Varisity to develop mini satellite

Chennai, Jun 12 (UNI) SRM University, the leading educational institution in the country, will develop a mini satellite for educational purposes.

Talking to mediapersons on the sidelines of the Counselling for the engineering courses at the University campus at suburban Kattankulathur, its Chancellor T R Pachamuthu and Vice-Chancellor P Sathyanaraynan said the university had already initiated talks with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in this regard.

''We have sent a proposal to the ISRO. Once we get the approval we will start working on developing the satellite. The cost will be borne by the SRM University,'' they said.

It would be an inter-disciplinary project and the modalities would be worked out by the departments of mechanical engineering, mechotronics, aerospace engineering and computer science.

They said students would also be involved in the project.

On introducing exclusive engineering course on Space engineering to meet the shortage of space scientists in the country, they said the University had introduced Aerospace engineering course last year, which has astronomy as one of the subjects.

''Thanks to the inspiration given by Eminent Missile scientist and former President A P J Abdul Kalam, the demand for aerospace engineering has picked up and all the 60 seats were filled up in counselling last year. The situation is no different this year,'' they said.

''We are increasing the infrastructural facilities for this.

Once it is over, we will introduce space engineering. We need to have a proper infrastructure backup before introducing new courses,'' they added.

Prof Sathyanarayanan, later told UNI that the University would also have tie-ups with the Bangalore-based Hindustan Aeronautical Limited for faculty enhancement and to get curriculum inputs for aerospace engineering.

''The tie-up will also envisage students taking up research projects in this field,'' he added.

UNI GV PD KP1647