INSPIRESat-1 CubeSat, which was developed under the International Satellite Program in Research and Education (INSPIRE), is set for launch according to the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST).
The small satellite, weighing less than 10 kg, will be launched aboard an upcoming Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) mission of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
INSPIRESat-1 is a joint effort by the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at the University of Colorado Boulder in the US, the National Central University, Taiwan, the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, and the IIST.
The satellite, which is equipped with a Compact Ionosphere Probe for studying the earth’s ionosphere, will be placed in a low earth orbit. A constellation of earth and space-weather observation satellites is envisaged under the INSPIRE program.
S. Somanath, director, IIST, and the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), said that INSPIRESat-1 has been fully integrated, tested and is awaiting launch on a PSLV mission.
The onboard computer and electrical power supply of INSPIRESat-1 were designed and developed by students of IIST.
”It gave the IIST students hands-on experience in the areas of design, development and also miniaturization since these are small satellites,” said Y.V.N. Krishna Murthy, Registrar, IIST adding that the students also gained valuable experience from the global collaboration.
The INSPIRESat-1 mission was originally planned for 2020, but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of the collaboration, IIST students also attended training programs hosted by LASP.
