The Space Technology Accelerator (STAr) at IIT Kanpur is a collaborative engine that turns research breakthroughs in sensors, optics, communications, and Earth-Observation AI into validated payloads and practical intelligence. We combine mission design, rigorous testing, and data pipelines so ideas travel faster from proof-of-concept to flight-ready systems and decision tools used on the ground.
Our ecosystem is built for partnership. Researchers gain reproducible workflows and access to facilities; startups and investors get transparent TRL gates, de-risked milestones, and co-development options; educators and CSR partners extend the impact through outreach that links astronomy, climate, and data literacy with hands-on learning.
Rotating images showing payload lab, mission simulation, and EO analytics.
STAr bridges discovery and deployment. We operate at the intersection of scientific excellence and engineering execution, enabling multi-disciplinary teams to progress from concept to qualification without losing momentum. Our approach is pragmatic: focus on reproducible results, strong documentation, safety and test discipline, and clear partner interfaces that reduce friction and duplication of effort.
We run cohort-style programs that couple lab access and expert guidance with TRL-gated check-ins. Each thrust can stand alone or be combined in mission-sized bundles. The objective is a reliable pipeline of subsystems and data products that meet partner specs, improve over iterations, and move decisively toward deployment.
Precision radiometry, optics, RF/microwave modules, mechanisms, and avionics. Teams learn requirement flowdown, interface control, thermal-mechanical design, and verification planning. Emphasis on modularity, documentation, and traceability from breadboard to qualification models.
An end-to-end pathway for miniaturized spacecraft and hosted payloads. Teams select platforms, define mission concepts, integrate instruments, and prepare for operations and data relay. Focus on risk-burn-down and ground segment readiness.
Algorithms and instrumentation for tracking, cataloguing, and conjunction assessment. Research into robotic capture mechanisms and control strategies, with lab simulators for dynamics and sensing. Pathways align with space traffic management needs.
Modeling interactions between the space environment and spacecraft materials. Toolchains for deep-dielectric charging, ESD risk, and materials screening. AI-aided forecasting supports anomaly investigation and operations planning.
Multi-sensor pipelines for optical/SAR/thermal/hyperspectral data, feature extraction, change detection, and forecasting. Outputs include dashboards, alerts, model cards, and developer APIs that integrate with partner systems.
Translating EO/AI insights into productivity: asset health, route and ROW monitoring, siting and permitting intelligence, risk scoring, and quality control using thermal or hyperspectral cues. Emphasis on measurable ROI and transparent metrics.
Our EO+AI platform converts raw scenes into ready answers. It ingests multi-sensor streams, standardizes and fuses them, and exposes analytics through dashboards and APIs. Each model is documented with assumptions and known limitations, and interfaces are designed for both decision-makers and educators.
• Optical, SAR, thermal, and hyperspectral ingest
• Pre-processing: georegistration, cloud/shadow handling, BRDF effects
• Feature engineering and tiling for large-area inference
• Provenance and versioned datasets for auditability
• Crop stress, evapotranspiration, yield outlooks
• Flood/landslide risk, shoreline change, urban heat
• Asset health & encroachment on corridors
• Siting intelligence for solar/wind/logistics
• Web dashboards, alerts, and scorecards
• Secure APIs/SDKs with rate limits and keys
• Model cards: training data, error bars, drift checks
• Education views for classrooms and outreach
Outreach connects curiosity with capability. We design hands-on activities in astronomy, optics, and Earth-observation that engage students, teachers, and families. From night-sky sessions and lunar-eclipse myth-busting to citizen-science mapping and EO literacy modules, the goal is to make space tangible and beneficial to everyday life.
Classroom kits (solar system scales, moon phases & craters), optics & diffraction demos, DIY antennas (e.g., simple Yagi-Uda), and telescope-making sessions. Evening sky events bring families together around observation and storytelling.
Intro to satellites and sensors, decoding imagery, and linking changes on Earth to climate and urban growth. Community contributions feed back into public dashboards and classroom projects with teacher guides.
Practical workshop modules, open lesson plans, podcasts and explainer videos, and myth-busting activities around celestial events. Schools and NGOs partner to sustain clubs and fairs beyond the first event.
For an overview, see the outreach brief in the PDF (modal link above). You can also request a tailored plan for your city/district.
STAr is led by Co-PIs who bridge research, engineering, and translation into real-world deployments. A broader group of SPASE faculty lead thrusts across instrumentation, mission design, and EO+AI.
Professor at IIT Kanpur and founding leader in space/planetary engineering initiatives, Dr. Sharma’s work spans dynamics, modeling, and mission-oriented engineering. He has led multi-disciplinary teams across design reviews, lab validation, and education programs that connect scientific rigor with deployable systems.
Economist-engineer and Adjunct Professor at IIT Kanpur, Dr. Gupta focuses on EO-data-powered AI, industrial competitiveness, and evidence-driven innovation. His background spans academia, technology, and policy, with an emphasis on translating analytics into practical tools for partners and startups.
Dr. Tejpreet Kaur is an astrophysicist, science communicator, and space outreach enthusiast. She is currently working as an institute postdoctoral fellow at the department of SPASE, IIT Kanpur, India. Her work spans research in the chemical evolution of galaxies and the origin of our solar system..
STAr collaborates with a broader group of faculty and researchers at the SPASE Department. See current members and affiliations on the SPASE Faculty Page.
For collaborations, EO+AI pilots, or outreach programs, write to us or use the form.