From a University Lab to Orbit: How the ADBU’s Student-Built LACHIT-1 Satellite Made History for Northeast India

From a University in Assam to the Stars

When you picture a satellite being built, you might imagine a sprawling, high-security government facility. You probably don't picture a university campus in Assam. Yet, that's exactly where a piece of Indian space history is just about to be made. A team of students and faculty at Assam Don Bosco University (ADBU) have successfully designed, built, and will launch LACHIT-1 (Live Amateur Communication Hub for Innovative Technologies – One), the very first satellite from India's entire Northeast region.

The Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (EEE) of ADBU, is pleased to highlight the achievement of two of its B.Tech. fourth-semester students—Mr. Herric Cleven Kurbah of Meghalaya and Ms. W. Jolly Singha of Silchar—who were members of the successful student group. Dr. Pushpanjalee Konwar, Head of the Department, remarked, “Their achievement reflects the dedication, talent, and steadily advancing academic excellence of our EEE students. We are delighted by their success and take great pride in their accomplishments.”

LACHIT-1 is more than just a successful science project; it's a landmark achievement that has put an entire region on the nation's space map. The mission, which will be launched aboard ISRO's famously reliable PSLV- DL-C62 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 10:17 am IST on 12 January 2026, as part of a larger commercial mission called Dhruva Space's Polar Access-1 (PA-1), marks a new era of decentralized innovation.

1. A Historic First: Putting an Entire Region on the Space Map

It’s more than a satellite; it’s a symbol of regional pride.

LACHIT-1 (Live Amateur Communication Hub for Innovative Technologies – One) is the very first satellite developed in Assam and the broader Northeast, representing the aspirations of all eight states: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura. Its launch is a powerful statement about the region's growing technological capabilities.

To honor this milestone, the satellite is named after the revered 17th-century Ahom general, Lachit Borphukan. The name serves as a bridge, connecting the region's celebrated historical legacy of leadership with its ambitious future in space technology.

LACHIT-1 represents the Northeast’s intent to contribute meaningfully to India’s space ecosystem and underlines the role academic institutions can play by combining rigorous learning with real-world application to nurture future-ready scientists and engineers.

2. The Mission: A "Cosmic Mailbox" That Could Save Lives

Its core function is simple, but its application is powerful.

The satellite's primary function is to demonstrate a "store-and-forward" communication system. You can think of it as a "cosmic mailbox." It can receive a short message from a ground station, store it onboard as it orbits the Earth, and then relay that message back down when it passes over another location.

This technology has a critical potential application that could be a lifeline for the region. In emergency scenarios like floods or landslides, where conventional communication networks are often disrupted, LACHIT-1 could serve as a vital backup link for emergency responders to send and receive essential information.

Operating on amateur radio frequencies, the satellite is also an open platform for a global community of licensed operators. To ensure the mission creates a lasting legacy, Dhruva Space, in collaboration with the National Institute of Amateur Radio and ADBU, will conduct training programmes focused on using amateur satellites for disaster communication and emergency response, turning this single achievement into a sustainable educational platform.

Projects like LACHIT-1 are a perfect example of education in action. According to Fr. (Dr) Jose Palely, Vice-Chancellor of ADBU, the mission showcases how academic institutions can combine "rigorous learning with real-world application to nurture future-ready scientists and engineers."

3. The Makers: A Dream Team of Students, Mentors, and National Heroes

This wasn't built in isolation—it was a masterclass in collaboration.

The LACHIT-1 mission was driven by the collaborative energy of over 50 students and faculty from Assam Don Bosco University (ADBU), with members from across the Northeast, including Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, and Manipur. This team effort was made possible by a sophisticated public-private synergy that is becoming a force multiplier for India's space ambitions.

This modern space ecosystem functions as a clear, repeatable pathway to orbit:

• The Students of ADBU: They were the core team at the heart of the project. As part of Dhruva Space’s ASTRA (Accelerated Space Technology Readiness & Access) for Academia program, they designed, built, and meticulously tested the satellite, gaining invaluable hands-on experience.

• Dhruva Space (The Private Enabler): Acting as the "general contractor," the Hyderabad-based "full-stack" space infrastructure company provided the end-to-end support that made the project feasible. They supplied the core P-DoT satellite platform, the DSOD-1U system to deploy it from the rocket, and established the VHF/UHF ground station on the ADBU campus—complete with their Integrated Space Operations Command Suite (ISOCS) software—to operate the mission.

• IN-SPACe (The Regulatory Gatekeeper): The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre provided the official authorization, acting as the single-window "rule-keeper" for private sector space activities.

• NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) (The Commercial Gateway): As ISRO's commercial arm, NSIL served as the "booking agent," procuring the launch service and enabling private missions like LACHIT-1 to fly on national assets.

• ISRO (The Heavy-Lifting Muscle): The Indian Space Research Organisation provided the powerful and proven PSLV-C62 rocket, the heavy-lifting muscle that carried LACHIT-1 and the aspirations of its creators safely to orbit.

