Institute of Space Technology

Institute of Space Technology
Motto Exploring The Final Frontier
Established 2002
Type Semi-Government
Chancellor President of Pakistan
Vice-Chancellor Imran Rahman
Dean Dr. Muddassar Farooq
Patron in Chief President of Pakistan
Location Islamabad, Pakistan
Campus 72 acres, Urban
Colors Federal Blue, Deep Sky Blue
Affiliations Pakistan Engineering Council, Higher Education Commission
Website IST Official Website

Institute of Space Technology, also known as IST, is a chartered degree-awarding university located in Islamabad, Pakistan. It was established in 2002 under the auspices of the Pakistan National Space Agency. IST offers undergraduate and postgraduate education, and produces scientists and engineers in the field of Space Technology.It is one of the leading university of the Pakistan.In short span of time,It has achieved a lot of success in the field of science and research and Engineering. Its mechanical Engineering is one of the best in Pakistan.

The university is determined to expand the public's awareness in the field of space and space technology. IST also bears the title of being the only institute of its kind in the entire Muslim World.

Standings

IST is considered as one of the best universities in the field of Space Technology in South Asia. IST launched I-Cube Satellite in November 2013 from Russia and became first university of south Asia which has accomplished this mission so far. It is ranked by HEC as the 5th best university of Engineering & Technology in Pakistan in 2013.[1]

History

The past century was host to many technological advancements resulting in a gradual progression towards the betterment of society. With the inception of Space Age, the technology of Space science as such; was convinced as being a vital force behind these advancements and had revolutionized them.

In this backdrop, it was decided to establish an educational institution that would impart specialized knowledge & education in the particular fields of space and related sciences. Under these concepts the Institute of Space Technology was founded in September 2002 offering undergraduate degrees in Aerospace Engineering and Communication Systems Engineering as its core disciplines.

iCUBE-1

Institute of Space Technology (IST) on 21-November-2013 launched Pakistan's first Cubesat satellite, iCUBE-1, onboard Dnepr launch vehicle from Yasny launch base, Russia. Its transmitted signal can be heard on VHF band. It has a mass of 1.1 kg & has a volume of 10 cm cube, it houses several sensors to collect data for scientific purposes. iCUBE-1 is a fully autonomous satellite and is capable of maintaining its health via its on-board computer. iCUBE-1 will open up a wide range of future experiments that can be carried on Cubesat in the domain of imaging, microgravity, biology, nanotechnology, space dynamics, chemistry, space physics and various other fields. Cubesats can also provide a test bed for developing satellite constellations for specific applications.[2][3]

Spokesperson IST Raza Butt said, "iCUBE-1 has been launched in a polar orbit, 600Km above the surface of the Earth, and is designed to take low resolution images of Earth and other space objects." Initially, iCUBE-1 will transmit a Continuous Wave Morse coded beacon with message "iCUBE-1 First CubeSat of Pakistan." [4][5][6]

Education

In a short span of time since inception, the institute introduced new disciplines and departments, and established an additional campus at Karachi with the name of National Centre for Remote-Sensing and Geo-Informatics, or NCRG. The institute also collaborated with foreign universities of China and United Kingdom for economically granting the students with foreign degrees of Master and PhD programs.

The foreign universities include

Departments

At present, the institute holds the following Departments of

Undergraduate degree programs (local)

The undergraduate degree programs are all offered at IST, Islamabad campus. They include

Postgraduate degree programs (local and linked)

The postgraduate degree programs offered at IST, Islamabad campus are

The postgraduate degree programs offered at IST, Karachi campus are

The Linked postgraduate degree programs offered at Beihang University, China are

The Linked postgraduate degree program at Northwestern Polytechnical University, China is

The Linked postgraduate degree program at University of Surrey, UK is

PhD programs (linked)

The Linked PhD program offered at Beihang University, China is

The Linked PhD program offered at Northwestern Polytechnical University, China is

Extracurricular

Societies

Annual events

It was called as "All-Pakistan Inter University Challenge". IST has organized the Challenge every year for four years. The event attracts participation from the universities/degree awarding institutes/post-graduate colleges in the Rawalpindi/Islamabad area as well as from the cities of Taxila and Peshawar. The event includes over a dozen extracurricular competitions such as dramatics, short film, all-rounder, Mushaira, and Battle of the Bands. Recently, the name of this event has now been replaced by IST Youth Carnival, or IYC.

In 1999, the United Nations General Assembly declared 4–10 October as World Space Week. Pakistan is endeavoring to enter into the realm of Space Science & Technology and related applications. In past couple of decades IST has seen considerable advances in this field. The success of any space program relies greatly on public understanding and support. IST in collaboration with our National Space Agency (SUPARCO) is communicating the benefits of Space Technology to the public on regular basis. The institute has pioneered the observation of the International World Space Week in Pakistan. Walks, lectures and seminars are arranged in schools and colleges of the Twin-City area by students of IST. The week culminates with a full day variety show at the Institute that includes space quiz, poster competitions, space cinema and a musical concert.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Higher Education Commission, Pakistan".
  2. ↑ http://dawn.com/news/1057688/pakistans-first-cubesat-icube-1-launched-from-russia
  3. ↑ http://www.paktribune.com/news/Pakistans-first-Cubesat-satellite-iCUBE-1-launched-264714.html
  4. ↑ http://www.icube.org.pk/
  5. ↑ http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/icube-1.htm
  6. ↑ http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2013%5C11%5C22%5Cstory_22-11-2013_pg7_10

External links