Grand Finale of Model Rocketry and CANSAT India Student Competition Takes Off in Uttar Pradesh

Over 600 Students Compete in IN-SPACe & ISRO’s Model Rocketry and CANSAT India 2024–25 Finale in Kushinagar

The four-day grand finale of the Model Rocketry and CANSAT India Student Competition 2024–25 has begun on the scenic banks of the Narayani River at Tumkuhiraj, Kushinagar. The event, one of India’s largest student-led space competitions, is organised by the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) in collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Astronautical Society of India (ASI).

Nationwide Participation and Competition Format

A total of 71 student teams, comprising around 600 students from various institutions across India, have gathered in Kushinagar to compete in this prestigious event. Of these, 36 teams are participating in the CANSAT category, while 35 teams are competing in Model Rocketry.

Each team is tasked with designing, developing, and launching a model rocket capable of deploying a 1 kg miniature satellite, known as a CANSAT (7U SAT), at an altitude of 1 to 1.5 kilometres.

CANSAT stands for “Can-sized Satellite” — a miniature satellite model designed to simulate all major subsystems of a real satellite, providing students with hands-on experience in payload design, aerodynamics, mission management, and safe recovery operations.

The mission not only tests engineering and technical precision but also aims to instil critical skills such as teamwork, coordination, and problem-solving—key competencies required in the aerospace sector.

Inspiration and Local Impact

Shashank Mani Tripathi, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) from Deoria, lauded the initiative, stating that the competition would “excite the imagination of the region and seed a culture of space awareness.” He also announced that Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will grace the closing ceremony, inspiring young innovators to pursue careers in science and technology.

Outreach and Grassroots Engagement

Ahead of the grand finale, IN-SPACe and ISRO conducted extensive outreach programs across seven districts of Uttar Pradesh — including Gorakhpur, Deoria, Kushinagar, Jaunpur, Bahraich, Bulandshahr, and Gautam Buddha Nagar. These efforts aimed to foster interest in space and science education among school and college students.

The outreach campaign featured creative and interactive initiatives such as the ‘Art-in-Space’ contest and the ‘Space Quiz 20:20’, which together attracted participation from nearly 73,000 students. The winners of these regional contests will be felicitated during the grand finale and will also have the opportunity to experience an immersive space habitat module at the competition venue.

Adding to the excitement, the organisers have also deployed an ‘Antariksh Rath’ — a mobile science exhibition showcasing rocket and satellite models, astronaut suits, and interactive learning tools. The travelling exhibition is touring schools across participating districts to ignite scientific curiosity and encourage experiential learning in space technology.

Educational Significance and Vision

According to Dr. Vinod Kumar, Director of the Promotion Directorate at IN-SPACe and Executive Secretary of ASI, the competition underscores the organisation’s commitment to experiential learning in science and engineering.

“By engaging students directly with real-world challenges in model rocketry and satellite deployment, we are preparing the next generation of scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs for India’s rapidly growing space industry,” he said.

This initiative is part of IN-SPACe’s broader mission to strengthen India’s space education ecosystem and build capacity aligned with the national goal of achieving a $44 billion space economy by 2033.

About IN-SPACe

The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) was established in June 2020 as an autonomous nodal agency under the Department of Space (DoS). It serves as a single-window body to promote, enable, authorise, and supervise the participation of non-governmental entities (NGEs) in space activities — ranging from developing launch vehicles and satellites to providing space-based services and sharing ISRO’s infrastructure.

IN-SPACe operates through three core divisions:

• Promotion Directorate (PD): Focuses on student engagement, innovation, and capacity building.

• Technical Directorate (TD): Handles engineering and design validation.

• Program Management & Authorization Directorate (PMAD): Oversees program compliance and authorisation. It also includes administrative, financial, and legal wings to ensure smooth coordination and regulation.

A Step Toward a Space-Literate Nation

The Model Rocketry and CANSAT India Student Competition 2024–25 represents another milestone in IN-SPACe’s mission to integrate education, technology, and innovation at the grassroots level. By nurturing young talent and promoting practical exposure in rocketry and satellite systems, the initiative is helping India build a globally competitive space ecosystem.

As rockets soar above the Narayani River over the next four days, they carry not just miniature satellites — but also the aspirations of India’s next generation of space explorers.