4. The Blueprint: Proving Great Ideas Can Come from Anywhere

The LACHIT-1 mission created a repeatable recipe for success.

This mission serves as a powerful blueprint for the democratization of space, proving how other universities and regions can actively participate in high-end technology development. By successfully taking a satellite from a university campus to orbit, the project proves that world-class innovation is not limited to traditional technology hubs.

This achievement validates a full-stack commercial model that helps decentralize India's space ecosystem, tapping into a wider national talent pool and empowering new regional hubs. It is a tangible demonstration that, as Dhruva Space Director Avinash Maramraju stated, "... advanced space capabilities are no longer confined to a few locations."

LACHIT-1: A Small Satellite's Giant Leap

LACHIT-1 is far more than just a piece of hardware circling the globe. It is a "classroom in the sky" that has given dozens of students invaluable real-world experience, nurturing a new generation of scientists and engineers. It is also a powerful symbol of a new, more inclusive, and collaborative era in India's space journey.

The successful launch is not an end, but a beginning. It proves a pathway for academic institutions everywhere to turn ambitious ideas into orbiting realities, validating a scalable model for public-private synergy. With the path now proven, what new corner of India will be the next to reach for the stars?

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Written by Jesif Ahmed.

ADBU’s Research Conclave 2025: Powering Progress & Charting a Collaborative Course to SDG 7

The global quest for affordable and clean energy is more urgent than ever, a beacon guiding us towards a sustainable future encapsulated by Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7). While the challenge is universal, the solutions often lie in understanding unique regional contexts and fostering unprecedented collaboration. This was precisely the spirit that animated the recent Research Conclave-2025 on "Towards Achieving SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy): Collaborative Roles of Engineering and Science Disciplines in Higher Education", held on September 13, 2025, at the Assam Don Bosco University (ADBU) in Guwahati, Assam, India.

Organized by the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, ADBU, in collaboration with the Department of Electrical Engineering, Assam Engineering College (AEC), this conclave was far more than an academic gathering. It was a strategic convergence, designed to bridge critical gaps in collaboration between universities, industries, NGOs, and government bodies in Northeast India.

This ambitious event attracted a diverse cohort of 93 participants, comprising students, scholars, faculty members, researchers, practitioners, and policymakers. The intellectual tapestry of the conclave was woven from contributions by numerous regional institutions, including Assam Don Bosco University (ADBU), Assam Engineering College (AEC), C-DAC, Cotton University, Dudhnoi College, Girijananda Chowdhury University (GCU), Mangaldai College, and Rangia College. Other regional institutions like GIMT, GU, IIT, Royal Global University, NIT Silchar, Assam Down Town University, and Tezpur University were also involved as participants. Crucial to its success were the dedicated industry partners: the Clean Energy Access Network, Emertxe, and WRI India, whose support underpinned the conclave's objectives. Their collective presence underscored the event's commitment to multi-stakeholder collaboration, setting the stage for a day of profound insights and actionable strategies.

Many dignitaries and key individuals from ADBU were present throughout the Research Conclave. Fr. Joseph Nellanatt, the Pro-Vice Chancellor of ADBU, initiated the event with the Welcome Address and Prayer. Following this, Dr. Pushpanjalee Konwar, Head of the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (EEE) at ADBU, provided an essential overview of the conclave and was also noted as a co-presenter for research papers. During the afternoon's paper presentation sessions, Prof. (Dr.) Shakuntala Laskar and Dr. Bikramjit Goswami, both from ADBU, chaired the Presentation Track-1 and Track-3 respectively, with the Track-2 being chaired by Prof. (Dr.) Runumi Sarma – Head of the Department of Electrical Engineering, Assam Engineering College. The crucial "Way forward" session was led by Prof. (Dr.) Manoranjan Kalita, Director of ADBU School of Technology, while the feedback session was facilitated by Dr. Hironmay Deb, Co-Convener of the conclave and an Assistant Professor at ADBU, who also acted as the anchor for the event. Fr. K. J. Thomas, Rector of ADBU- took initiative in distributing the participation certificates. The Vote of Thanks was delivered by Dr. Jyoti Kumar Barman, Convener of the conclave and an Assistant Professor at ADBU. Adding a cultural touch, Ms. Promita Das, an ADBU student, performed the Saraswati Vandana and presented her own research. Beyond these facilitators and organizers, numerous other students and faculty from ADBU actively participated by presenting papers or acting as co-presenters, demonstrating the university's broad engagement in the research discourse.

