Explanation:

The Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology [IIST] is a space institute, functions as autonomous body under the Department of Space, Government of India and is sponsered by Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). It was inaugurated in 2007 by G. Madahvan Nair, the then chairman of ISRO. It is the first in Asia and the first in the world to offer the complete range of programs in space science and technology. It is located at Valiamala and is just 18 kms from the Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station. The Chancellor of the University is none other the Missile Man, the former President of our country Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. IIST got recognition from the UGC as ‘Deemed to be University’ (Section 3 of UGC Act, 1956) in 2008. IIST has signed MoU with USRA (Universities Space Research Association) of USA and California Institute of Technology (Caltech) for exchange of students and faculty.