The Indian Institute of Technology (or IIT Indore) has introduced a new undergraduate course in Space Science and Engineering. This BTech (Bachelor of Technology) course will allow the students to delve deeper into the global need for environmental awareness, such as studying and predicting climate change, agriculture, environment, ecology, astronomy, communication, navigation, and others.
This course might just be the perfect fit for students nurturing a curiosity for space and astronomy. Students will get a chance to study and gain proper exposure to recent technological advancements in payloads, small satellites and detector design. Other aspects of this course would be data analytics, imaging, and high-end numerical simulations. They will also be dealing with other applications that are targeted towards earth observations, sustainable developments, ecology, climate change, defence, communication, navigation, and the like.
Students would also get a chance to specialise in any of the following fields – space instrumentation – detectors and payloads, imaging and data analytics, remote sensing and atmospheric engineering, astronomy and astrophysics. Based on their desired specialization, they will receive specially curated elective courses and a semester-long research project.
After the curriculum discussed above, comes the question of course structure, seat capacity and eligibility criteria. IIT Indore currently offers 20 seats for BTech in Space Science and Engineering, with eight semesters in its four-year duration. It is a full-time undergraduate course; each semester, students will have 6-7 subjects alongside other electives. Admissions will be based on JEE Advanced scores, and any student who has qualified the class 12 or equivalent examination from any recognised central or state board can apply.
By completing this course, students can contribute to the sector of research and development in space technology with further higher studies. Candidates will get equal opportunities in government and private sector jobs providing space tech development opportunities.