ISRO's Groundbreaking Launch: All-Women Team's Satellite to Unlock Black Hole Mysteries

The Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Technology for Women (LBSITW) in Thiruvananthapuram marked the beginning of the new year with an extraordinary achievement. On January 1, their nanosatellite, WESAT (Women Engineered SATellite), crafted by students, soared into space aboard an Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) mission.

A Triumph Of Women-Led Innovation

Weighing 1.4 kg, WESAT stands as India's pioneering satellite entirely designed and developed by women. Launched as part of the PSLV-C58/XPoSat mission, it symbolises the dedication and hard work of the LBS Institute's space club members.

Lizy Abraham, Assistant Professor and Principal Investigator of the satellite project expressed her excitement from Sriharikota, stating, "It’s a big moment for us. Five years of hard work has paid off."

From Concept To Orbit: The Journey Of WESAT

The project, conceived in 2018 and approved by ISRO in 2019, faced challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite setbacks, the team of 150 women persisted, with 42 actively contributing to the satellite's development.

Sheril Mariam Jose, one of three coordinators of the project, highlighted, "Many of them have graduated, and we have 42 members in the club at present. In all, 150 women have worked on WESAT."

Overcoming Hurdles: Funding And Collaboration

Funds, a crucial factor in the project's realization, amounted to ₹30 lakh. The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), along with contributions from the Department of Science and Technology and the Kerala Government, played a pivotal role. Dr. J. Jayamohan, the Principal of LBS Institute, praised the students and faculty for their dedication, noting, "The institute started work on the satellite project in 2019, but the COVID-19 pandemic delayed it."

As part of the comprehensive project, the institute constructed a ground monitoring station operational since last year. With WESAT in orbit, the institute aims to analyse and interpret the collected data, contributing valuable insights to ISRO and the State Disaster Management Authority. Jayakumar M., PSLV-C58 mission director, stated, "The WESAT project showcases women empowerment in the field of science and technology."