Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has successfully launched the world’s lightest satellite — Kalamsat-V2, designed by students into space.
The satellite, which weighs just 1.2 Kilograms and is touted to be lighter than a wooden chair, took off from the First Launch Pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, Sriharikota, on January 24, 2019.
The satellite has been designed and made by the students of Space Kidz India in Chennai. The making took around six years and Rs 12,00,000 to successfully launch the satellite.
However, ISRO did not charge any money to launch the satellite.
On the occasion, Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi congratulated ISRO for the successful launch via a tweet.
Heartiest congratulations to our space scientists for yet another successful launch of PSLV.
This launch has put in orbit Kalamsat, built by India’s talented students.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 25, 2019
For the unacquainted, the initial version of Kalamsat-V2 (going by the nickname Gulab Jamun) was launched by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) back in 2017.
However, due to its extremely light weight of just 64 grams, the satellite didn’t make it to space and was dropped off.
Additionally, the satellite was launched (via Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C44) with the Microsat-R as its first passenger. The 740-kilogram device to capture high-quality images of Earth for defense research.
