It's official, the world's smallest satellite was launched by NASA yesterday and it was yet another proud moment for India as it was designed by an 18-year old Tamil Nadu student, Riftah Sharook and his team. The team named the satellite after the late APJ Abdul Kalam and it weighs only 64 grammes. The satellite is called “Kalamsat”.

(c) BCCL

The satellite was 3D printed and it was the first time that such technology is being used in space. In a statement to ANI, Sharook said It is for the first time that 3D printing technology is being used in space. We have made history. The world's smallest satellite has been launched into space. It was not possible without my team,”

The project was under the supervision of founder and CEO of Space Kids India, Dr Srimathy Kesan. Speaking to the Times of India, Kesan said that the satellite separated from the main rocket and fell into the sea. The launch was a success and the Kalamsat will be recovered by NASA for decoding all the data collected by the satellite.  

(c) BCCL

Kesan described the satellite to be a 3.8 cm cube and can easily fit in one's hand. What's surprising about the satellite is that the entire structure of the satellite was 3D printed and was equipped with a nano Geiger-Muller counter. This Geiger-Muller counter is used to measure radiation in space and the satellite was constructed using light weight reinforced carbon fibre polymer. Space is not unreachable… Space has got no boundaries and therefore, let's all do research together and let's conquer Mars soon,” Kesan was quoted by ANI as saying.