By: Jyotirmoy Haloi (SC20B027) and Harsh Saria (SC20B025)

Topic:  𝟕𝟓 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚: 𝐈𝐈𝐒𝐓'𝐬 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐚

𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞
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“Want to get into ISRO, IIST is the place for you.”

With this intention, of ISRO getting best of the minds, IIST was formally
inaugurated on 14 September 2007 by Dr. G. Madhavan Nair, the then
Chairman, ISRO. IIST is situated at Thiruvananthapuram and is a Deemed to be
University under Section 3 of the UGC Act 1956, functioning as an autonomous
body under the Department of Space, Government of India. The fact that IIST is
the one and only institute in Asia to be fully devoted to space applications draws
space enthusiast. To make the matter best, the institute is connected with names,
names that are enough to boost someone’s vigour, like Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam,
Prof U.R.Rao, Dr B.N. Suresh, Dr. K Radhakrishnan, Shri A. S. Kiran Kumar,
Dr. K. S. Dasgupta, Dr K Sivan, Dr V.K. Dadhwal, G. Ayyappan , Sri. S.
Somanath, and myriad of other eminent personalities. With best of the faculties,
studying at IIST is actually a dream for a large section of space-wanderers. IIST
even has several international collaborations with Caltech-USA, Jet Propulsion
Laboratory-USA, University of Colorado, Boulder-USA, Technion-Israel,
University of Cambridge-UK and Nanyang Technological University-
Singapore.

From the day the institute was established, focus on research-oriented approach
was undertaken. IIST also encourages its faculty to collaborate with
scientists/engineers from ISRO/DOS, with the institute funding for the research.
Focus is given to produce cutting-edge technology, with both theoretical and
experimental approach. Students, under the faculties, even get chance to work
on ISRO projects throughout various centres. Various projects, like those on
rovers, scrubber system, spacesuits, humanoid robot, rocket injector, deployable
antenna, health care development in space, ADCS test setup for docking,
silicon-graphene based composite for Li-ion battery, physics of gamma ray
burst afterglow; are some among a rocket long list. College also has various
centres of excellence like:
•Advanced Propulsion and Laser Diagnostics: with objective to perform
propulsion research through advanced laser diagnostics and is envisaged to
serve as centre for conducting academic research in IIST that would assist ISRO
activities, national facility for performing advanced research and as a national
technological development centre for aerospace organizations. Single Element
Shear Coaxial Combustion Chamber, Supersonic Free Jet Facility, Test Rig for
Rocket Injector Jet/Spray Studies at Critical Conditions, Test Rig for Rocket
Injector Spray Characterization at Atmospheric Conditions, Isrosene Combustor
Test Rig, Basic Laser Diagnostics facility are some of the facilities provided.
Research and experiments are carried out frequently.
•Nanoscience and Technology Centre: A Nanoscience Centre was initiated in
Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology to
support and promote the advanced research on Nanoscience and technology.
The centre’s long-term objectives are Undertake challenging research projects
in this area to meet the future requirements of ISRO, establish comprehensive
research facilities under the same umbrella to attract intellectuals across the
globe, Mould high quality human resources to undertake future challenges, to
act as nodal centre, to serve as a link between industry and academia in the
country.
•Virtual Reality: Planetary exploration, Indigenous software development,
Design of VR test bed prototype, Virtual prototyping of space shuttle, Virtual
walk/fly through, Disaster modelling and simulation, 3-d VR visualization of
compounds and chemical, for theoretical and nonlinear dynamical studies,
Developing VR teaching simulations for better understanding of the concepts in
different key subjects of Avionics, aerospace, Physical science, and humanities
are some of the key research areas.
What these centres does is that it embarks upon the students the beauty of the
field and gives a professional feel. Seeing these centres, studets are more
encouraged to work and be one among those working.

There has been an immense contribution from IIST towards space science and
technology. Vyom, a sounding rocket built by BTech students, is the 1st student
made rocket in Asia. This gives all the students strength that they can also make
another, a better version of Vyom. Personally, I am very much interested to
contribute in Vyom 2. INSPIRESat-1, which is all go for launch in the next
PSLV flight was a work of SSPACE group. Also work on small satellite (Ahan)
is under process. Recently, I also got a chance to work on sspace projects and I
can say with no doubt that it is one of the best experiences. I got to learn many
new things while researching for the applications of the topic. IIST even has a
small observatory. ISRO absorption is one of the key facts why IIST is famous.
Those students who want to do something for India in space sector can directly
join ISRO with the help of IIST. The top rankers from Aerospace and Avionics
department get an opportunity to study at Caltech. Also, students get an
opportunity to do internship at JPL. Students have also undergone internship
programs at the Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI), Houston and at the
University of Texas, Arlington. Fests like, Conscientia offers a great platform to
show-case the talents in numerous fields of engineering. Dhanak, on the other
hand, encourages students to be, at the same time, culturally sound.

IIST has so far done a wide range of activities to boost our space research,
producing skilled Scientist/Engineers to work with ISRO. But after the
overview of last 15 years, we can say that IIST has been involved in research
field more than the practical grounds. So, to strengthen our Indian Space
ecosystem, there must be plenty of opportunities for the students to work with
ISRO in the graduation period. Students are the future of our country and future
of our space industry. So more skilled Scientist/Engineers are required to take
India much ahead of where it is now. What we feel is that there can be more
branches set up so that there can be a myriad of manpower available.
We all know IIST’s vision to be a world class educational and research
institution contributing significantly to the space endeavours. It’s true that the
institute is successful so far and we students would like to manifold it multiple
times. So, we must collaborate and bring forward other institutes with us. We
will help in great mixture of knowledge in a positive direction. To call spade a
spade, it has been a wonderful experience so far in IIST and we look forward to
make ourselves a better version of ourselves, with the motto of
#letsbringspacecloser.