~ The launch took off from the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sports Ground in
Chandrapur, Maharashtra
Chandrapur : In a significant milestone for
experiential aerospace education, Team VITAKSH—the student satellite team of
VIT Bhopal University—has successfully launched and operated a high-altitude
balloon satellite mission, the first of its kind from the institution.
Conducted at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sports Ground in Chandrapur, Maharashtra,
the mission was entirely conceptualised, designed, and developed by students,
reflecting strong technical capability, disciplined planning, and precise
execution.
During the flight, the satellite
payload accurately recorded and transmitted a comprehensive range of
atmospheric and environmental parameters, including altitude, latitude,
longitude, temperature, pressure, acceleration, humidity, ozone levels, and gas
concentrations such as carbon monoxide. The consistency and reliability of the
data transmission underscore the robustness of the onboard systems and the
engineering depth achieved by the team.
The mission was made possible
with continued support from Chancellor
Dr. G. Viswanathan, Vice President Dr. Sankar Viswanathan, Assistant Vice
President Ms. Kadhambari S. Viswanathan, and Trustee Ms. Ramani Balasundaram.
It also received strong institutional backing from the University’s leadership,
including Vice Chancellor Prof. Satish
Kumar Modh, Pro Vice Chancellor Prof. T. B. Sridharan, and the Deans of
SMEC, SEEE, and SCOPE, whose encouragement played a crucial role in enabling
its successful execution.
Faculty Advisor Dr. Prashant GK played a pivotal role in steering
the mission from design to deployment, with Mr. Deepak Kumar supporting the team during launch operations. Dr.
Prashant’s close mentorship and technical oversight enabled the successful
translation of the students’ vision into reality.
Reflecting on the successful
launch, Faculty Advisor Dr. Prashant GK
said, “This mission is a clear demonstration of what students can achieve when
they are given the freedom to build, test, and learn by doing. From system
design to real-time data transmission, the team has worked through every layer
of complexity with rigour and ownership. What stands out is not just the
success of the launch, but the confidence and capability the students have
developed through the process.”
The achievement demonstrates the
growing culture of research and innovation at VIT Bhopal University, with a
clear focus on hands-on, application-driven learning.
With this milestone, Team VITAKSH
has laid a strong foundation for future high-altitude and aerospace research
initiatives. The university now looks to build on this momentum by expanding
student-led innovation in frontier technologies and strengthening its position
in cutting-edge engineering education.