Students from KL University have made a remarkable stride in space research, successfully launching three satellites—KL JAC, KLSAT-2, and CONSAT—from their Vaddeswaram campus, near Tadepalli, in Guntur district on Saturday morning.
This innovative project saw 34 dedicated students from the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) collaborate for months under the expert guidance of faculty members Dr. C.H. Kavya and Dr. K. Sarathkumar. The university’s cricket ground was transformed into a temporary launchpad for this historic event.
The launch was graced by Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma, and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Speaker, Kanumuru Raghurama Krishnam Raju, alongside university officials and a large gathering of students.
Addressing the attendees, Union Minister Bhupathi Raju expressed his admiration, stating, “It is inspiring to see students taking part in real-time space research. The satellites designed by KL University have showcased the innovation potential of young Indian engineers. Every college must function like a laboratory to encourage hands-on scientific exploration. ISRO and the Centre are supporting universities to strengthen indigenous knowledge and innovation under the Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat missions.”
Deputy Speaker Raghurama Krishnam Raju echoed this sentiment, remarking, “This is a proud moment for Andhra Pradesh. The successful launch of three satellites by university students shows how science and technology are advancing under India’s leadership. I urge students to continue contributing to the nation’s growth through innovation and research.”
Each of the three satellites is designed for a distinct research purpose:
- KL JAC: A pico balloon satellite, credit card-sized, intended to operate in the troposphere for up to three months. It will continuously monitor air quality, temperature, humidity, and satellite link telemetry, standing out as one of India’s smallest educational satellites.
- KLSAT-2: This hybrid AeroSwift VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) flight module was launched using a drone. Equipped with a spectrometer, it is tasked with collecting vital environmental and atmospheric data, focusing particularly on air pollution and ozone concentration. After traveling approximately 60 km parallel to the earth, the satellite successfully returned to its launch pad.
- CONSAT: A mini-satellite, CONSAT earned its place in this launch after being selected from Andhra Pradesh in a national competition co-organized by InSpace, ISRO, and the Astronautical Society of India (ASI). Its mission is to conduct weather and air quality studies, transmitting live data directly to the university’s control center.
KL University Vice Chairman Koneru Nikhila Karthikeyan extended congratulations to both the students and faculty for their pioneering work, announcing the university’s ambitious plans to further expand its research facilities and soon venture into a rocket launch program.