Thiruvananthapuram: The Noorul Islam University (NIU), Kanyakumari, on Saturday handed over a nano satellite, NIUSAT, to ISRO which will launch it into space along with 20 others using the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) next month. The satellite will help in disaster management and can also map pollution and crop patterns across the globe. Around 145 students, mostly of aerospace and aeronautical engineering department of the varsity, have worked on the project for several years.
The satellite has been equipped with a multi-spectral camera with 30 m resolution and 60 square km area of coverage. Once the solar panels of the satellite are deployed after launch, it can monitor the stress on crops caused by diseases or lack of proper irrigation. “The varsity wanted to focus on a programme that could help in disaster management as areas such as Kanyakumari and Nagapattinam were devastated by the tsunami. Hence, the programme was kick-started in 2007,” said programme director A.E. Muthunayagam.
A specialised control station has been set up in a four-storey building inside the varsity premises to control the 15 kg satellite. As per conservative estimates, around Rs 40 to 50 crore has been earmarked to realise the project. The varsity and students can help NGOs and entities from across the globe to monitor their assets in land. The satellite has an expected lifespan of over a year. Kerala Governor P. Sathasivam ceremonially handed over the documents of the satellite to University Chancellor A.P. Majeed Khan. They will be handed over to the space agency.
