Image Courtesy : www.isro.gov.in

The organisers informed on Sunday that a sounding rocket carrying 150 payloads developed by students for educational purposes was successfully launched near Chennai.

(APJAKSLVM2023)- The Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Satellite Launch Vehicle Mission 2023 was developed and built by a team containing students and space industry professionals. The rocket carrying 150 research experiment cubes raised off around 8:15 am from an open area belonging to the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation ground at village Devanari in the neighbouring district.

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam International Foundation organised the event in memory of late former president APJ Abdul Kalam and the Martin Foundation, an NGO established by the Martin Group of Companies. Nearly 3,500 students (Classes VI to XII) studying in different government-aided schools across the country participated in the launch event. Martin Foundation said that this sounding rocket can be used for research in weather, radiation, and the atmosphere. Of the 3,500 students, Mumbai Municipal Corporation and Nagpur Municipal Corporation sponsored 80 students and were shortlisted for manufacturing the payloads.

Nazema Maraikayar, Late president Kalam's niece and a trustee of the Kalam International Foundation, said this is a proud moment for me as a family member. Kalam dreamt about delivering equal educational opportunities to everyone, and we have taken a small action towards realising his dreams.

Students learned about satellite technology and gained knowledge about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

About 5,000 students from all over the nation were shortlisted based on their performance in a preliminary test conducted earlier. Along with scientists and professionals in space technology, these students contributed to building this sounding rocket.

The students used gas balloons and drones in order to study the work of payloads that flew for some time. The sounding rocket was the next step. The rocket acquired an altitude of nearly 100 km as intended after it raised off around 8:15 am.