Three Indian Students bagged NASA Awards

Three Indian students from Indian educational institutions bagged NASA awards. These students have designed and launched their own satellites and have won a US space agency's student competition (foreign category) challenge.

According to National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), these three students are from Institute of Technology-Kanpur (IIT-K), Anna University of Chennai, and SRM University. They won the environmentally responsible (green) aviation college student challenge in May 2011.

As per SRM, a team of four students Akshay Garg, Surya Kiran Peravalli, Abdul Sayeed Khan and Pate Sweety Prakash, participated in the contest, under the guidance of G. Mahendra Perumal, assistant professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering. The have developed a conceptual aircraft named SERA (SRM Environmentally Responsible) Airliner".

This team has designed an airplane for 200 passengers which is a blend of efficient technologies like fuel efficiency, aerodynamic performance with small take-off and landing distances. NASA's Langley Aerodynamic Research Centre is arranging a student forum during Nov 15-16 and the team of SRM University has been invited to make their presentation.

IIT-K and SRM University launched their small satellites - Jugnu and SRMSAT Wednesday - using an Indian rocket Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).

Source: Richha Bhatnagar (Shiksha Team)