In a remarkable achievement, students from a private school located in Sevoor village near Tirupathur in Sivagangai district have made headlines by designing and launching a mini satellite that has led to the discovery of two new microorganisms in the atmosphere — a feat that brings immense pride to the nation.
The launch took place on February 28, coinciding with National Science Day. With official approval from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and in collaboration with a private space foundation, the students successfully launched a 2-kilogram mini satellite using a high-altitude balloon.
The satellite ascended to a height of 30 kilometers and remained airborne for approximately 3.5 hours. It eventually landed 40 kilometers away from the launch site, in Melur, Madurai district, as planned. The satellite was then retrieved and thoroughly analyzed.
ISRO veteran and current space advisor Ingersal Sellathurai, who served as a scientist at ISRO for 37 years, reviewed the satellite data. During a presentation to the students, he showcased footage captured by the onboard camera and shared a detailed report on the findings.
Speaking at the event, Sellathurai praised the students’ initiative, noting, “While such research is typically undertaken by large universities, the fact that school students have accomplished this with the support of their school administration is highly commendable.” He highlighted that this is only the second instance of a student-built mini satellite being launched in India.
He further added that the satellite not only fulfilled its mission objectives successfully but also transmitted valuable space data. Most notably, it detected the presence of two previously unknown microorganisms in the region it explored. "This discovery is incredibly exciting,” he said, noting that the scientific community would now need to study these organisms to understand their potential applications.
Emphasizing the importance of fostering scientific curiosity, Sellathurai concluded, “Science does not belong to any one individual or nation — it belongs to all of humanity. Encouraging young minds to engage in such scientific explorations is a step in the right direction.”