A Morning of Vision: Global Insights, Regional Resonance

The day kicked off with an invigorating Morning Session featuring eminent speakers who offered a panoramic view of cutting-edge global and industry research in clean energy. Visionaries like Mr. Mrinal Krishna Choudhury (Former Director, AEDA), Dr. Pankaj Kalita (IIT Guwahati), Mr. Jayakumar Balasubramanian (Director, Emertxe), Mr. Masfick Hazarika (Program Manager, Energy, WRI India), and Dr. Yanrenthung Odyuo (NIT Meghalaya), among others, shared their expertise. Their plenary talks were not just informative; they served as a powerful catalyst, framing the technical and policy discourse for the day and helping to identify pilot priorities specifically for Northeast India. These discussions underscored that reliable, affordable, and clean energy is not merely a technological pursuit but a fundamental pillar for economic growth, environmental protection, and social fairness.

The Afternoon Unveiled: 29 Pathways to a Cleaner Tomorrow

The Afternoon Session truly brought the regional context to the forefront with 29 technical research paper presentations delivered by students and scholars from various regional institutions. These institutions included Assam Don Bosco University (ADBU), Assam Engineering College (AEC), C-DAC, Cotton University, Dudhnoi College, Girijananda Chowdhury University (GCU), Mangaldai College, Rangia College, GIMT, GU, IIT, Royal Global University, NIT Silchar, Assam Down Town University, Tezpur University, and Kaziranga University. These presentations, the vibrant heart of the conclave, showcased a remarkable breadth of innovative research, all aimed at addressing Northeast India's unique challenges stemming from its diverse geography, rich biodiversity, and scattered rural communities.

Topics spanned the entire spectrum of clean energy innovation:

• Smart Grid and Energy Management Systems: Researchers delved into securing our future grids with papers like "Cyber Threats and Vulnerability Analysis in Smart Metering Systems" and "Mitigation and Defence Techniques for Smart Meters Cyber-attacks". Other presentations focused on enhancing operational efficiency, such as "Predictive Maintenance of Induction Motors Using Dual-Sensor Monitoring" and "Smart Three-Phase Energy Monitoring System with Critical Alert Generation and IoT Cloud Integration".

• Renewable Energy Technologies and Integration: Innovations in solar power were a key focus, with studies on "Recent Advances in Photovoltaic Cell Efficiency Enhancement", "A Machine Learning Approach to Solar Energy Prediction from Weather Forecast Data", and "A Review of Standalone Solar PV System Design Using PVGIS, PVsyst, and HOMER". The crucial role of energy storage was highlighted in "Recent progress in energy storage solutions for renewable energy systems", alongside explorations of "Microgrid Configurations: A Comprehensive Review of AC, DC and Hybrid Systems".

• Applications of AI/ML: Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning emerged as powerful tools for sustainability. Papers like "Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for Sustainable Energy Systems: Applications, Challenges, and Future Directions" demonstrated their utility in forecasting, smart grid optimization, and fault detection in power systems.

• Sustainable Practices and Community Impact: The human element was not overlooked. Research on "Awareness and Adoption of Eco-Friendly Products among the Students of Higher Educational Institutions" and "Awareness and Practices of Energy Conservation among Undergraduate Students" addressed crucial behavioral changes. Innovative IoT solutions for societal challenges included "Solar power IoT enabled smart retractable greenhouse with hydroponics and energy optimization" and even an "IOT Based elephant intrusion detection and warning system".

These sessions and structured discussions further facilitated the comparison of regional research with global benchmarks, creating vital pathways for future collaborations and identifying research gaps. Abstracts for all these impactful papers are meticulously documented in the Abstract Book, which was launched in the concluding ceremony.

Catalyzing Action: Outcomes and the Way Forward

The conclave successfully delivered on its ambitious objectives, fostering a dynamic environment for exchange and innovation. Key outcomes included:

• A stronger regional clean energy network, connecting academia, industry, NGOs, and policymakers.
• Clear identification of research gaps between regional and global/industry standards.
• The development of collaborative roadmaps for applied research projects and pilot deployments, especially for rural and underserved areas.
• Improved student and researcher capacity in renewable energy technologies and policy frameworks.
• Crucially, recommendations for policy and industry engagement, tailored to the Northeast’s unique energy challenges.

This event powerfully supported the advancement of decentralized renewable energy (DRE) solutions, which are particularly vital for the scattered rural communities of Northeast India. By encouraging multi-stakeholder collaboration and promoting knowledge exchange, the conclave aimed to build capacity in solar, wind, hydro, and biomass technologies, catalyzing partnerships for sustainable, locally relevant energy solutions aligned with SDG 7 and inclusive economic growth.

The organizers, with the support of industry partners, have pledged follow-up collaborations to ensure this research translates into tangible community impact. Moreover, selected papers from the presentations will be considered for publication in the ADBU Journal of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (AJEEE), ISSN: 2582-0257, a peer-reviewed journal indexed in Google Scholar, Index Copernicus International, and Semantic Scholar. This offers authors wider academic recognition and amplifies the regional research impact.

The "Way forward" discussions emphasized that continued innovation and cooperation are paramount to protecting the reliability and privacy of smart metering ecosystems and advancing sustainable energy solutions for all. This conclave stands as a significant stride towards engineering a brighter, cleaner, and more equitable energy future for Northeast India and beyond.