With APOGEE just a few days away, the APOGEE English Press interviewed Ishika Kadam, the coordinator of Team ANANT, to discuss their role in the fest.

Team ANANT is a technical team comprising 40–60 undergraduate students and senior mentors who work together on building a 3U CubeSat. Overall, the team is divided into six subsystems—electrical power, payload, onboard computer, attitude determination and control, thermal structures, and telemetry.

This year for APOGEE, they will be hosting a Space Conclave, which will focus on the space industry and related topics. The team has invited student satellite teams from various colleges across the country, along with individuals from space start-up companies who will be exhibiting their models. 

Team ANANT will also be calling Satya Srivani—program manager at Pixxel—for a guest lecture. He will be giving a talk on the ins and outs of the space industry. ANANT’s third event will be a workshop on April 2 where the team’s own members will be demonstrating how to build a CubeSat. 

Ishika mentioned that BITS Pilani does not have an aeronautical engineering department, but that it was a vast area of research that was yet to be explored. Along with her batchmates, she brainstormed ways to include topics based on it in this edition of APOGEE. Ishika also stated that it was ‘challenging to delegate the work initially’, but that they ‘managed to do well so far’.

When asked about her overall experience as the coordinator, Ishika said it was an overwhelming and hectic experience, but enjoyable as a whole. The first semester was comparatively “slow” as they were not involved in multiple events, but her second semester was busier. Considering the efforts the entire team has put in, Ishika hopes that BITSians attend the Space Conclave, which is meant not only for those with technical knowledge but also anyone with even the slightest interest in space. She added that it would be a great opportunity for everyone to learn.