From the Brahmaputra to orbit: Northeast India enters space age with LACHIT-1 satellite

Assam Don Bosco University (ADBU) is all set to make history with the launch of LACHIT-1, the first satellite developed from Northeast India, scheduled to lift off aboard ISRO’s PSLV-C62 rocket on January 12. The mission is a major step in decentralising India’s space ecosystem and bringing advanced space technology to a region traditionally removed from the country’s aerospace hubs.

The satellite has been built through a collaborative academic effort under Dhruva Space’s Polar Access-1 programme of Hyderabad, engaging over 50 students and faculty members from Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur. Named after Lachit Borphukan, the iconic Ahom military commander of the 17th century, the satellite reflects both technological ambition and regional pride.

LACHIT-1 has been designed to test a store-and-forward communication payload operating on amateur radio frequencies. In practical terms, the satellite will collect short messages from ground stations, temporarily store them onboard, and relay them back to Earth during later passes. This communication method is expected to be particularly useful in disaster-prone areas of the Northeast, where extreme weather and difficult terrain often interrupt conventional connectivity.

The project stands out for the extensive hands-on exposure provided to students. Through Dhruva Space’s ASTRA (Accelerated Space Technology Readiness & Access) for Academia programme, participants were involved in every stage of the satellite’s development, including system integration, functional validation, interface testing and launch readiness assessments. A ground station was also established at the university campus, and teams received operational training using Dhruva Space’s Integrated Space Operations Command Suite (ISOCS).

Describing the mission as a milestone for the region, ADBU Vice Chancellor Jose Palely said the satellite represents a long-term investment in talent and capability. He noted that enabling students to design, assemble and operate a satellite in orbit would help build a strong pipeline of future scientists and engineers from the Northeast.

Once deployed, LACHIT-1 will be accessible to licensed amateur radio operators across the globe, allowing international users to participate in communication experiments. To further expand its impact, Dhruva Space plans to conduct specialised workshops with the National Institute of Amateur Radio and ADBU, focusing on emergency communication systems and disaster response applications.

According to Avinash Maramraju, Director of Sales and Business Development at Dhruva Space, the mission highlights a broader transformation in India’s space sector. He emphasised that advanced space capabilities are no longer limited to a few established centres, but are emerging wherever institutions are willing to take on real-world engineering challenges.

The launch also adds to ADBU’s growing academic profile. The university has received an ‘A’ grade from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) and holds SIRO recognition from the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), making it the first private university in Northeast India to receive the certification.

As PSLV-C62 carries LACHIT-1 into orbit, the mission is expected to serve as both a technological demonstration and a symbol of the Northeast’s expanding role in India’s space ambitions.

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