A student-led team from BITS Pilani Dubai Campus (BPDC) has completed a key milestone in its CubeSat initiative, MAHASAT, by finalizing the engineering model of the satellite. The project now moves into its next phase, focused on testing and preparing the satellite for potential launch.
Milestone in student satellite
MAHASAT, which began in late 2023, is a student-driven academic project developed in partnership with UAE-based Edutech4Space. The goal is to design and launch a 1U CubeSat entirely built and managed by students. This marks one of the UAE’s early student satellite missions.
The engineering model acts as a prototype, allowing students to verify that all satellite systems function correctly together. Subsystems developed include the On-Board Computer (OBC), Electrical Power System (EPS), battery, solar panels, antenna deployment, and the Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS).
Hands-on space training
As part of the process, students created simulators for solar energy and satellite tumbling, which helped them study power management and orientation challenges. They also used the VHF-UHF ground station at the campus to track live satellites, gaining experience in telemetry and signal analysis.
Students were exposed to Software Defined Radio (SDR), internal temperature and orientation sensors, and real-time subsystem testing to simulate downlink operations.
Educational impact highlighted
“MAHASAT is a testament to the power of student-led innovation, academic collaboration, and real-world engineering,” said Prof. Souri Banerjee, Director of BITS Pilani Dubai Campus.
Dr. Shrisudha Viswanathan, Founder of Edutech4Space, added: “This partnership with BITS Pilani Dubai Campus demonstrates what happens when passionate students are given access to expert mentorship and state-of-the-art learning tools. Under the visionary guidance of Dr. Mylswamy Annadurai, the mind behind India’s Moon and Mars missions, the MAHASAT team has benefitted immensely from real-world aerospace insights.”
Next phase preparations
The project will now enter Phase-4, involving environmental testing, further software integration, and development of the final flight-ready model. The initiative aligns with national efforts to build capacity in space science and provides a hands-on learning platform for future engineers in the UAE.
tanvir@dubainewsweek.com
