KL University students launch 3 satellites from makeshift launchpad on campus

Vijayawada: In a proud moment for Andhra Pradesh's academic and scientific community, three satellites designed and developed by students of KL University were successfully launched from the university's campus in Vaddeswaram, near Tadepalli, Guntur district, on Saturday morning. A team of 34 students from the department of electronics and communication engineering (ECE), guided by faculty members Dr CH Kavya and Dr K Sarathkumar, worked for months to build the satellites — KL JAC, KLSAT-2, and CONSAT. The university's cricket ground was transformed into a makeshift launchpad for the event.

Union minister of state for science and technology Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma and state deputy speaker Kanumuru Raghurama Krishnam Raju attended the launch, joined by university officials and hundreds of students.

Speaking at the event, Bhupathi Raju said, "It is inspiring to see students taking part in real-time space research. The satellites designed by KL University have showcased the innovation potential of young Indian engineers. Every college must function like a laboratory to encourage hands-on scientific exploration. Isro and the govt are supporting universities to strengthen indigenous knowledge and innovation under the Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat missions."

Deputy speaker Raghurama Krishnam Raju added, "This is a proud moment for Andhra Pradesh. The successful launch of three satellites by university students shows how science and technology are advancing under India's leadership. I urge students to continue contributing to the nation's growth through innovation and research."

Each satellite serves a distinct research purpose. KL JAC is a credit card–sized pico balloon satellite designed to operate in the troposphere for up to three months, monitoring air quality, temperature, humidity, and telemetry. It ranks among India's smallest educational satellites.

KLSAT-2 is a hybrid AeroSwift VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) module launched via drone. Equipped with a spectrometer, it collects atmospheric data on air pollution and ozone concentration, traveling nearly 60 km before landing back on the launchpad.

CONSAT, a mini-satellite selected from Andhra Pradesh in a national competition organized by InSpace, Isro, and the Astronautical Society of India (ASI), is designed for weather and air quality studies, transmitting live data to the university's control centre.

KL University vice chairman Koneru Nikhila Karthikeyan congratulated the students and faculty, stating that the university plans to expand its research infrastructure and pursue a rocket launch program in the near future.