IN-SPACe, under the Department of Space, has a mandate to enable and promote wider participation in India’s space sector
Bangalore, October 30, 2026. Seventy-seven student teams have been shortlisted from 115 registrations for the second edition of the IN-SPACe Model Rocketry and third edition of IN-SPACe CAN-7USAT India Student Competition 2026. The grand finale, locally known as the Rashtriya Narayani Rocket Cup, will be held at the Narayani Model Rocketry Launch Pad in Pipraghat, Kushinagar, from October 31 to November 3.
Organised by IN-SPACe in association with ISRO and Shrinarayani Science Development Foundation (SSDF), the competition gives undergraduate students hands-on experience in designing, developing and launching model rockets and miniature satellites against defined mission requirements.
The venue has been chosen in line with the aspiration to take space technology to a wider audience.
“We are pleased to host the third edition of the IN-SPACe Student Rocketry Competition in my Lok Sabha constituency. Bringing this prestigious programme to a remote location in Tamkuhi Raj Vidhan Sabha will not only spark the imagination of young people in my constituency and across the country, but also create opportunities to explore how space technology can be used for the development of this region,” said Shashank Mani Tripathi, Member of Parliament from Deoria, Uttar Pradesh.
Explaining the intent behind this competition, Dr Pawan Goenka, Chairman, IN-SPACe said, “A strong space ecosystem requires a skilled workforce capable of designing, building and operating space systems. These competitions allow students to apply their engineering knowledge to practical challenges, understand the complexities of mission design and execution, and develop skills relevant to the space sector. Through such initiatives, IN-SPACe seeks to encourage young talent to explore careers in space technology and contribute to India’s growing space ecosystem.
The Model Rocketry challenge requires teams to launch a rocket carrying a one-kilogram payload to an altitude of one kilometre, demonstrating flight stability, safe payload release and recovery. In the CAN-7USAT challenge, teams must
develop a can-sized satellite weighing less than one kilogram, with functional subsystems for power, instrumentation, telemetry and controlled descent.
The teams will be assessed by separate evaluation committees comprising experts from ISRO, IN-SPACe, DRDO, academia and the aerospace industry. The committees include former ISRO Associate Directors Roy M. Cherian and Dr Surendra Pal, alongside other experienced space-sector professionals.
The grand finale will also feature the Antariksh Employment Mela 2026 from November 1 to 3, connecting participating students with potential employers across areas including launch vehicle technology, satellite manufacturing and aerospace research and development.
