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The WESAT team | Photo: https://www.facebook.com/drrbindhu
The WESAT team | Photo: https://www.facebook.com/drrbindhu

Thiruvananthapuram:  ISRO on Monday ushered in 2024 with the successful launch of its first X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite that would offer insights into black holes in space, making the country only the second to conduct an experiment into such celestial objects.

Among the payloads that piggybacked the space agency's ever-reliable Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) was WESAT (Women Engineered Satellite (All-women team)), prompting ISRO to call it an inspiration for the country.

Keralites can be proud as WESAT was designed by students of Thiruvananthapuram Lal Bahadur Shastri (LBS) Institute of Technology for Women in Thiruvananthapuram.

ISRO Chairman S Somanath said the payload developed by women is inspiring not only for ISRO but also for the country.

"WESAT team has built a satellite by collaborating with ISRO and we were happy to host it on board PSLV POEM. It is an inspiration not only for ISRO but for the entire country know. When girl children are spending their time studying science and when they excel in their domain, we must all appreciate it. So, congratulations to the WESAT team," Somanath said.

According to Mission Director Jayakumar M, WESAT showcases women empowerment in the field of science and technology.

Kerala Higher Education Minister Dr Bindhu lauded the LBS Institute of Technology for Women and termed the achievement a historic moment in Kerala's women empowerment pursuit. She also appreciated Lizy Abraham, assistant professor and coordinator of the Space Club at the institution.

LBS Institute of Technology for Women started functioning in 2001, is the first women engineering college in the state. It is managed by LBS Centre for Science and Technology(LBSCST), Thiruvananthapuram. LBSCST, the pre­mier insti­tu­tion of com­puter training/consultancy,was estab­lished by the Gov­ern­ment of Ker­ala in 1976.