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The Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) has launched an ambitious space program called ‘SS AMU SAT’, approved by the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) under the Department of Space. This project, initiated by the AMU Robo Club, aims to develop a nanosatellite named after the university’s founder, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan.

The SS AMU SAT is a 3U CubeSat with various objectives. One of its main goals is to study economic growth in India’s poorest districts using satellite imagery. Additionally, it will implement an in-house developed image compression technology to enable faster multimedia transmission. The satellite will also test various satellite sub-systems that have been built within the university.

In January 2023, the project was submitted to IN-SPACe for approval, registration, frequency allocation, and launch. After a review of the design by the Student Satellite Committee in September 2023, chaired by Dr. P.K. Jain, the proposal was approved. However, AMU was required to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with IN-SPACe to oversee all activities, from the development of the SS AMU SAT to its launch into the Lower Earth Orbit.

Leading the team of students involved in the project is Poorti Varshney, with guidance from Dr. C.A. Prabhakar (Former Project Director, ISRO) and Faraz Ahmad (a 2013 batch alumnus). The project has also received technical support from AMU alumni working with ISRO and experts from various industries worldwide.

The satellite’s launch is tentatively scheduled to take place within the next six months. This initiative by AMU is a significant step towards advancing India’s capabilities in space research and technology development.

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