First private satellite set for launch
EXSEEDSAT 1 IS BRAINCHILD OF HAM RADIO OPERATOR FARHAN, OTHER HYDERABADIS
Exseedsat 1 is brainchild of ham radio operator Ashhar Farhan and other Hyderabadis |
The success of this satellite proves that we can build satellites on our own. This will be a major leap towards the democratisation of space technology and exploration.”
Ashhar Farhan |
Amateur ham radio operator
Come Monday next US-based SpaceX will launch India’s first private satellite build by a group of Hyderabadis with the support of some of small, city-based firms.
The satellite ExseedSat 1, the brainchild of Hyderabad based amateur ham radio operator and socio-cultural activist Ashhar Farhan, would give a major boost to ham radio operators in the country.
“We have developed the satellite with the help and contribution from several small firms located in and around Hyderabad as well as other ham operators. It is the first private satellite from India which has a stamp of Hyderabad on it”, said Ashhar, popularly known as the founder of La-makan, a hub of cultural and literary meetings in the city.
The satellite was developed by a city-based startup Exseed Space formed by a group of individuals, without any help of any government agencies including Indian Space Research Oraganisation (Isro).
Developed by individuals
“The satellite was developed over a period of two years by a group of individuals at a budget of Rs2 crore (Rs20 million, Dh1.02 million),” said Kris Nair, the CEO of Exseed. “This will be our first and more advanced small aircraft will be launched in future for commercial and academic customers and will also offer its services to the government,” he added.
ExseedSAT 1 will take the place of HAMSAT, which had stopped functioning four years ago. It will be a great support to ham operators, as it will function on very high and ultrahigh frequency signals.
Farhan, a computer whizkid from childhood who had started his career as a hardware engineer had come up with the idea of building and sending a small satellite into space. “This is the private satellite in the country which was built without any support from any government agency. All the technological components have come from Exseed,” he said.
“The success of this satellite proves that we can build satellites on our own. This will be a major leap towards the democratisation of space technology and exploration”, he added.
The first Hyderabadi satellite will ride on the rocket of SpaceX to be launched on November 19 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. It will be one of 70 spacecraft to be launched on the mission. They will include payloads from 18 different countries, 15 micro satellites and 56 cube satellites.