Nano Satellite Mission- Jugnu

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Introduction
IIT Kanpur with its Nano Satellite Mission- Jugnu is ready to set new limits in the space research. A team of students has come ahead to work under the guidance of faculty of IIT Kanpur and ISRO scientists to launch India’s first Nano Satellite.The development of the Jugnu started in the year 2008 with a team of 3 students. With time, the team has grown to the size of more than 45 students ranging from 2nd year undergraduates to final year postgraduates and 14 professors from different disciplines to complete this challenging mission. By the end of this year the Jugnu will be handed over to ISRO for final testing and integration.Golden Jubilee year of IIT Kanpur(Aug 2009- Dec 2010) will witness the launch of Jugnu from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (also known as SHAR, located in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh) by ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle. Jugnu will be able to withstand the harshness of space environment for its estimated life span of 1 year.These universtiy based Nano Satellites have given an impetus to the growth of satellite technology in many countries. These low weights, cost effective Nano-Satellite have significant role to play in the cost reduction, experimentation, reduction in the development and testing time for the new technologies and will significantly change the satellite development activity in the future

Mission Goals
The Mission Goal is to make a Nano satellite at IIT Kanpur that would serve the following applications:
1. Micro Imaging System
2. GPS receiver for locating the position of satellite in the orbit
3. MEMS based IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit)

The Primary Objectives of the mission are:
1. To initiate research activities towards development of MEMS based Nano-satellite.
2. To test new cheap solutions for the future cost effective space missions.
3. To set the path for future up gradations and study such validation concepts for possible up gradations.

Long term Objectives of the mission are:
1. To develop competence in design, fabrication and usage of micro satellites. 2. Complement the development efforts of the country's satellite application requirements through technology development and validation at the micro satellite level
3. Development and training of human resources.
4. Strengthen activities in MEMS sensor based technology applications.


For More Information
Jugnu : Nano-Satellite

 

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Now the bad News: Country’s first nano satellite may miss deadline

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The team from Indian Institute of Technology-Kanpur that is developing the country’s first nano satellite, Jugnu, faces an uphill task: completing the project before December 31.

Though the team has designed the prototype model of Jugnu, the engineering and the final (flight) models are yet to be developed.

Reason: Some important materials required for the assembling of the satellite is yet to arrive from the US. The IIT-K team is also waiting for the arrival of camera casing from Ahmedabad. Moreover, the ongoing campus placement at the institution and the winter vacation are likely to extend the project by a few weeks.

A team of 12 professors and 45 students, headed by Nalinaksh S Vyas, professor and head of department of Mechanical Engineering, have been working on the project since December 2007. The IIT-K is expected to hand over the nano satellite to the Indian Space Research Organisation by December 31, 2009.

After three months of testing, the ISRO will launch Jugnu in Polar Orbit from Sriharikota. Vyas said: “Our team comprises students and not professionals, and due to their hectic schedule there can be a delay of few weeks.” According to him, efforts are being made to complete the project before December 31. “We have to keep in mind the hectic schedule of students and the ongoing campus placement process. Therefore, at present we are not in a condition to announce the date for the completion of the project,” he added.

After manufacturing the prototype of Jugnu, the team has developed 11 sub-systems required for the engineering model. Once the engineering model is assembled and the lab test completed, the team will design the final model on a similar pattern. According to the team, the final model will be tested by ISRO for three months before launching it in Polar Orbit.

Weighing 3.5 kg, Jugnu will be 34 cm in length and the width will be of 10 cm. It will transmit images to the base station that has been set up at the IIT-K. The installation process of satellite antenna has also been completed.

Though the average life of a nano satellite is of six months, Jugnu will remain in the Polar Orbit for 12 months.

Vyas said an extremely powerful camera will be installed in the satellite to capture images from Polar Orbit which is 700 km above the ground level. Jugnu will take 14 to 15 circles of Earth each day and provide important information and transmit images related to agriculture, river courses and weather.