ISRO Celebrates World Space Week-2017
World Space Week (WSW) is an international annual celebration of space science and technology, observed during the week of 04-10 October. The commencing and concluding dates of world space week recalls two important dates in space history.
October 04, 1957: Journey to space started with the launch of the first man-made Earth satellite, Sputnik 1.
October 10, 1967: The signing of the treaty on principles governing the activities of states in the exploration and peaceful uses of outer space, including Moon and other celestial bodies.
The Theme of WSW-17 is “Exploring New Worlds in Space”
WSW-2017 was celebrated by ISRO across the country by various Centres of ISRO from October 04-10, 2017. The programmes were organised jointly by Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU) and ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC) at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala and Nagercoil, Tamilnadu. Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SHAR) has organised celebrations in 22 venues spanning 5 states, namely, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamilnadu, Odisha and Puducherry with a grand inauguration at Sriharikota by Hon'ble Vice President of India, Shri M Venkaiah Naidu. Vikram Sarabhai Space Exhibition (VSSE) at Space Applications Centre (SAC) also, celebrated the event, which was witnessed by the people in and around Ahmedabad, Delhi, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Whereas, National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) along with its five Regional Centres (RC), had conducted WSW celebrations at larger scale by collaborating with the NESAC, State Remote Sensing Centres and Academia. ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC) also celebrated the event by visiting two schools around Bengaluru.
Details of the celebrations are given in the following paragraphs:
WSW-2017 Celebrations at VSSC, LPSC, IISU and IPRC
The WSW-2017 was inaugurated by Honourable Chief Minister of Kerala Shri Pinarayi Vijayan on October 04, 2017 at Kanakakunnu Palace, Thiruvananthapuram. A Space Expo was organised at S.T. Hindu College, Nagercoil during October 5-9, 2017. The space expo showcased ISRO’s achievements and contributions in space based technologies and applications. The exhibitions drew more than 1,00,000 people including students from more than 170 Government schools. Science students were trained and deployed as communicators for the exhibition. Career guidance and interactive sessions were conducted for students with lectures on variety of space related topics like space exploration, space technologies and applications etc.,. Open forum attracted space enthusiasts from various walks of life and provided opportunities for active discussions. Films related to space science were also screened at the venue. A special quiz zone was also set up exclusively for school students. The visitors could touch and feel actual engines and power heads used in ISROs work horse launch vehicles and satellites. Free bus services were provided to transport the students to the venue.
A workshop for students was organised in VSSC, Thiruvananthapuram on October 06, 2017 with the participation of around 370 students. The students were chosen from institutions in rural areas across the state including tribal schools and care centre for cancer patients. The initiative was aimed at creating interest and awareness among the students. Senior scientists of ISRO interacted with the students and several interesting queries were raised and answered. Lecture session was also conducted on space science and technology.
Open Innovation Contest was organised for students of engineering colleges & science colleges in Kerala.
Three day long Open House featured visit to VSSC Space museum, sounding rocket launch pad and control centre. Open house drew more than 10, 000 visitors. The public could see the location where ISRO’s space programme took shape and where pioneers of Indian Rocketry forged their ideas. The visitors also witnessed sounding rocket launch at TERLS and visited the Space Museum.
Citizen’s familiarisation programme were conducted in VSSC for 300 registered participants. The main objective was to provide scientific awareness, increase knowledge and understanding of the benefits from space. Resource materials on theme of WSW-2017, India’s Mars Orbiter Mission and Astrosat mission were distributed for students and other participants.
WSW-2017 programme were broadcasted in AIR, AIR FM Kumari and DD Malayalam channel. Programme included LIVE discussion panel about role of space as a most critical and indispensable infrastructure for the world. Telecasted pre-recorded video on WSW theme and talks on space transportation systems, navigation systems, extra-terrestrial habitat, benefits of space programme etc., were also broadcasted.
WSW- 2017 events were concluded in a formal function held at VSSC on October 10, 2017.
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WSW-2017 Celebrations at SHAR
Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SHAR), the Spaceport of India, celebrated the World Space Week through public outreach programmes spread across 22 venues. After the inauguration by Honorable Vice President of India, Shri M Venkaiah Naidu, SDSC SHAR teams moved out to other 21 venues with the exhibition materials conveying ISRO's achievements.
Exhibitions of scaled down models of launch vehicles and satellites, informative panel displays, video screening of ISRO Space activities, interactive lectures by senior executives of SDSC SHAR, competitions for students and "Space Awareness Walk" were organised in each venues, mainly to educate the students on space research activities and to hone the scientific inclination in them. Video wall displays were arranged in the schools including those in the rural areas. Sounding Rocket launches were also arranged at Sriharikota on four days during the week. Students and Public were offered the opportunity to visit the various facilities at the Spaceport of India on all the days during this week.
The hosting institution at each venue was chosen considering the approachability to public, availability of large exhibition hall to showcase the exhibits, availability of video screening halls and infrastructure to accommodate multitudes of students participating. Inauguration and valedictory functions were organised at all the venues jointly with the hosting institution and local state government authorities, graced by important dignitaries / eminent personalities.
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WSW-2017 Celebrations at SAC
The celebration of WSW-2017 by SAC was witnessed by a large number of Space enthusiasts; more than 15,000 visitors of all age-groups and various sections of society participated in the event. Various competitions such as Paper model making, Coloring/Drawing, Water Rocket Launching, Space Quiz, Elocution, Presentations etc., were organised for students and specially-abled people wherein all participants were given a certificate and Do-It-Your-self GSLV-MkII model.
