The Smallest Satellite Ever Launched by NASA Is Made by a 17-Year-Old Indian

When Rifath Sharook looks up to the sky, the firmament beckons him to explore. Rifath saw his dream come true when he designed and developed the world’s smallest satellite. He named his small creation KalamSat, in honor of the nuclear physicist and former Indian President Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. This mini-satellite weighs only 64 gm and is similar to a rubic cube that fits into a palm. He used 3D printing to create miniature spacecraft. The satellite was able to meet the requirements established by NASA for its built-in carbon fiber.  On June 22, 2017, Mr. Sharook witnessed the launch of his small satellite during a Terrier Orion-sounding rocket mission. In 12 minutes, the tiny satellite finished its task. The mission's goal was to evaluate the carbon fiber's performance in challenging circumstances. The team was thrilled as the mission was successful. Sharook took part in the NASA and "I Doodle Learning" competition "Cubes in orbit" with his invention. This was his ticket to space. The competition had participation from about 80,000 pupils. His project garnered a lot of attention. Since he was a young child, Sharook has been a member of the Chennai-based Space Kidz India organization. The Kalam SAT was developed as a result of this experience and early stimulation, which produced unexpected outcomes. According to the young scientist, Abdul Kashif, the lead engineer in charge of the engineering calculations, Yagna Sai, the chief technologist, and their strong team contributed to the success of the Kalam SAT. The simulation and flight calculations were planned by flight engineer Tanishq Dwivedi. The satellite's structure and exterior cladding were handled by structural engineer Vinay Bharadwaj.