IST Space Division 

The Indian Space Team (IST) Space Science Division serves as the organization’s research and observational arm. While the Propulsion and Structural departments focus on the physical vehicle, the Space Science Division focuses on the purpose of the flight: gathering data, understanding the cosmos, and fostering scientific literacy.

As a recognized ISRO Space Tutor, this division is the primary interface between your technical innovations and the educational/scientific community.

1. Core Research Areas

The Space Science Division is dedicated to exploring the "why" of space exploration through three main pillars:

• Atmospheric & Ionospheric Studies: Using sounding rockets (like the ones powered by your NAMBI engine) to study the upper atmosphere. This includes researching equatorial electrojets and plasma dynamics that affect satellite communication.

• Planetary Science: Analyzing data related to lunar and martian environments. This research helps the Structure & Designing Department understand the extreme conditions (radiation, thermal swings) that their materials must survive.

• Microgravity Research: Developing small-scale "student payloads" that can be launched to test how biological or chemical reactions change in zero gravity—a key step for future commercial space experiments.

2. Sky Survey & Observation

This division acts as the "eyes" of the team, focusing on mapping and monitoring the celestial sphere.

• Near-Earth Object (NEO) Tracking: Monitoring asteroids and space debris that could pose a threat to satellites or Earth.

• Variable Star Observation: Tracking changes in the brightness of stars to contribute to global astronomical databases.

• Data Analysis: Leveraging AI/ML to process vast amounts of data from open-source sky surveys (like those from ISRO’s AstroSat or NASA’s TESS) to identify new cosmic events.

3. Educational Outreach (The "Space Tutor" Mission)

Since IST is officially listed as an ISRO Space Tutor (#192), this division carries the responsibility of national scientific movement:

• Grassroots Science: Following Shivam Yadav’s vision, the division conducts workshops in rural schools, bringing "rocket science" to areas with little exposure to STEM.

• Space Clubs: Uniting local space enthusiasts and students under a common platform to share resources, webinars, and research papers.

• Citizen Science: Encouraging non-scientists to participate in sky surveys and data labeling, making space research accessible to everyone in India.