Thanjavur boy designs world’s lightest FEMTO satellite for NASA launch

S Riyasdeen, a second-year Mechatronics student from Sastra University has been selected to be a part of NASA mission to make the world’s lightest satellite. Riyasdeen created a 37 mm sized FEMTO satellites VISION SAT v1 and v2 with a payload of 30 mm weighing 33 gms and is now the world’s lightest FEMTO satellite, the New Indian Express reported. He hails from Karanthai in Tamil Nadu’s Thanjavur district.

“The satellites are named as VISON SAT v1 and v2 and both are of 37 mm in size and the payload is only around 30 mm with 33 grams weight and thus it has become the world’s lightest FEMTO satellites”, Riyasdeen was quoted as saying. He used polyetherimide thermoplastic resins as well as 3D printing technology.

Apart from polyetherimide thermoplastic resins, the boy deployed 3D printing technology to create the satellite. The competition was conducted by the National Aeronautical Space Agency (NASA) and had 1,000 participants from 73 countries. The competition was held for students between the age of 11 and 18.

SASTRA is to fund up to ₹5 lakhs as incubation grant to Riyasdeen to fulfil his aspiration to establish a successful start-up, said SASTRA Vice-Chancellor S Vaidhyasubramaniam.