IN-SPACe Model Rocketry & CANSAT India Student Competition
IN-SPACe Model Rocketry & CANSAT India Student Competition takes off in Kushinagar with high-energy launches and student innovation on display
New Delhi, October 27, 2025. Serene banks of the Narayani River in Tumkuhiraj, Kushinagar, turned into an expanse of excitement and innovation as the IN-SPACe Model Rocketry and CANSAT India Student Competition 2024–25 took off. With over 600 students from 70 institutions across India congregating here for four days of real-world rocketry, engineering, and inspiration, Kushinagar is set to scale itself as India’s newest launchpad for the next generation of space entrepreneurs.
Following the inauguration, the CANSAT launch segment came alive with cheers and anticipation as four teams geared up to test their satellite payloads and launch vehicles. Each student-built CANSAT, a miniature satellite weighing about 1 kg, was integrated into a model rocket designed by Thrust Tech to reach 1 km altitude, before safely deploying and recovering its payload.
After meticulous setup and countdown checks, four launchers successfully lifted off in near-perfect succession, each performance closely mirroring real mission parameters. As the rockets soared, telemetry feeds streamed real-time data on altitude, pressure, temperature, and velocity; while sensors captured pitch, yaw, and roll rates to help students analyse descent patterns and mission stability, offering a true classroom-to-sky learning experience.
Senior scientists and jury members from IN-SPACe, ISRO, and the Astronautical Society of India (ASI) were on ground, overseeing launches and engaging with students through debriefs on performance, data validation, and design innovation.
Reflecting on the day’s success, Dr. Vinod Kumar, Director, Promotion Directorate, IN-SPACe and Executive Secretary, ASI, said, “What we witnessed today is the spark of India’s space future. These young innovators are not just learning rocketry, they’re living it. Through this competition, we’re helping them build the mindset, discipline, and confidence that define India’s growing space ecosystem.”
The competition began on October 27 with technical reviews, flight readiness checks, and payload qualification tests. Teams presented their rockets, telemetry systems, and recovery mechanisms to the jury panel, receiving expert guidance ahead of launch day.
As the week progresses, the launch site continues to buzz with the sound of countdowns, analysis sessions, and young minds chasing the sky, signifying a true celebration of India’s space prominence.
