Pulkit Vasudha

On its first day of the week-long celebrations of the World Space Week, the exhibition saw almost 150 visitors. School and college students turned up in groups to see the exhibits and a video show about the Indian space science programmes.

“As students, we are prone to believe that space science is exclusive territory of noodle-haired scientists,” says Surbhi Vadgama, a student of Std IX. “After seeing how much space science we use everyday, I realize how important this branch of science is to our lives. I was astonished to learn that satellites play a role in basic communication technology like televisions, telephones and internet.”

The exhibition has elaborate models of rockets, space shuttles and space crafts launched by India. There are charts tracing the history of Indian space missions from Aryabhatta to Chandrayaan-1, with accompanying models. There are even orbiting satellite models revolving around a globe to show the path of satellites and how data is sent back and forth.

A twenty-minute video show, screened for groups of visitors, explains how space science is used in communication, urban and rural development, geology, cartography, forestry, marine science, water resource location, agriculture and even archaeology.

Parents who accompanied their children to the exhibition felt it sated their curiosity and questions as well. “I brought my daughter to the exhibition because I feel it is essential for her to be exposed to all the career options available to her. Not only is the exhibition beneficial for children like her, even adults can learn a lot about the latest developments and advances in the Indian space programmes,” said Rev Esah E Muthiah.

During the World Space Week, scientists of ISRO and the Space Application Centre (SAC) will interact with visitors daily between 5 and 6 pm and answer all their questions. The exhibition is open throughout the year from Monday to Friday between 10 am and 1 pm.

Source: Indian Express