AMU team leaves for Ahmedabad to test payload for varsity’s first satellite

Agra: A team of student researchers from Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) has left for the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) Technical Centre, Ahmedabad, for qualification tests of the payload for the university’s maiden satellite mission, SS AMU SAT.

Officials said successful completion of the tests would be a key step towards the satellite’s flight readiness.SS AMU SAT is a student-led mission focused on small satellite engineering and earth observation research. The satellite will study nighttime lights to support research on economic activity and urban development while also demonstrating onboard image compression technology in a low-earth orbit satellite.The payload comprises an onboard imaging system, a dedicated payload computer and a power-conditioning unit. Its core is a compact, credit-card-sized electronics package with image compression technology that can reduce image data by up to 80 times while maintaining image quality and spatial resolution. Officials said the technology could help reduce spacecraft mass and launch costs.The qualification tests at IN-SPACe will validate the payload’s mechanical and electrical compatibility with Indian launch vehicles, including PSLV and SSLV, and assess its readiness for spaceflight.

The student team comprises Musharraf Abdullah, Asif Ali, Abdullah Ahmad Siddiqui, Raj Singh and Mohammad Owais.Prof Syed Fahad Anwar, academic guide for the project, said students associated with the mission had, over the past few years, designed several critical satellite subsystems in-house, including the electrical power system, attitude determination and control system, payload system, ground station and other spacecraft electronics.“More than 100 students have received hands-on training in satellite engineering through the project, which has also promoted academia-industry collaborations, strengthened AMU’s presence in India’s space ecosystem, and led to two technology spin-offs,” he said.Vice-chancellor Prof Naima Khatoon said the mission reflects AMU’s focus on innovation, research and experiential learning. She said AMU students were contributing to technological progress and inspiring others to pursue careers in science and space technology.