18 model rockets successfully launched in National Student Space Competition

During the National Student Space Competition 2026 organised in Kushinagar, 18 model rockets built by students were successfully launched. A total of 76 teams from across India participated in this national-level competition organised by the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe). In this competition, students launched not only rockets but also 43 CanSats. A CanSat is a simulation of a real satellite, designed to be the size and shape of a soft drink can.

The four-day event, held from 31 October to 3 November 2026, featured the third 'CAN-7USAT India Student Competition' and the second 'National Model Rocketry India Student Competition', also known as the 'IN-SPACe Narayani Rocketry Cup 2026'. In this competition, student teams designed, built, and tested their own hardware. All these activities were evaluated by expert committees from ISRO, DRDO, IN-SPACe, the industry, and academia.

In the model rocketry competition, student teams were evaluated based on their rocket's design, development, and testing, with a special emphasis on innovation, precision, and system performance. On the other hand, the CanSats were the size of a 7U satellite bus, allowing teams to set maximum payloads as well as Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) systems within them. These CanSats were equipped with sensors to record parameters such as temperature and atmospheric pressure during flight. Some teams also installed cameras to capture photos and videos of the terrain and designated landing zones, testing applications such as vegetation monitoring.

Speaking on the event, Minister Shashank Mani Tripathi stated that the ultimate purpose of technology should be to serve the common people. Organising such competitions in rural areas provides students with the opportunity to understand real-world challenges and ensures scientific innovation reaches communities. IN-SPACe Chairman Dr. Pawan Goenka also remarked that every CanSat and rocket flown this week was designed and built by students, and it is crucial that India's space industry gains such experimental experience from the next generation of engineers.

Dr. Vinod Kumar, Promotion Director of IN-SPACe, stated that the result of the students' years of effort has emerged in this successful edition. This year, with the launch of 43 CanSats and 18 rockets, the figures have surpassed last year's 24 CanSats and 13 rockets. According to official information, Chennai's Dr. MGR Educational and Research Institute emerged as the winner in the third CAN-7USAT India Student Competition, while Bhubaneswar's CV Raman Global University stood second and Bengaluru's BMS College of Engineering stood third. The winning teams in the competition were awarded a cash prize of ₹10,000.

IN-SPACe is an organisation of the Government of India that works to promote and authorise private and non-governmental sector partners in the space sector for space activities.