Bhopal girl part of team that designed satellite
Bhopal girl Amolika Soni lived her childhood dream when “Pratham” – an academic micro-satellite designed and built by IIT-Bombay students – was launched by ISRO on Monday.
Bhopal girl Amolika Soni lived her childhood dream when “Pratham” – an academic micro-satellite designed and built by IIT-Bombay students – was launched by ISRO on Monday.
IIT-Bombay student Soni, 23, has become a part of the project team three years ago while pursuing bachelor of engineering. She also did her MTech in Aerospace from IIT-Bombay.
Soni, who wants to be like former president APJ Abdul Kalam, astronauts Kalpana Chawla and Sunita Williams, is working with an MNC.
“I always dreamt of designing and developing satellite and to become aeronautics engineer. I feel proud that IIT-Bombay gave me that chance at early age.”
“We were waiting for the launch for the past nine years. The moment it was launched, I can’t explain my feeling,” said Soni.
“My teacher called me and said Amolika you made us proud today and we are extremely happy that we taught you. I don’t have any words to express my joy after listening it,” she said.
Soni did her schooling from St Joseph’s Co-Ed School in Bhopal and passed out in 2011.
“My aim is to become a part of ISRO to serve the nation and to make my country proud. If I could achieve 20-50% of what former President APJ Abdul Kalam did for the country, it will be everything for me.”
Her father Ajay Kumar Soni and mother Mamta Soni celebrated their daughter’s success.
The 10-kg micro-satellite, launched by the ISRO on Monday from Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, will measure the total electron count in the ionosphere that can improve accuracy of global positioning system in India and predict tsunamis.