National Seminar on Small Satellites and CubeSat Workshop and Panel Discussion

The Department of Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering along with the Center of Excellence in Satellite Technology (CEST) and CubeSat Club organized a National Level Seminar on Small Satellites and CubeSat workshop on 11 and 12 April 2023. Alongside this event a Panel Discussion on “The Great Indian Satellite Revolution” was also held on 11 April 2023 with high profile panelists from R&D organizations, Industry and Academia. On 12 April 2023, a CubeSat workshop was conducted for the students in which more than 250 students from HITS, KCG College of Technology and other colleges in and around Chennai has actively participated and had an opportunity to know the building and testing Satellite.

The inauguration ceremony for the program was held on 11 April 2023. The Chief Guest for the event was Dr. S. Unnikrishnan Nair, Director VSSC, ISRO and the Guest of Honor was Dr. S. Rangarajan, CMD, Data Patterns, Chennai. The Special Guests for the program were Dr. A. Sivathanu Pillai, Founder CEO and MD, BrahMos & Professor Emeritus (Research), HITS and Dr. Mylswamy Annadurai, Former Director ISAC, ISRO. The welcome address was delivered by Dr. S. N. Siridhara, Vice Chancellor Dr. R Asokan, Dean (AE & AS) delivered the vote of thanks.

A panel discussion on "The Great Indian Satellite Revolution" was conducted with eminent Scientists, Industrialists and Academicians. The forum opened up a platform for them to share their insights on India's advancements in the field of space technology. The panel deliberated on India's space program that has made remarkable progress over the past few decades, with the launch of several satellites for communication, navigation, and weather forecasting. The panel also discussed the impact of these satellites on various sectors, including agriculture, disaster management, and defense. They have also shed light on the challenges faced in developing and launching these satellites and the prospects of India's space program. The discussion was a valuable opportunity for the audience to gain a deeper understanding of India's contributions to the global space industry and its potential for further growth and innovation.

Dr. S Unnikrishnan Nair, Director VSSC in his presidential address informed of the opportunities available for the Aeronautical and Aerospace graduates and the untapped areas of start-ups in Satellite Technology. After his presidential address, the chief guest distributed the CubeSat kits to the teams followed by interaction with the faculty and students of the Department of Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering. The day one ended with the vote of thanks by Dr. Dalbir Singh, HoD Aeronautical Engineering.

Invited Guests:  
1. Dr. S Unnikrishnan Nair – Director VSSC, ISRO  
2. Dr. Mylswamy Annadurai – Former Director, URSC, ISRO  
3. Dr. A Sivathanu Pillai – Founder CEO & MD BrahMos, Professor Emeritus (Research)  
4. Dr. Rangarajan – CMD, Data Patterns, Chennai  
5. Prof. M Krishnaswamy – Former Program Director, URSC, ISRO  
6. Mr. S A Kannan – Program Coordinator, ISRO Student Satellite Program  
7. Dr. K Anand – MD, NewTech Aerospace, Bangalore  
8. Dr. Yogesh Dubey – National Sales Head, Ducom Aerospace, Bangalore  
9. Dr. Mamta Gulati – Assistant Professor, Thapar University  
10. Dr. K Gopalakrishnan – Secretary General, ITCA