In one of the laboratories of the city based Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), a researcher is developing a prototype of a star sensor, which will be fitted on payload of a student satellite. It will be launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in 2017.

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Mayuresh Sarpotdar who is pursuing his Integrated M.Tech.- Ph.D (Tech.) in the institute is currently developing this device which is primarily used in satellites and space vehicles to know where the vehicle is pointing.

"In case of telescope observations the satellite needs to be pointing towards a particular source continuously for a long interval of time. This kind of sensor enables the vehicle computer to know that there is a change in the pointing direction, and makes it generate a control action to counteract the change and keeps the telescope pointing in the same direction," Sarpotdar told dna.

Sarpotdar added that the star senor developed by him will be part of a payload which will be onboard a student satellite.

In order to encourage students and faculty to participate in the space programme, Department of Space supports design and development of small satellites at academia by providing technical guidance, critical infrastructure for testing and launch support.

ISRO has so far launched ANUSAT (Anna University), STUDSAT (consortium of Engineering colleges), SRMSat (SRM University) and JUGNU (IIT-Kanpur) built by student community. Currently development of two more student satellites is under progress and IIA is one involved in one among them.

Sarpotdar said that the start sensor developed by him is generic, apart from being part of the student satellite it can also become part of small cube satellites.

"The development of such a sensor has been carried out at many places and universities by post-graduate students and researchers. But, still there are chances to develop their work," he said.