Student satellites

Small satellites built by Indian universities and students and launched by ISRO, beginning with Anna University's ANUSAT in April 2009.

Purpose

Student satellites are small spacecraft built by university and student teams. Every student satellite on ISRO's list flew as an extra passenger on a PSLV launch.

Members

ISRO lists 13 student satellites launched between 2009 and 2022. They range from STUDSAT, under 1 kg, to ANUSAT at 40 kg. Others include SRMSat, Jugnu, PRATHAM, PISAT, SWAYAM, SATHYABAMASAT, NIUSAT, Kalamsat-V2, UNITYsat, Satish Dhawan SAT and INSPIREsat-1.

Timeline

• 20 April 2009: ANUSAT, from Anna University, the first satellite built by an Indian university under ISRO's guidance, launched on PSLV-C12
• 12 July 2010: STUDSAT launched on PSLV-C15
• 12 October 2011: SRMSat and Jugnu launched on PSLV-C18
• 24 January 2019: Kalamsat-V2 became the first payload to use PSLV's spent fourth stage as an orbital platform
• 14 February 2022: INSPIREsat-1 launched on PSLV-C52

Status

ISRO counts 18 satellites realised by private players or students in its mission totals.

Sources

1. Student satellites — ISRO
2. ANUSAT — ISRO
3. PSLV-C44 — ISRO
4. Missions accomplished — ISRO