New Delhi: From launch vehicle and missile designs to spaceflight mechanisms and remote sensing, science institutes in India will soon offer a dedicated curriculum for space education at the undergraduate and postgraduate level.
The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) — an autonomous single-window nodal agency in the Department of Space — Tuesday launched a model curriculum for a minor degree in space technology.
The chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), S. Somanath said that the curriculum aims to promote early development of skills among students in the field of space technology. This, he said, would be an investment in the country’s space programme.
“Space technology is not something that can be bought. It requires developing knowledge and skills within our system and institutions,” Somanath said. “This model space curriculum will be crucial in producing the next generation of space scientists, engineers, and leaders who will carry forward ISRO’s legacy of excellence.”
What the curriculum entails
A copy of the course structure accessed by ThePrint shows that the new space module will have six courses, providing students with a Minor or Honours Degree in Space Technology.
The curriculum would include an introductory course in space technology, launch vehicle systems and technologies, spaceflight mechanics and attitude dynamics, spacecraft systems engineering, space data products and services, and an optional course on space economics, laws, policies and benefits.
Senior officials from the Department of Space confirmed that a National Committee for the Adoption of Space Technology Education, headed by IN-SPACe’s director of promotions, Vinod Kumar, was set up last year and tasked with introducing the curriculum in different institutes in the country.
Pilots of this curriculum have received positive responses from students in various institutes, according to officials. Different versions of space courses are currently available at IIT Madras and Bombay (single introductory course), IIT Roorkee and Ajeenkya DY Patil University (Masters in Space Technology), and IIT Indore (Bachelors in Space Technology).
Some of these have also been offering dual degree programmes and a PhD in space tech education since last year.
IIT Madras enrolled 70 students for undergraduate level courses last year, while IIT Bombay received over 100 applications for about 48 seats.
“The idea behind developing and promoting this curriculum is to develop strategies to introduce and enhance space technology education at various academic levels — BTech and MTech etc — and to foster partnerships between educational institutes, government bodies and industry experts to facilitate learning opportunities, internships and research collaborations,” Kumar told ThePrint.
Along with providing students with the basics of space technology, the course will also detail digital image processing, geographical and information system (GIS), data processing, space finance and insurance.
(Edited by Mannat Chugh)
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