👨🚀 Aerospace Engineer pursuing PhD on Asteroid Surfaces at UMD 🛰️ Led IIT Bombay Student Satellite Team 💻 Blogging on Indian Space Ecosystem 🚀
Maryland, USA
Joined July 2019
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Finally, an ISRO launch (PSLV-C52), new VSSC Director, Space Budget, New Launch Vehicle Startup EntherealX, Reliance Jio applies for SATCOM license, and more
blog.aerospacenerd.com/p/ant…
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Anmol Sikka retweeted
After this year's Nobel prize, I can't help but think of the India-based Neutrino Observatory which was planned to be built at Theni, Tamil Nadu in the early 2010s but never happened due to opposition from certain politicians and activists, some of whom spread the false rumor that neutrino radiation would be harmful for locals.
Anmol Sikka retweeted
Happy Birthday, AstroSat! 11 years, 844 GRBs and counting...
Stay tuned for more GRBs to be announced - many more were found by the Payload Operations Centre team by reprocessing older data!
We wish #AstroSat a happy 11th birthday since its launch on 28 Sept 2015 by #ISRO. AstroSat is India's 1st dedicated space observatory, capable of simultaneous multiwavelength observations!
@IIABengaluru @TIFRScience @IUCAAScipop @isro
Anmol Sikka retweeted
Today, NASA announced PRIMA, a new space telescope that will explore long-standing mysteries around the formation of planets, stars, black holes, and even how water on Earth came to be. go.nasa.gov/3TgGh3W
ALT An illustration of a telescope spacecraft with a parabolic mirror floating in deep space.
The recent tragedy and protests at IIT Bombay highlight an issue much broader than university policies alone. We need an open dialogue on how we foster genuine resilience and support young adults. Read the full post here:
open.substack.com/pub/aerosp…
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Anmol Sikka retweeted
Twenty-five years ago, I was the legal advisor to the Simputer — a touchscreen computer built in Bangalore, years before the iPhone. I owned one of the first units. And I watched it die.
For years, I blamed bad timing. I now think I was being too generous.
Anmol Sikka retweeted
Heritage – From Thumba to India’s First Launches
A bicycle carried rocket parts. A church became a laboratory. A beginning with the launch of Nike Apache and the journey began with modest means, audacious purpose and an unshakeable belief in possibility.
Join us via livestream for NSpD2026 Celebration:
youtube.com/live/m0m12iZG9A
#FromABicycleToTheStars #NSpD2026 #ISRO #NikeApache #Thumba
Anmol Sikka retweeted
NISAR is turning one! 🎉
It’s been 365 days since the satellite launched from India to scan nearly all of Earth’s land and ice surfaces, and measure changes down to fractions of an inch.
Anmol Sikka retweeted
When you realise that both of India's government and private ecosystems have demonstrated the capability to launch satellites on their own launch vehicles 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘆, 46 years apart.
First govt. owned Indian rocket - ISRO launched Rohini (RS-1) onboard SLV-3 E-2 on 18 July 1980.
First privately owned Indian rocket - Skyroot launched Vikram-1 on 18 July 2026.
Congratulations @SkyrootA, @PawanKChandana and @bharathdaka! Way to go! 🚀
Anmol Sikka retweeted
India’s era of private commercial space flight has begun! Congratulations @SkyrootA & @ISRO! ♥️🇮🇳
#IndiaWithVikram1
Anmol Sikka retweeted
ORBIT ACHIEVED. 🚀
Vikram-1 Test Flight-1 has reached orbit. India's first privately developed orbital rocket has completed its final burn and injected its payloads into a ~450 km orbit, making India the third country in the world with private orbital launch capability.
History is made. 🇮🇳
#Vikram1 #JourneyToOrbit #SkyrootAerospace
Anmol Sikka retweeted
Congratulations to the entire Skyroot Aerospace Team on the successful launch of Vikram-1 (Mission Aagaman) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
The mission marks a significant milestone for India’s private space sector and reflects the growing capability of the country’s space ecosystem.
Congratulations to IN-SPACe and ISRO teams, who enabled and facilitated the launch and ground testing operations along with technical consultancy and 24x7 safety surveillance.
This achievement is also a testament to the Space Sector Reforms envisioned by our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji.
#Vikram1
#IndiawithVikram1
#SkyrootAerospace
#OpeningSpaceForAll
Anmol Sikka retweeted
Congratulations on 1,000 days in flight, Psyche mission!
Here's the moment in 2023 when 1 hr 2 min 40 sec after liftoff that gorgeous Falcon Heavy (on the right) gave our s/c (lower left) a perfect tip-off, no angular momentum, on her way. @MissionToPsyche @NASA
Anmol Sikka retweeted
Here we go!
Right now, NASA's #MissionToPsyche is approaching Mars.
Current distance: 29,780 miles
Current speed relative to Mars: 10,340 mph
This simulated view, based on actual trajectory data, comes from our Eyes on the Solar System experience.
Ride along: eyes.nasa.gov/apps/solar-sys…
Anmol Sikka retweeted
I like making exams fun. So this year, my Master's level students in Electromagnetic theory tried to work out if sound was really the only Rocky from @projecthailmary could "seen" - is Erid really too dark? @andyweirauthor did a great job of the physics!
Very rewarding experience! Highly recommend if you would like to learn how NASA missions are formulated!
Grad Students & Postdocs
🚀 NASA’s 2026 Planetary Science Summer School is open! Learn mission design goals, training objectives, eligibility, session dates, and how to apply. Register for the Mar 4 webinar (2:30–3:30 PM PT): jpl.nasa.gov/edu/internships… PLS RT
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Anmol Sikka retweeted
Advisors: Encourage planetary science graduate students and postdocs to apply to NASA’s 2026 Planetary Science Summer School. Explore learning goals, eligibility, session dates, and how to apply. Register for the Mar 4 webinar, 2:30 to 3:30 PM PT: jpl.nasa.gov/edu/internships… PLS RT
Anmol Sikka retweeted
IMEx-2026:
ISRO–HSFC invites proposals for IMEx-2026 (Indian Microgravity Experiments-2026) from academia, start-ups, and industry.
Materials • Biology • Pharmacology • Fluid physics • In-space manufacturing • and more
Demonstrate scientific feasibility through a laboratory model; ISRO will provide mentoring, engineering support, and a structured pathway from ground demonstration to space flight.
Validated on Earth → terrestrial microgravity platforms → potential flight opportunity.
If your science demands microgravity, this is the opportunity.
🗓️ Proposal deadline: 28 Feb 2026
🔗AO & proposal format:
isro.gov.in/IndianMicrogravi…
Incidentally, I published my own thoughts on the very same topic today.
open.substack.com/pub/aerosp…
"Even the ISRO chairman, who is the organisation's highest-ranking official, earns roughly around Rs 30 lakh a year."
swarajyamag.com/science/isro…
I have seen so many posts quoting ex-chairman Dr. Somnath on why IITians don’t join ISRO. Wanted to provide my two cents on this very nuanced topic, which does not boil down to just salary.
open.substack.com/pub/aerosp…
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