IIST to offer courses in space technology

Sep 17: Indian Space Research Organisation, ISRO has launched Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, IIST the third institute of its kind in the world to produce the best scientists in Aerospace engineering to fulfill the forthcoming demands of Indian space programme on Friday September 14 Thiruvananthapuram.

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IIST has offered a four-year Bachelor in Technology, B Tech degree with specialisation in avionics and aerospace engineering, as well as a five-year integrated master’s degree in applied sciences with special thrust on space-related subjects. IIST has tied the knot with College of Engineering, Thiruvananthapuram (CET), and Mar Ivanios College for laboratory facilities to provide a world-class degree and facilities to its students.

ISRO has appointed a twenty-member faculty headed by Vikram Sarajibhai Space Centre’s director Dr BN Suresh for teaching 144 students registered in the both the degree programmes. The temporary class has begun on the inauguration day at Vikram Sarajibhai Space Centre, VSSC in Thiruvananthapuram, while the permanent classes will be set up at pleasing site in Ponmudi near Thiruvananthapuram. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will lay the foundation stone very soon and the class will start in the premise within one and half year, informed G Madhavan Nair, Chairman of ISRO.

The two-stream curriculum has been developed for different undergraduate programme to provide versatility and high quality in each stream. For the first year, the syllabus of both the stream is same while in second year and third year, students will have to study engineering curriculum, and the fourth year curriculum will be optional credits and provide specialization in aerospace science areas such as propulsion, aerodynamics, communications, embedded systems, and software.

On the other hand, for the five-year Integrated Masters in Applied Sciences, the curriculum will be basically theoretical science in the first three years while last two years will have specialisation in Astronomy and Astrophysics, Atmospheric Science, Material Science and Remote Sensing and GIS with stress on experimental studies to make the super specialist scientists.

IIST will be a completely a residential institute and world-class hostel facilities will be available in the premise of Ponmudi.

"We have to develop new generation space technology and the Institute is expected to provide the manpower for future space programmes. ISRO has mastered the technology and we are in the forefront of the nation as far as space technology is concerned", said Madhavan Nair expressing to fulfill the dream of Vision 2020.

Speaking on the occasion, Nair said “ISRO has a long time goal and has prepared a Vision for 2020. Meticulous planning was going on towards achieving this mission….Low-cost access to space, exploration of the solar system, putting up a base in the Moon and the 'Chandrayaan' mission are some of the future programmes of ISRO, added Nair.

On the land controversy, this is going on from the beginning of the proposal passed for establishing campus of IIST at Ponmundi, Madhvan said, “ISRO does not want to be a part of the land-deal controversy. Its land purchase agreement is transparent and is carried out following due procedures”.

The prime target of the institute is to sharpen the brightest minds for India’s ambitious space programme that is currently facing an acute shortage of brains because of decaying interest in science and research sector as the commerce sector has boom in the last five years and provide the best job and salary package in the world. ISRO will choose those candidates who get a first class every year.