Many posters were designed to explain the WSW theme. 3D movies on various missions of ISRO and Images obtained from various satellites like Cartosat, MOM, Resourcesat were displayed on a large screen throughout the day and night. A live display of INSAT-3D imager was also organised. Mobile Planetarium shows were run throughout the day for kids and visitors.
Talks by eminent speakers were arranged and visitors got an opportunity to interact with eminent scientists throughout the day and got their queries answered and their curiosity satisfied.
The highlight of the week was sky observation using telescope. Four telescopes (11”, 8”, 5” and 3”) were used to show Moon, Saturn, Venus, Mars, Orion Nebula, Pleiades, Sirius, Vega, Altair, Antares, Lyre Double Star etc. Thousands of people queued up enthusiastically for hours late in the night and early mornings to observe these spectacular objects in the sky.
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Selected Photos of October 09, 2017
Selected Photos of October 10, 2017
WSW-2017 Celebrations at NRSC
WSW-2017 celebrations at NRSC included promotional activities focused on campaigning about ISRO’s Space Programme and its contributions to the nation benefiting citizens, various applications of Remote Sensing (RS) data, support in disaster management and monitoring climate change etc.,
Exhibitions of various miniaturised models of Launch Vehicles and Satellites of ISRO were arranged. Live demos of BHUVAN Portal was organised and interaction with Antarctica scientists to the students at the exhibitions were also arranged. Satellite/Aerial data Fly through demos of Hyderabad city, Mumbai City, Himalayas including Kedarnath etc., were made for providing a deep insight into RS capabilities. Satellite Images and Aerial Data, pertaining to RS Applications were displayed. Audio-visual programmes showcasing ISRO activities, Satellite Launches, Interactive sessions with scientists at Balanagar, Jeedimetla and Shadnagar campuses were organised.
Scientists delivered lectures at various schools in and around Hyderabad and Rangareddy districts especially focusing on the underprivileged students. Study material on ISRO Space programmes and applications of Remote Sensing were provided to all the schools throughout the country using e-media like ftp, Internet from RCs and State centres.
Across India celebrations were conducted in the States / Union Territories of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, J & K, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Tamilnadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Goa, Maharashtra, Delhi, Chandigarh and Diu & Daman.
Quiz programmes for students were organised at various states. A total of 18 teams, which are toppers at their respective state levels have participated in the National Quiz held at Earth Station, Shadnagar. Assam Team participated through Video Conference at NESAC. 75 students visited Shadnagar to participate in the Quiz finals.
As part of painting competitions, 50 paintings were received. 50 Teachers from all parts of the country came to Shadnagar and took part in the concluding sessions of the celebrations. Live demonstration of Satellite data acquisition was witnessed by the participating students.
ISRO has deputed two scientists of NRSC to Nigeria on invitation from Nigerian Government for participation in World Space Week Celebrations Organized by Nigeria Erosion & Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP).
Shri A S Kiran Kumar, Secretary DOS & Chairman, ISRO had participated in the valedictory function through Video Conference from New Delhi and addressed the students participating in the function and 1,80,000 plus students from nearly 3600 schools of Telengana state through the live telecast.
The exhibitions had overwhelming response from the students of various schools. Overall, 4,19,536 students/general public across the country participated in the celebrations of WSW-2017 organized by State Remote Sensing centres, Regional centres of NRSC, NESAC, Professional Societies and NRSC, Hyderabad and viewers through TV network.
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WSW-2017 Celebrations at ISAC
A group of Engineers and Technicians of ISAC visited two schools in the outskirts of Bengaluru and acquainted the school children with the working of satellites and launch vehicles besides briefing them about the Indian Space Programme, its pioneers, number and types of satellites/launch vehicles launched so far, their applications and benefit to society and country besides future plans of ISRO. Posters and stickers were distributed to the students and schools were presented with a scaled model of spacecraft for their science laboratory.
A team visited the Government Primary/High School at Araleri, Malur Taluk Kolar District on October 06, 2017 and explained the significance of World Space Week to the children. The different types of Spacecraft and rockets launched by ISRO, their subsystems, construction materials, orbits, mission manoeuvres, facilities at ISAC, space environment and different tests carried out on spacecraft etc were explained in local language followed by a question and answer session. As a motivational aspect the children were informed about the career prospects in ISRO / DOS and what it takes to enter ISRO / DOS. A brief about how space technology is being leveraged for societal / national development was made. The principles on which the satellites and launch vehicles work were also explained. The future ISRO plans were also touched upon in the end. Demonstration of a launch vehicle model formed a part of the briefing. Nearly 150 students and staff members participated in the event.
Whereas, another team visited the Devasandra Govt. High School near Harohalli in Kanakapura Road on October 07, 2017 and briefed nearly 250 students on the topics mentioned above.
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ISRO had succeeded in conducting the world space week celebrations as one of the biggest and popular outreach programmes of the Organisation. Important task of this programme was to inform the public about the latest advances and discoveries in the space field, application of space technologies in daily lives and to develop programmes to inspire young people to pursue careers in science and technology. In summary, through WSW-2017 events, ISRO could reach out to all the major cross section of society, made them aware of space technologies and inspired children to learn. The entire programme was very well received. The interaction with students was a great success with teachers expressing their appreciation. The exhibition and video show fascinated everyone. World Space Week activities received broad coverage by print and electronic media also.
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etc; but could someone tell me what satellite based quantum communication is all about?
