SRMSAT, a nano satellite developed by Chennai-based SRM University, is set to be launched into space on board the PSLV-C18 scheduled for take off from Sriharikota on October 12.
Briefing reporters on the launch, SRM group chancellor T R Pachamuthu and president P Sathyanarayanan said the university also had plans to set up a Centre for Space Technology at its campus in Kattankulathur, near Chennai. It is in talks with the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) in this regard.
''Everything is at the planning stage. The talks will be carried forward once the launch of SRMSAT is over. It will take another five to six months to get a concrete shape'', said Sathyanarayanan.
''Once the Centre for Space Technology is established, we will introduce specialised courses on space technology to churn out more space scientists to meet the growing demand,'' said Pachamuthu. The proposed centre would focus more on research, he added.
On SRMSAT, he said SRM was the first private university in India to launch a nano satellite. Describing it as a momentous occasion, the satellite weighing 10.4 kg was designed and developed by about 50 students from various departments over two years.
The satellite would have a life span of two years and would monitor greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide and water vapour in the atmosphere using a grating spectrometer.
A separate ground station was set up at the university to monitor the satellite. ''Initially, Isro will monitor the satellite from its ground station at Bangalore. After a week, SRM University will also monitor it from the ground station set up at the campus'', said Narayana Rao, director (research), SRM University.
He said SRM would continue to work with Isro in future, and would possibly design another satellite in the next two years.
