New space centre for undergraduates at SRM University's Chennai campus

Wednesday’s successful launch of SRMSAT, a nano-satellite built by students of the SRM University, marks the beginning of a new era in space sciences in the country.

A Centre for Space Sciences offering undergraduate courses and research facilities will soon be set up at the SRM campus in Chennai, according to TR Patchamuthu, the chancellor of the university. He said discussions were on with scientists of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) about the content of courses and syllabus.

“Once the Centre for Space is established, we will introduce specialised courses on space technology to churn out more space scientists to meet the growing demand,” said Pachamuthu. He disclosed that the centre would focus more on research.

According to Patchamuthu, SRMSAT was built over a period of two years by a team of 50 students drawn out from various departments of the University’s engineering college.

P Sathyanarayana, president, SRM University, said the SRMSAT will have a life period of two years. “It will provide us with the quantity of green house gases, particularly carbon di-oxide and the water vapour in the atmosphere of tropical countries,” said Sathyanarayana.

He said the satellite was designed and built at accost of Rs1.1 crore. A control room has been set up at the University campus to track the satellite and collect the data on a round-the-clock basis.