Pratham (satellite) explained

Pratham
Mission Type:	Ionospheric Technology
Operator:	IIT Bombay
Website:	Pratham, IIT Bombay Student Satellite Initiative
Cospar Id:	2016-059A
Mission Duration:	4 months
Manufacturer:	Student Satellite Lab, IIT Bombay
Launch Date:	September 26, 2016
Launch Site:	Satish Dhawan, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh
Launch Contractor:	ISRO
Orbit Reference:	Geocentric
Orbit Regime:	Low Earth
Apsis:	gee

Pratham is an Indian ionospheric research satellite which will be operated by the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay as part of the Student Satellite Initiative. Its primary mission is to count electrons in the Earth's ionosphere.^[1]

The Pratham spacecraft is a cube with 30cm (10inches) sides and a mass of around .^[2] It was conceptualized by a team of students under the supervision of Professor K. Sudhakar.^[3] Pratham was successfully launched on 26 September 2016 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh along with 7 other satellites on PSLV C-35.

Mission

'Pratham' has a Four-fold Mission Statement:

See also

• Jugnu (satellite)

External links

• Pratham - IIT Bombay Student Satellite Initiative

Notes and References

1. Web site: Mission. Pratham. IIT Bombay Student Satellite Initiative. 28 March 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20090717001248/http://www.aero.iitb.ac.in/pratham/mission.php. 17 July 2009. dead.
2. Web site: At IIT-Bombay, a satellite built by students takes shape. Kartha. Riya. 20 August 2008. Express India. 28 March 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20121004220605/http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/At-IITBombay-a-satellite-built-by-students-takes-shape/351081/. 4 October 2012.
3. Web site: Team. Pratham. IIT Bombay Student Satellite Initiative. 28 March 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20161219065549/http://www.aero.iitb.ac.in/pratham/currentTeam.php. 19 December 2016. dead.