New Delhi: The satellite designed by Indian Institute of Technology – Kanpur (IIT-Kanpur) students named ‘Jugnu’ was launched by Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. It was launched with the latest version of India's indigenous Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) on Wednesday i.e. on October 12, 2011. Sources have informed that apart from 'Jugnu', the PSLV carried two other smaller satellites. This was ISRO's third rocket launch from India in the year 2011.
It is one of the smallest satellites ever built till date. It was designed by a group of students and teachers from IIT-Kanpur in collaboration with scientists from ISRO. For students, it was a golden opportunity to work on a project and get a chance to look at India's space research programme closely. It took three years for the team to give the satellite 'Jugnu' its final shape.
The entire team of 'Jugnu' was cheerful about the fact that such a small satellite has been made with some of the latest technologies available. Professor Vyas, project head of 'Jugnu' has informed that the total weight of the satellite is about three kilograms. The satellite requires just three watts of power to function. Besides, there are two small computers implanted into the satellite.
Furthermore, Professor Vyas mentioned that the satellite includes aninfra-red camera, a GPS (Global Positioning System) unit, an inertia measurement unit, and other things which have been put into a satellite for the first time, that too in such a small satellite. He also added that it is a complex system and is a good platform to test small and micro technologies.
