KalamSat, world’s lightest-smallest satellite designed by 18-year-old Indian launched by NASA

Earlier in 2015, Rifath Sharook had launched a 1,200g helium weather balloon from a ground in Kelambakkam.

Updated: June 22, 2017 7:47 PM IST

By Surabhi Shaurya

KalamSat, world's lightest-smallest satellite designed by 18-year-old Indian launched by NASA

Chennai: The world’s smallest and lightest satellite KalamSat, which is built by Indian students from Tamil Nadu was launched by NASA’s Wallops Space Center on Thursday. The satellite has been named after former President of India and world-renowned scientist Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. After the launch of the satellite, the students were seen rejoicing.

Here are the key facts about KalamSat: 

  • Designed by Rifath Sharook, an 18 year old student from Pallapatti in Karur district in Tamil Nadu, the satellite weighs just 64 grams and is composed of 3-D printed reinforced carbon fiber polymer. Organisation named ‘Space Kidz India’ funded the satellite.
  • The satellite which is fitted in a 3.8 centimeters cube will function for 12 minutes and will record various data before falling into the sea.
  • The parts needed in the composition of KalamSat were supplied from India and some from abroad as well, claims report.
  • As per the reports of leading portal India Today, the satellite made by Rifat was chosen from 86,000 designs submitted by teams from 57 countries in a ‘Cubes in Space’ contest held by NASA and ‘I Doodle Learning’.
  • Apart from Rifath Sharook, six other children designed the satellite. After participating in ‘Young Scientist Contest’ the team which includes Tanishq Dwivedi (flight engineer), Vinay S Bhardwaj (design engineer), Yagna Sai (lead technician), Mohammed Abdul Kashif (lead engineer), Gobinath (biologist) came together and took a different responsibility to complete the satellite.
  • Earlier in 2015, Rifath Sharook had launched a 1,200g helium weather balloon from a ground in Kelambakkam.

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