India to launch world’s lightest satellite in space

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch world’s lightest satellite made by students of India from the launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Center at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

The space organization has announced that the 28-hour countdown has begun for the launch of PSLV-C44 which will carry the 1.2 kg student satellite named ‘Kalamsat’. The unique satellite was built in a record time of six days after ISRO gave its nod for the project.

PSLV- C44, a new variant of PSLV is being used to launch the student satellite in the space orbit. ISRO also said that the cost of launch is on the house and not even a single rupee will be charged for the launch.

Weighing only 1.26kg (2.6lb), the Kalamsat-V2 has been made by students belonging to a space education firm.

It will help ham radio operators and "inspire schoolchildren to become the scientists and engineers of the future", India's space agency says.

Isro chief K Sivan has claimed that "Kalamsat is the lightest satellite to be ever built and launched into orbit".

An even lighter satellite, weighing 64 grams and built by the same group of students, was launched on a four-hour mission for a sub-orbital flight from a Nasa facility in the US in June 2017. Sub-orbital spaceflights technically enter space but don't get into orbit.

Kalamsat-V2 was made by students belonging to Space Kidz India, a Chennai-based space education firm. So far nine satellites made by Indian students have found a place on space rockets.

Along with Kalamsat, a 740-kg satellite called Microsat-R will also be sent to orbit which will be used to take high-resolution photos of the Earth for defence research. The PSLV which is 44.4-meter-long and weighs 260 tonnes will attempt to take both satellites into orbit on its 46th launch.