(July 17, 2022) In a historic decision in June 2022, the government of India opened the country’s space sector to private players. “This will unlock India’s potential in the space sector,” said Union Minister Jitendra Singh, who made the announcement. With Elon Musk’s SpaceX making leaps in the industry, as well as the successful launch of Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic, it’s no surprise that the burgeoning sector is attracting the world’s brightest minds. And in India, it’s the thought of colonising Mars or travelling through the solar system is an appeal like no other for some of the brightest young minds. Global Indian takes a look at teens who are already making a foray into space tech.
Rifath Sharook, inventor of KalamSat – world’s lightest satellite
Rifath Sharook
As children most of us are obsessed with the space, universe and its workings, but the fascination often fades away as we grow old. But not for Tamil Nadu’s Rifath Sharook who was keen to explore the space and invented world’s lightest satellite, which only weights 64 grams. The 23-year-old genius applied the 3D technology to manufacture the mini satellite – KalamSat – which entered the orbit during a mission of the Terrier Orion sounding rocket in June 2022 by NASA. Built in carbon fibre, the mini satellite completed its mission in 12 minutes, and scripted history for being the first 3D printed satellite to make it to space.
It was his father who played the role of a North Star in Rifath’s life and career. Being a space research scientist, he taught the young physicist to observe the stars at a young age. This fascination for the outer space led him to the path of aerospace engineering at a young age, and made him one of the leading scientists at Space Kidz India – a Chennai-based space organisation. It was at the space challenge contest ‘Cubes of Space’ that Rifath came up with the idea of a mini satellite that can be used as a radio reflector and a backup communication during disaster.
Before KalamSat, Rifath, who has made a name for himself in the space tech, built a helium weather balloon at the age of 15 as part of competition for young scientists.
- Follow Rifath Sharook on Facebook
Snehadeep Kumar, founder, Nebula Space Organisation
Snehadeep Kumar
On July 1, 2022, 17-year-old Snehadeep Kumar was awarded the Kentucky Colonel, by the United States Government, courtesy of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. He’s one of the few Indians to receive the honour, which has been given to icons like Muhammed Ali Bob Dylan, Ansel Adams, George Clooney and George HW Bush. In 2021, the aspiring young astrophysicist founded the Nebula Space Organisation, a first of its kind, student-run initiative.
Their website opens up into some serious astro photography, with telescope photos shot by members from around the world. “We would like to build the world’s smallest, functional space telescope and if all goes well, launch it by 2023-24,” he says. They’re also studying the Milankovitch Cycles (changes in climate caused by the Earth’s movements) and hope to apply its principles on Mars.
“We’re researching what it takes to create a floating settlement on Mars.” The Nebula Space Organisation is now collaborating with Harvard University, working with students and faculty from various departments. Snehadeep is also part of the Asteroid Search by NASA’s Astronomers without Borders.
- Follow Snehadeep Kumar on LinkedIn
Nikhitha C: The entrepreneur who has brought space science education to the world
Nikhitha C
The 26-year-old entrepreneur, Nikhitha C, has co-founded the hugely popular Society for Space Education Research and Development (SSERD) – an NGO and the startup, GenexSpace with the vision to train students in the field of space education and outreach in India and abroad.
It all began while pursuing bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from Alliance University in Bangalore that she started a space club in her college in 2016, teaching subjects like model rocketry to students. The initial success of the initiative nudged her to expand it further, and she did it with the help of entrepreneur Sujay Sreedhar to find her feet in the space tech.
Over, the years, Nikhitha has become a renowned name in space education, collaborating with many schools and organisations across the globe to increase the knowledge of young minds about space and technology. Taking a leaf out of NASA, SSERD conducts space camps to provide quality training to people who otherwise find it hard unaffordable – due to cost and other factors. “It costs several lakhs to attend (NASA), and students miss out on it because of that. So, we offered a similar alternative here,” she mentioned in an interview with ThePrint.
- Follow Nikhitha C on Linkedin
T Mohamed Nadhim and M Pratham Peshwani, inventors of the Ozone Reinstation Satellite Project
T Mohamed Nadhim and M Pratham Peshwani
One of the biggest environmental issues that humankind is facing is the fast depletion of the Earth’s ozone layer. Shielding the planet from harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun, the thinning of this layer can cause several health hazards. Learning about this information from their school teacher, two students of the Sindhi Model Senior Secondary School, Chennai, recently developed a satellite model that might help mend the ozone layer.
T Mohamed Nadhim and M Pratham Peshwani have been obsessed with space technology since they were very young. The classmates would get together to read about astrophysics and space technology, even though the subjects were not a part of their regular curriculum. Their good grasp of the subject, and inquisitiveness to solve the ozone problem, led them to work on the Ozone Reinstation Satellite Project. In their model, the duo has used satellite technology to fill the holes in the ozone layer. Having passed many virtual simulation tests, the two even presented their project at the CODISSIA Science and Technology exhibition. Currently, the duo, who is inspired to make it big in the space tech, is working on acquiring a patent for their project.
- Follow T Mohamed Nadhim on Linkedin
(With inputs from Amrita Priya, Charu Thakur, Darshana Ramdev and Namrata Srivastava)
