Guwahati, January 12: Northeast India entered the country’s space era with the successful launch of LACHIT-1, the region’s first satellite, aboard ISRO’s PSLV-C62 today. The satellite was deployed as part of Dhruva Space’s Polar Access-1 (PA-1) mission from Sriharikota.

Named after Ahom warrior Lachit Borphukan, LACHIT-1 (Live Amateur Communication Hub for Innovative Technologies – One) is a store-and-forward amateur radio satellite. It will enable global licensed operators to conduct communication experiments, while ADBU and the National Institute of Amateur Radio plan workshops to train users for disaster response applications.

Over 50 students and faculty from Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, and Manipur contributed to the project. Under Mission Director Prof. Vikramjit Kakati, ADBU’s space program, initiated in 2022, now includes satellite engineering and ground operations. The team handled full integration, testing, and reviews using Dhruva’s P-DoT platform and DSOD-1U system.

Vice-Chancellor Fr. Jose Palely called the launch a “statement of intent” for the Northeast, emphasizing its potential to support flood, landslide, and power outage management through satellite communication. LACHIT-1 will be operated via ADBU’s VHF/UHF station and Dhruva’s ISOCS, giving students practical experience in orbital management.

The launch of LACHIT-1 marks a significant milestone in the Northeast’s growing presence in India’s space initiatives.