The student and faculty team of Small-Spacecraft Systems and Payload Centre (SSPACE), IIST has designed, developed, qualified and successfully launched the payload PILOT-G2 (GRACE) in the PS4-POEM platform of PSLV C60 SpaDex mission on 30th December 2024.

Payload Designation: PILOT-G2 (GRACE)

PiLOT-G2: PS4 in-orbital OBC, TTC & GMC
GRACE: GMC Reprograming and Communication Experiment

Objectives of the payload

• To space qualify in house developed CubeSat UHF Board for receiving commands from Ground Station
• To space qualify in house developed Geiger–Müller Counter (GMC) payload for measuring high energy radiations
• To demonstrate In-Orbit Reprogramming of On-Board Computer
• To qualify the improved/faster data interface, Tele commanding in between POEM and PiLOT Packages.
• To educate the students spacecraft systems development and systems engineering on live missions

Status

After launch, PILOT-G2 (GRACE) was switched on in the 3rd orbit of POEM-4. We have received telemetry and science data from the payload. The parameters are being calibrated and evaluated. The payload is in healthy state.

Advisors, Mentors and Reviewers

• Prof. Dipankar Banerjee, Director IIST
• Dr. Unnikrishnan Nair S., Director VSSC
• Prof. Kuruvilla Joseph, Registrar, IIST
• Shri. Harish C S, Chairman ASRG & SDRT
• Dr. Ayyappan G., Chair-SRMC
• Prof. Chandrasekhar, Dean (R&D)

Student Team

• Mr. Neelanshu Kumar Panigrahi, Integration and System Engineering
• Mr. Abhishek Verma- FSW
• Mr. Rahil Rana-Thermals
• Mr. Soham Mali- Science aspects
• Mr. Antony Arupara- Science aspects
• Mr. Diwakar K- IMU calibration

Faculty Team

• Dr. Priyadarshnam, PI (OBC, FSW, Sys. Engineer, Electrical Powder Systems)- Head SSPACE
• Dr. V S Sooraj, PI Mechanical (Design, Materials Manufacturing, Structural Qualification)- Deputy Head (AE), SSPACE
• Dr. Sudharshan Kaarthik (Electronic Sub Systems)- Deputy Head (AVN), SSPACE
• Dr. Immanual Raja (Communication Systems

Supporting Faculty Team

• Dr. Umesh R Kadhane- Payload Sensor and Science aspects
• Dr. Raveendranath P.- Ground Station related supports
• Dr. Harsha Simha- IMU Sensor related aspects
• Dr. Chinmoy Saha- Antenna related supports

Project Staff

• Yoga Hariharan, Project Manager
• Yasir M., Structures and System Engineer

Alumini Group

• Mr. Lokaveer A, URSC (GMC, P1C, System Engineering)
• Mr. Sanidhya Vijawat, ISTRAC (OBC)
• Mr. Dhruva Anantha Datta, UCB (UHF)
• Mr. Arosish Priyadarshan, MVIT/SEIG, VSSC (PIS)
• Mr. Devasish Bhalla, MVIT/ASMG, VSSC (Structures)
• Mr. Srinidhi Gonahal, HSFC (FSW)
• Mr. Pratik Aher, SAC (FSW, System Engineering)

Technical Supports

• Shri. Padmakumar and Shri. Sreejith, SSPACE
• Technical Team, Manufacturing and Metrology Lab, IIST (Shri. Prakash, Shri. Rijas, Shri. Vineesh, Shri. Pramod, Shri. Abhilash, Shri. Sreerag, Shri. Sujith, Shri. Virosh, Shri. Susaj and Shri. Sajayan)

Support from ISRO CENTRES

• VSSC
• LPSC
• IISU
• URSC
• LEOS
• ISTRAC