Ravana 1 launched into space ... showing Sri Lankan skills
Ravana 1 designed by two Sri Lankans was taken to the international space centre this morning (18). Satellite Ravana 1 was designed by Tharindu Dayaratna, an Engineer graduate of Peradeniya University and Dulani Chamika Withanage, a graduate of Asia Technical Institute of Thailand. The said satellite was handed over to Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency -- JAXA last
February 18th.
Professor Mr. Chandana Jayaratna said that rocket carrying it had to be taken to International Aerospace Headquarters in America Virginia this morning (18) early morning at 02.16. Mr. Chandana Jayaratna stated that training projects too have been commenced under the National Aerospace Programme. It was airlifted to space from the Atlantic Regional Spaceport at Virginia, America with the aid of the Antares rocket.
Ravana 1 incidentally happens to be a cube satellite. A cube satellite is not a big-proportioned satellite (Classical satellite) and is of small dimensions. Funds necessary to produce satellites of this nature and to launch them into space is comparatively is of a low level. Ravan One satellite was thus a creation of Tharindu Jayaratna who is a a graduate of Engineering at Peradeniya University and Dulani Chamika Withanage who is a graduate of Thailand Asia Technical Institute. They have produced the satellite concerned while still following studies in space engineering technology of Japan's space engineering technology. The satellite which was launched into space this morning at 2.16 is expected to approach International Aerospace Headquarters around 630 in the evening.