Dr. Sooraj V. S

Awards

ISRO AWARDConferred ISRO Team Excellence Award, as a TEAM Member contributed for the design, development, qualification and successful launch/working of ARIS payload in PS4 orbial platform of PSLV-C4…

ISRO AWARD

Conferred ISRO Team Excellence Award, as a TEAM Member contributed for the design, development, qualification and successful launch/working of ARIS payload in PS4 orbial platform of PSLV-C45 [Ref: Award Letter received from Scientific Secretary, ISRO dated 19, March 2021] [Award received from Chairman, ISRO @ IIST]

Space Science and Technology Excellence Certificate

Received IIST Space Science Technology Excellence Certificate-Year 2019 from the First Indian Cosmonaut Wing Commander; Ashok Chakra Awardee; Shri. Rakesh Sharma, for the development and success of ARIS payload (PSLV-PS4 orbital platform mission from IIST) in PSLV-C45 Mission (launched from Sriharikota on 1st April 2019). (Awarded to the team of four faculty members and four junior project fellows, on 14th September 2019, in the presence of Padma Bhushan Dr. B N Suresh, Honorable Chancellor, IIST)

Awards and Recognitions (Academics and Research):

B.Tech First Rank, Kerala University, 2003.
Topper/Gold Medalist, M. Tech, NIT Calicut, 2008.
ISTE National award for the best M.Tech Thesis, 2008.
First prize for the innovative research work, presented in the academic pavilion of International Machine Tool exhibition-IMTEX 2013.
Certificate of academic excellence from Mechanical Engineering Association, NIT Calicut, 2008

ISAMPE AWARD FOR SMART MATERIALS AND SYTEMS TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPOMENT FOR THE YEAR 2024

Indian Society for Advancements of Materials and Process Engineering (ISAMPE) award for Smart Materials and Systems Technology Development for the Year 2024 is presented to Dr. V. S. Sooraj, Department of Aerospace Engineering., IIST and his research scholars - Shri. Sarath Babu Thekkoot Surendran and Dr. Danish Handa. The award is to recognize the contributions of the research team towards (a) the development of a smart re-configurable grinding wheel with in-situ green cooling (with self-generated cold air) and self-adaptable lubricant delivery (like sweating action), utilizing the potential capabilities of additive manufacturing (3D printing), and (b) the development of an innovative grinding process with intermittent-progressive cutting scheme titled as ‘Eccentric Sleeve Grinding (ESG)’ that is highly efficient for the machining of fibre reinforced polymer composites (FRPs). The research contributions are recognized for their originality, innovation content and potential applications for the green and sustainable surface machining of difficult-to-cut engineering/aerospace/bio-medical materials such as Ti6Al4V, CFRPs, etc.

RECOGNITIONS FOR THE PROJECTS GUIDED

BEST PROJECT AWARD (Received in the year 2025) : Project work guided on the topic " Generative Design and Topology Optimization Studies on Aerospace Components for Additive Manufacturing" was awarded the Best Project in the Area of Aerospace Manufacturing, Instituted by Society of Aerospace Manufacturing Engineers (SAME). Award received by the Student (Shri. Akash Preetham) during NAMS 2025. The project was guided in collaboration with Dr. V Anilkumar, ReDAMS centre for Additive Manufacturing, RFF, VSSC
BEST PROJECT AWARD (Received in the year 2017) : Project work guided on the topic " Design, Devlopment and Computational analysis of Low Pressure Abrasive Flow Finishing' was awarded the Best B.Tech Project in the Area of Aerospace Manufacturing, Instituted by Society of Aerospace Manufacturing Engineers (SAME), in the year 2017. Award received by the Student (Shri. Aashish) during NAMS 2017.

BEST PAPER AWARDS FOR RESEARCH

Best paper award for the paper titled "An Innovative Grinding Solution Via Additive Manufacturing", presented in Aersopace Symposium on Technological Research Advancements (ASTRA), August 2024
Best paper award for the paper titled "Simulation Studies on the Intercation of Cutting Edges and Machining Induced Defects in CFRP Composites", presented in International Conferenec on Product Life Cycle Modelling, Simulation and Synthesis (PLMSS), December 2021
Best Paper Award for the paper titled “Impact wear as a surface finishing technique: approaches and assessments”, Presented in International and All India Manufacturing Technology Design and Research Conference (AIMTDR), December 2012.
Best Paper Award for the paper titled “Multi-Application Studies of Elastomeric Abrasive Balls in Fine Finishing”, Presented in Research scholars day, IIST, 2013
Best Paper Award for the paper titled "Application of elastic abrasives for micro nano finishing of surfaces”, Presented in Research scholars day, IIST, 2012

Area of Research

Additive and Subtractive Manufacturing for Space /Aerospace/ Precision Engineering Applications Manufacturing Design and Processes for Microgravity Experiments (Small Spacecrafts and Payloads) 3D printing / Prototyping for Bio-Medical Instrumentaion Mac

