It was a proud moment for India when the American space research agency NASA launched world’s smallest and the lightest satellite developed by an 18-year-old Tamil Nadu teen Rifath Sharook on Thursday. The tiny satellite called the Kalamsat weighs just 64 grammes and it was launched from NASA’s facility in the Wallops Island at around 3 PM (IST). Incidentally, Kalamsat was the only Indian payload in the mission.
“It’s a 3D printed satellite. It is for the first time that 3D printing technology is being used in space. We have made history. The world’s smallest satellite has been launched in space. It was not possible without my team,” Sharook, said in a statement to ANI.
The project was carried out under the supervision of Space Kids of India founder Dr Srimanthy Kesan who said that the satellite separated from the rocket 125 minutes after the launch. NASA will recover the satellite and send it back to Sharookh and his team for recovering the data collected by the tiny satellite during its mission, she told the Times of India.
Chennai: Students who built the world’s smallest satellite, rejoice after its launch. The satellite weighing 64 grams was launched by NASA. pic.twitter.com/ak7NP9KzUO
— ANI (@ANI_news) June 22, 2017
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As reported earlier, Kalamsat has been designed by Tamil Nadu teen Rifath Sharook and his team, who named their satellite after former Indian President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. The tiny satellite has been made with reinforced 3D printed carbon fibre polymer and it contains eight indigenously built sensors on board that would collect information regarding the rotation, acceleration and the magnetosphere of the Earth. It also contains a nano Geiger-Muller counter on board that would measure the radiation in space.
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Here’s what had Twitterati have to say about Kalamsat’s successful launch:
History created as @NASA launches #KalamSat – world’s smallest satellite built by Indian teenager Rifath Shaarook. #Proud pic.twitter.com/jeOAk6P8A4
— Mohit Burman (@imohitburman) June 23, 2017
NASA launched world’s smallest satellite,KALAMSAT,built by 18-year old Tamil Nadu Student RIFATH SHAROOK & his TEAM. Wow, BOYS; Wow, INDIA!!
— Manikarnika Lagu (@CashBlueprint23) June 23, 2017
Indeed a proud moment for #India& #TN.. #Kalamsat is launched by #NASA made by a 18yr student! Age& experience doesn’t matter wrt skill. | https://t.co/3Q9oJPdO6w
— /Seku (@TheSeku) June 23, 2017
A real “divine intervention”, hat’s off to #KesanSrimathy & u #RifathSharook out of the box.. incredible.. #kalamsat
— Rohit Patel (@Rohitpatelc) June 23, 2017
दुनिया का सबसे छोटा सैटेलाइट KALAMSAT हुआ लांच, NASA बोली- ऐसा टैलेंट सिर्फ भारत में ही मिल सकता है https://t.co/qrFROe798V
— hukmechand (@hukmechand) June 23, 2017
CONGRATS ISRO FOR THE GREAT LAUNCH OF CARTOSAT-3 & KALAMSAT.@sanjurohra1 >JAI HIND.
— Sanjay. M.Rohra (@sanjurohra1) June 23, 2017
Our #kalamsat had been launched successfully.Thank u #NASA for making our country proud. @Rifarh_Shaarook @SpaceKidzIndia @PMOIndia #india
— arsath ajmal (@ajmalji) June 23, 2017
Great work Sharook and team.. there will be @KalamSat in the space soon..
— Raj kumar (@brknallavan) June 23, 2017
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