Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will be launching 12 satellites designed by students from various academic institutions next year. The premier space agency has launched five student satellites since 2009.

ISRO Chairman A.S. Kiran Kumar said in Mysuru on Friday that 12 satellites are expected to be launched during the middle of next year.

During a talk on ‘India in Space’ at the first centenary lecture series at the University of Mysore here, he said the focus was on lighter satellites. The lifting of satellites into space becomes easier if the satellites are lightweight, he opined.

Therefore, opportunities were being given to students of academic institutions for designing satellites of lesser weight.

According to ISRO’s website, the five student satellites that had been launched are SRMSat, Jugnu, YOUTHSAT, STUDSAT and ANUSAT.

One of the satellites – STUDSAT – weighs less than 1 kg while YOUTHSAT weighs 92 kg.