Department

Aerospace Engineering

sooraj [at] iist.ac.in
449

Education

PhD – Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), Thiruvananthapuram
M.Tech. – National Institute of Technology (NIT) Calicut
B.Tech. – Govt. Engg. College, Bartonhill, Trivandrum (University of Kerala)

PATENTS GRANTED

"Reconfigurable Grinding Wheel with In-built cooling and Self-adaptable lubrication system via Additive Manufacturing" : Indian Patent : Status: GRANTED (2024)
"Multipurpose resilient elasto-magnetic-abrasive spheres for fine finishing of surfaces”, Indian patent: Status: GRANTED (2020)

PATENT APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED / UNDER REVIEW

2 No.s (in the area of Bio Medical Instrumentation via Additive Manufacturing & Development of Special Gear System for Space Robotics and related applications)

ROLE IN INSTITUTE LEVEL SPACE MISSIONS

Dy. HEAD (Mechanical/AE), Small Spacecraft Systems and Payload Centre (SSPACE)

Core team member from Mechanical / Aerospace Side (in the Multi Disciplinary team) for Various SPACE Projects at IIST

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Participation in Space Missions (SUCCESSFUL LAUNCHES)

> Successful Launch and Commissioning of PILOT-G2 (GRACE) Payload in POEM platform of PSLV-C60 (SpaDeX Mission), 30 December 2024

Role: Design/ Analysis of Mechanical Systems/Hardware, Design for Additive and Subtractive Manufacturing,Testing/Qualification of Payload

> Successful Launch and Commissioning of PILOT Payload (3D printed Payload) in PSLV-C55- PS4 POEM (for Microgravity experiments), 22 April 2023

Role: Design/ Analysis of Mechanical Systems/Hardware, Design for Additive and Subtractive Manufacturing,Testing/Qualification of Payload

> Successful Launch and Commissioning of ARIS 201F payload for Ionspheric Studies in PSLV-C55- PS4 POEM (for Microgravity experiments), 22 April 2023

Role:Design/Analysis of Mechanical Systems for sensors & package;Design for Manufacturing; Realization,Testing and Qualification of Payload

> Successul launch and Commissioning of INSPIRESat-1 in PSLV -C52, 14 February 2022

Role: Design and realization of Mechanical Systems/hardware/rigs for the testing of electronic components at SSPACE and IIST Ground station.

> Sucessful Launch and Commisioning of ARIS 101 F payload in PSLV-C45- PS4 -Orbital Platform (for Microgravity experiments), 01 April 2019

Role: Design/ Analysis of Mechanical Systems for sensors & package; Design for Manufacturing ; Realization, Testing and Qualification of Payload

ONGOING MISSIONS : Involved as a team member in

IDM (EPS-TDS-01 Mission)

AHAN- IIST Satellite Initiative

ARIS-V (Recently approved as a part of Venus MIssion)

Space Biology Payload

Other SSPACE /EPDL Projects

PROPOSED /under Study : BRAIM (Involved as a co-PI/ collaborator)

SUPPORT TO ISRO CENTRES : Supported ISRO focal points for some rapid prototyping related requirements as a part of space missions/related testings

RESEARCH PROJECTS

ASRG Funded Projects

Two Projects ongoing

First Project Sanctioned in the year 2023, in the area of Additive Manufacturing for Space Application with spacial focus on Gaganyaan Mission etc.
Second Project sanctioned in the year 2024, in the area of Space Robotics with spacial focus on Design for Additive manufactruing and Smart parctices

IIST-ISRO Projects

FOUR projects completed

PhD Supervision

Completed and degree awarded

1. Dr. Danish Handa [Area of Reserach: Development of a New Machining Strategy for Fibre Reinforced Composites (Eccentric Sleeve Grinding & related Investigations)]

2. Mr. Sarath Babu Thekkoot Surendran (Ongoing, in the area of an Innovative Grinding Solution via Additive Manufacturing]

Project Funded (ASRG Scheme)

1. Mr. Akhil A I (Ongoing in the area of Additive Manufacturing for Space Application)

2. Mr. Aashish Zachariah (Undergoing Coursework / Research Initiated in the area of Design for Additive manufactruing and Smart parctices )

DOS Sponsored Candidates

1. Mr. Mohan J, VSSC (Ongoing, in the area of Lattice Based 3D printing for launch vehicle applications)

B.Tech Projects Guided

50+

Internships Guided (External Students & IIST students)

50+

Mini Projects/Course Projects Supervised

100+

HIGHLIGHTS / GALLERY >>>>

Profile

Education

Patent

PATENTS GRANTED

PATENT APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED / UNDER REVIEW

Projects/Research /Space Missions

ROLE IN INSTITUTE LEVEL SPACE MISSIONS

Participation in Space Missions (SUCCESSFUL LAUNCHES)

RESEARCH PROJECTS

Event Details