Assam Don Bosco University (ADBU) is set to mark a milestone for the Northeast with the launch of LACHIT-1, the region’s first indigenously developed satellite, aboard ISRO’s PSLV-C62 mission on January 12.
The satellite, named Live Amateur Communication Hub for Innovative Technologies-One (LACHIT-1), will be launched under Hyderabad-based Dhruva Space’s Polar Access-1 (PA-1) programme, signalling a significant step forward for academic-led space innovation in the region.
The LACHIT-1 mission is a student-led initiative involving more than 50 students and faculty members from across the Northeast, including Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur.
Named after legendary Ahom general Lachit Borphukan, the satellite combines the region’s historical legacy with its emerging technological capabilities.
Developed under Dhruva Space’s ASTRA (Accelerated Space Technology Readiness & Access) for Academia programme, LACHIT-1 is built on the company’s flight-qualified P-DoT satellite platform. The project saw the ADBU team participate in the complete mission cycle, including satellite integration, functional testing, interface validation and launch readiness reviews, with technical support from Dhruva Space.
The satellite will be deployed into orbit using Dhruva Space’s DSOD-1U separation system. Once operational, the mission will be controlled from ADBU through a VHF/UHF ground station and Dhruva Space’s Integrated Space Operations Command Suite.
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LACHIT-1 has been designed to demonstrate a store-and-forward communication system using amateur radio frequencies, enabling short messages transmitted from Earth to be stored onboard and relayed during subsequent satellite passes. The system is expected to have applications in emergency and disaster-response scenarios, particularly in regions affected by floods, landslides or communication outages.
Vice-Chancellor of Assam Don Bosco University Fr. (Dr) Jose Palely described the mission as a landmark achievement for the Northeast. He said LACHIT-1 reflects the region’s intent to contribute meaningfully to India’s space ecosystem and highlights the role of academic institutions in linking learning with real-world application.
Dhruva Space Director (Sales and Business Development) Avinash Maramraju said the mission demonstrates that advanced space capabilities are no longer confined to a few locations. He said programmes such as Polar Access-1 and ASTRA for Academia had enabled ADBU to take a satellite “from campus to orbit”, integrating the Northeast’s technical talent into the national space ecosystem.
After becoming operational, LACHIT-1 will be accessible to the global amateur radio community. Dhruva Space, in collaboration with the National Institute of Amateur Radio and ADBU, will also conduct training programmes focused on the use of amateur satellites for disaster communication and emergency response.
According to Prof. Vikramjit Kakati, Director of ADBU’s Research and Development Cell and Mission Director of the project, the university launched its Space Programme in 2022 and has since expanded work in satellite engineering, mission operations and ground-station management.
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