CUJ,  ISRO Centre launches Second Radio-Sonde for Atmospheric Data Collection

Weather balloon to study climate change & atmosphere

Jammu, 28 Aug 2024: On August 28, 2024, Central University of Jammu (CUJ) achieved a significant milestone by successfully launching its second Radiosonde under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC, ISRO). The launch took place from the Satish Dhawan Centre for Space Science at CUJ, with guidance and oversight from Hon’ble Vice Chancellor Prof. Sanjeev Jain.

The successful culmination of this launch was led by Prof. Vinay Kumar, Convener of the Satish Dhawan Centre for Space Science, along with his dedicated team of faculty, students, scholars, and staff. The Radiosonde, attached to a weather balloon, is designed to study atmospheric profiles including humidity, pressure, temperature, wind speed, and direction. This research will significantly contribute to meteorological studies related to climate change and atmospheric conditions.

The Radiosonde Ground Station, an indigenously developed product from the Semiconductor Laboratory in Mohali, exemplifies the “Make in India” initiative. This development was spearheaded by Director General Dr. Kamaljeet Singh and Mr. Nemi Chand, with Dr. Hareef Baba from NRSC also playing a pivotal role.

The weather balloon ascended at a rate of 5 meters per second, reaching a maximum altitude of 30.7 km. This ascent and the data collected will enhance our understanding in the fields of atmospheric and space research.

The event was meticulously coordinated by Dr. Sanjeev Yadav from the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering at CUJ, along with his team members: Dr. Pravesh Pal, Mehak Mahajan, Ayesha, Bhandhana, Kritish, Ritwik, Shreya, and Iqbal.

The data obtained from this launch will be instrumental in advancing research on atmospheric and space conditions, marking a notable achievement for CUJ and contributing to the broader scientific community.