From a quiet college ground in Kerala’s hill district of Idukki, a group of undergraduate engineering students are set to script history by launching a student-built technology demonstrator rocket on Wednesday morning.
The rocket, named ‘Basilian-01’, has been designed, fabricated and tested entirely by students of Mar Baselios Christian College of Engineering and Technology (MBCET), Peermade. The ambitious project marks a rare academic milestone, as it has been developed outside a national space agency and entirely within a college ecosystem.
Guided by former ISRO scientist
College authorities said the project became a reality under the leadership of Dr Oommen Tharakan, a former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientist who now serves as Dean of Research and Development at the institution.
Under his guidance, students from multiple disciplines — Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, and Civil Engineering — worked collaboratively on every stage of the rocket’s development.
Academics described the initiative as a hands-on learning model that blends classroom theory with real-world aerospace engineering challenges.
Complex systems built by students
The development process involved four major systems: propulsion, guidance and control, structures and avionics, and payload deployment. Faculty members said students independently handled design simulations, material selection, fabrication, integration and ground testing.
A dedicated ground station was also developed by students to manage launch control, telemetry and data collection during the mission, highlighting the depth of technical involvement.
Scientific goals of the launch
According to college officials, the Basilian-01 launch will support scientific studies on atmospheric aerosols, aimed at evaluating conditions that influence spice cultivation in the region. The mission will also collect data on atmospheric temperature patterns in the Kuttikkanam area.
These experiments are expected to contribute to localised environmental research while giving students direct exposure to applied science.
A first for Kerala academia
College authorities said this is the first instance in Kerala where an educational institution has undertaken rocket development as part of its academic programme with full student participation.
“This project reflects our commitment to research-driven education and innovation,” officials said, describing it as a defining moment for the institution.
The college functions under the management of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church.
A press conference announcing the launch was attended by Dr Oommen Mammen (Director, MBC), Dr V I George (Principal), Dr Oommen Tharakan (Dean, R&D), John Samuel (Bursar) and Prof Elias Janson K (Vice Principal), among others.