Bengaluru, February 28, 2022 (www.justkannada.in): The satellite design and launching project by the Government School Students, has been named after Kannada actor Puneeth Rajkumar (Puneeth Rajkumar Student Satellite Project) who died a few months back and will be launched by September 2022.
Presiding over a function held at the government pre-university college at 18th cross, Malleshwara on the occasion of National Science Day and Inauguration of Karnataka Government School Students’ Satellite Project (KGS3Sat) Dr.C.N.Ashwatha Narayana, Minister for Science & Technology, made this announcement on Monday.
On the occasion, MoU inked between Karnataka Science & Technology Promotion Society (KSTePS) and Indian Technological Congress Association (ITCA) with regard to implementation of the project was exchanged. This is one of the 75 satellites to be launched in the country to celebrate 75 years of independence.
The ground station of the project will be set up at the premises of the college and 100 students of 20 government schools have been selected based on performances in various competitions and tests, he stated. Further, he told, the proposed satellite will weigh 1.5 KG.
A few years back, any satellite would have weighed a minimum of 50 KGs and the project would have cost about Rs 50-60 crore. But the development of technology has made it possible to reduce the satellite to weigh just 1.5 KG and project cost has been reduced to Rs. 1.90 Crores.
Introductory programmes through Online & Offline, hands-on learning, and tutorial models in both Kannada and English languages will be part of this project. In addition, the web links of required content will be provided to students and classes related this will commence from April 22, Minister Narayana informed.
Knowledge of satellite payload, introduction to nanosatellites, visiting scientific institutions located in the city of Bengaluru, visiting Sriharikota during the launch of the satellite, interaction with scientists, training at the ground station, publication of required books, and other activities will be part of Rs.1.90 crore project.
In his inaugural speech, D.V.Sadananda Gowda, MP, Bengaluru North, said, the ways for social empowerment lies in scientific research and innovations. He opined, that curiosity should be created in students right from the beginning of their early stages and it needs to be sustained constantly.
Prof.S.Ayyappan, Padmasri awardee and Chairman, Karnataka Science and Technological Academy told, at present in the country there are not more than 5 lakh researchers in the entire country. Saying, the number of researchers in the country is very low compared to the developed countries, he added, their numbers needs a drastic increase to take the country on the path of progress. He also felt there is a need to find an effective solution to check the wastage of agricultural produce in the country.
On this occasion, a handbook on satellite projects was released. The distribution of science experiment kits for government schools was also launched. Minister, MP, and scientists also had a glimpse of scientific models which were exhibited as part of the event.
Dr.Navakanta Bhat, Chairperson, State Vision Group for nanotechnology, Prof H.S.Nagaraju, Dr.Hemanta Kumar, Ashok Rayachuru, Basavaraju, Soumya Vaid were among the present.
