellites.

NITC Director Prasad Krishna and Assistant Professor of the Department of Electronics and Communication Raghy C.V. spoke on the occasion.

The event also saw an exhibition and display of posters, prototypes, and products by the faculty and students of NITC. Sixteen alumni who have served or are serving at ISRO were also felicitated at the event. Prakasha Rao P.J.V.K.S., who has earlier served as Director of the Space Infrastructure Programme Office & Directorate of Safety, Reliability and Quality at ISRO Headquarters, gave a technical session on ‘Classroom to clean room’ for students and faculty.  Students from UL Space Club performed a play ‘Chandrayan’ in the evening.