Research

Enabling Resilient Disaster Management and Precision Agriculture through a VLEO Earth Observation Constellation

Shreyas Dubey, Sajag Narayan, Rujuta Deshmukh, Cris Varshith DJ, Navya Sharma

76th International Astronautical Congress (IAC), Sydney, Australia · IAC-25,D1,3,2,x103099 · 2025

Very Low Earth Orbits (VLEO), defined as altitudes below 450 km, are gaining renewed interest in the commercial space sector, particularly for Earth observation (EO) and communication. Operating at these altitudes offers sharper imaging, lower communication latency, and the ability to achieve comparable performance with smaller, more power-efficient payloads. These features make VLEO missions more cost-effective than traditional Low Earth Orbit (LEO) systems. In addition, satellites in VLEO naturally deorbit at end-of-life due to atmospheric drag, reducing the long-term risk of space debris. These advantages are especially relevant for applications such as disaster management and precision agriculture: frequent revisit times and rapid imaging can improve situational awareness during floods or wildfires, while high-resolution, multi-sensor data can enhance crop monitoring and resource management to support climate resilience. This study evaluates the feasibility of VLEO missions through basic system calculations of drag, imaging resolution, and communication latency, combined with case studies in disaster response and agriculture. Representative payloads considered include optical imagers, hyperspectral sensors, thermal infrared, and LiDAR. Emerging technologies such as onboard data processing, drag compensation, and in-orbit servicing are also discussed as enablers for extending mission lifetime and improving responsiveness. Key challenges include atmospheric drag, short orbital lifetimes, and propulsion constraints. Results suggest that VLEO satellites can provide sharper data, quicker updates, and cost-effective mission designs, while onboard processing reduces dependence on ground stations. With proper enabling technologies, VLEO platforms could support a new generation of agile and sustainable EO missions responsive to both environmental and societal needs.

PDF

BibTeX

@inproceedings{dubey2025vleo,
  author    = {Dubey, Shreyas and Narayan, Sajag and Deshmukh, Rujuta and {Varshith DJ}, Cris and Sharma, Navya},
  title     = {Enabling Resilient Disaster Management and Precision Agriculture through a {VLEO} Earth Observation Constellation},
  booktitle = {Proceedings of the 76th International Astronautical Congress (IAC)},
  year      = {2025},
  address   = {Sydney, Australia},
  month     = {sep},
  note      = {Paper IAC-25,D1,3,2,x103099},
  publisher = {International Astronautical Federation (IAF)}
}

Candy Thrust and Beyond: Advancing Space Outreach through Student-Led Initiatives in India

Kaashvi Kakkar, Aman Jaiswal, Navya Sharma, Cris Varshith DJ

76th International Astronautical Congress (IAC), Sydney, Australia · IAC-25,E1,3,4,x99726 · 2025

This paper describes how student-led workshops can be used to support space education and outreach in India. The main example is the "Candy Thrust" workshop, where undergraduate students learn the basics of solid rocket propulsion by designing, simulating, and launching sugar rockets. The workshop introduces propulsion concepts, safety steps, motor performance, and use of OpenMotor software before participants build and test their own rockets. Feedback showed that students gained confidence, problem-solving skills, and greater interest in space-related fields. The Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS) chapter at BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus developed other workshops using a similar format. These included three-day workshops on printed circuit board (PCB) design and proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control systems, as well as egg drop challenges that introduced material safety and avionics in a simple way. The framework was also adapted for outreach outside the university: in partnership with the Nirmaan Foundation, SEDS conducted smaller and simpler Candy Thrust sessions for underprivileged students in an event named Ignite, showing that the model can be applied to learners with limited prior exposure to STEM. The planning and delivery process used in these workshops can serve as a benchmark for other SEDS chapters in India, offering a clear and practical method for running low-cost, hands-on training. This paper presents the framework of Candy Thrust and other workshops as examples of how student groups can bring technical learning to a wider range of students.

PDF

BibTeX

@inproceedings{kakkar2025candythrust,
  author    = {Kakkar, Kaashvi and Jaiswal, Aman and Sharma, Navya and {Varshith DJ}, Cris},
  title     = {Candy Thrust and Beyond: Advancing Space Outreach through Student-Led Initiatives in India},
  booktitle = {Proceedings of the 76th International Astronautical Congress (IAC)},
  year      = {2025},
  address   = {Sydney, Australia},
  month     = {sep},
  note      = {Paper IAC-25,E1,3,4,x99726},
  publisher = {International Astronautical Federation (IAF)}
}