Sambalpur: Veer Surendra Sai University Technology (VSSUT) in Burla has entered the Limca Book of Records as the first and only student body in India to indigenously build and successfully launch a sounding rocket.

The Limca Book, in its communication, said: "Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology, Sambalpur, Odisha, is the first and only student body in India of engineering undergraduates that has indigenously developed a sounding rocket, launch vehicle -VSLV (VSSUT Satellite Launch Vehicle) 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 which was successfully fired thrice to 3,000 ft, 5,200 ft and 12,800 ft (over 3.89km) respectively."

"Flight data was collected from onboard avionics and altimeter measured the apogee of the rocket. The data was then translated to create the flight profile. The latest launch was made by a 1.5m rocket weighing 6kg at 08:31:53 on March 30, 2018. Debadutta Mishra is the mentor of the project," said Vijaya Ghose, chief editor of Limca Book of Records while acknowledging the project.

The record will be published by the end of the year in the upcoming 2019 edition of the book. The certificate will be issued thereafter.

"I am very happy and proud of the achievement of the students... The chancellor has told me that he will come and see the VSLV made by the students," VSSUT vice-chancellor Atal Choudhury said.