Thiruvananthapuram: The Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), ISRO's novel initiative in Thiruvananthapuram to mould India's future space scientists, was dedicated to the nation on Friday.

IIST has set a record of sorts, having been established within a span of months, ISRO Chairman G.Madhavan Nair said after inaugurating the prestigious institute.

Classes began at the IIST, now operating from a temporary campus at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thumba, the same afternoon with 140 students in the first batch. The main campus will come up in one-and-a-half years' time. The Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for it, though the date for that has not been fixed, he said.

Chief Secretary Lizzie Jacob, an IIST board member, was conspicuous by her absence at the function. She opted for VRS on Thursday after the Chief Minister made adverse remarks about her regarding ISRO's land deal in Ponmudi.