Space exploration explained to kids at Raman Science Centre and Planetarium

NAGPUR: As India celebrated its latest achievement in space technology, city scientists set to the task of explaining the importance of space exploration to students. Raman Science Centre and Planetarium in collaboration with Vijnana Bharati, Vidarbha Vigyan Mandal organized a meet the scientists programme to make students aware about the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) and other aspects of Mars exploration and space technology. A panel of experts interacted with the kids on the topic. It included former director of South Asian Regional Research Centre (SAS-RC) MK Tiwari, general manager of ISRO’s Regional Remote Sensing Centre of the city AK Joshi, former reader of SFS College MY Apte and project co-ordinator of RSC VN Joshi. They informed the students about planet Mars, how orbits are formed, technical aspects of Mangalyan and its usefulness. The experts also provided answers to the many queries of the students. About 125 students from various schools from the city and around participated in the meet. Tiwari told them that India is the first country in the world to achieve this in first attempt. Apte gave them an idea about the importance of the velocity in making the satellite revolve around the object in circular or elliptical orbit depending upon its utility. AK Joshi elaborated the utility of the mission and how it will help Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to explore the soil, presence of methane, water etc and to predict the possibility of existence of life on the red planet. VN Joshi answered the queries like 'What students should do to be a scientist?' to which he replied saying that it is possible only when they have an inquisitive attitude to look towards the happenings around them. On this occasion a written science quiz was also organised for high school students. The winners of the contest Anubha Agarwal from Mt. Charmel Girls High School, Atharva Unhale from St. Xaviers High-School, Hingna, Rajas Salpekar from Neeri Modern School and Shivani Agrawal from Mundle English Medium School.