5 days ago
National Space Day celebrated at KSOU
The Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) on Wednesday observed National Space Day, commemorating the historic success of India's Chandrayaan-3 mission and soft landing on the Moon's south pole on August 23, 2023.
The event was held to bring together students, scientists, and academicians on a common platform in a bid to create greater awareness about India's space programmes, and the various space missions and explorations to be undertaken in the future.
Jaswinder Singh Khoral, Chairperson of the National Space Day (NSpD) main committee, said that although the global success rate for lunar landings was low, India had achieved a remarkable milestone with Chandrayaan-3, which successfully touched down on the lunar surface, with the landing point being named as the Shiv Shakti Point.
'This day is not just about ISRO's success, but about how the student community and the nation, together, celebrate the possibilities that space offers,' he added.
Mr. Khoral said that the National Space Day is not about celebrating ISRO's past success, but to co-opt students, academicians, and all stakeholders, and think of the future, as space science and technology had already impacted every aspect of life.
He said that space is no longer a domain of pure application, but was the new frontier — whether it is telecommunications, education, infrastructure, or asteroid mining. The race to the moon and beyond has already begun, said Mr. Khoral.
He underlined the need to prepare the younger generation for the rapidly evolving space sector. 'Whether you are in engineering, policy, or management, you will be contributing to the space sector, directly or indirectly,' he said, urging students to see National Space Day not just as a celebration of past glory but a call to be a part of India's space future.
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Mysore, N.K. Lokanath, said that the event provided students with an opportunity to understand India's journey in space science, and the groundwork that goes into such missions.
He pointed out that space science in India has always had deep roots, even in ancient times, where mathematics and calculations formed the basis of astronomical observations.
The theme of the event 'Aryabhata to Gaganyaan: Ancient Wisdom to Infinite Possibilities', encapsuled India's timeless pursuit of knowledge, said Mr. Lokanath. He said India's quest for understanding the cosmos did not begin in recent decades but could be traced to the days of Aryabhata, Brahmagupta, Bhaskara, etc.
Mr. Lokanath said that India's space programmes have been notable not just for its orientation towards developmental outcomes for the benefit of society, but also for addressing terrestrial challenges like disaster management, weather forecasting, communication, educational outreach, etc. Sharanappa V. Halse, Vice-Chancellor, KSOU, and others were present.
There was interaction between students and ISRO scientists, and talks on various aspects of space by resource persons to mark the event.
