Yesterday, I witnessed the setting up of India’s first hybrid rocket carrying 150 satellites built by students from across the country. The venue was the seashore off East Coast Road, near Thiruvidandai, Tamil Nadu. Proud to have witnessed today (Sunday, 19th February 2023) up close from the launch site of the Rocket carrying 150 Pico Satellites in a single hybrid rocket. The satellites were designed by students and the rocket was designed and developed by private developers headed by Anand Megalingam with advice from #ISRO.
Pico Satellites are extremely small satellites, measuring from 0.1 kg to 10 kg each. In this case, the satellites were designed to measure the weather and atmospheric parameters. The Hybrid Rocket used Nitrous Oxide as an oxidiser and Wax fuel as the propellant. Oxidiser – Liquid State, Propellant – Solid state. It combined liquid and solid for combustion and to produce the rocket thrust.
The hybrid rocket being carried to the mobile launchpad
APJAKSSLV being setup by the team
Anand Megalingam, Venkatarangan Thirumalai, Sheik Dawood, and Ravi Ethirajulu
Minutes before the launch. Key stakeholders include the designer, ISRO scientists, Foundation director and the Police can be seen in this picture
With Dr Sultan Ahmed Ismail (Ecologist, soil biologist and one of the pioneers in vermitech)
With Mr Sasikumar Gendham (Managing Director at Salcomp Manufacturing) and Mr Ravi Ethirajulu
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