NIT Raipur Celebrates National Space Day

Raipur (Team Newsbuddy): The National Institute of Technology (NIT) Raipur marked National Space Day with a special event here. The celebration saw the presence of Dr. N. V. Ramana Rao, Director, Dr. Nitin Jain, Dean (Student Welfare), faculty members and students. The event was successfully organized under the guidance of Dr. N. V. Swamy Naidu, Faculty In-Charge, Aviation Club.

The National Space Day event was formally declared open by Dr. N. V. Swamy Naidu, setting the stage for a day of insightful discussions and celebrations. The inaugural address was delivered by Dr. N.V. Ramana Rao who emphasized the importance of National Space Day and its relevance in today’s world. He highlighted the theme of this year’s celebration, “Touching Lives While Touching The Moon,” underscoring the profound impact of space technology on our everyday lives. Dr. Rao elaborated on how advancements in space exploration have not only expanded our understanding of the universe but also significantly contributed to various aspects of daily life, from communication to environmental monitoring, making space technology an integral part of modern society.

The event continued with an Online insightful speaker session featuring ISRO scientist Abhijit Kibe. Drawing from his extensive experience as a mechanical engineer in the Solid Propulsion and GSLV Project’s Mechanical Integration Area at ISRO, Kibe provided a deep dive into the Gaganyaan program, India’s ambitious human spaceflight mission. He began by discussing the significance of National Space Day, sharing the story behind its inception, and emphasized its importance in celebrating India’s space achievements. Kibe then captivated the audience with a video presentation detailing the history and significant milestones of ISRO since its formation. In addition to the historical overview, Kibe presented a comprehensive overview of the Indian Human Space Program, exploring various dimensions such as space infrastructure, transportation, applications, human spaceflight, and capacity building. He also shed light on the global human spaceflight scenario, discussing missions in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), lunar expeditions, and space stations. Highlighting India’s contributions to space exploration, Kibe spoke about the Indo-Soviet collaboration under the Interkosmos program, which led to the first Indian’s journey into space. He concluded his session by addressing the hazards of human spaceflight, including challenges like space radiation, isolation, confinement, altered gravity, and the vast distance from Earth, providing the audience with a comprehensive understanding of the complexities and risks involved in human space exploration.

Following this, the SpaceNovas team presented their “CanSat Mechanisms” project, which significantly sparked interest in space exploration among the students. The event concluded with a quiz competition titled “Bharat in Space: Exploring India’s Space Program,” featuring questions about India’s space missions from past to present. The competition saw enthusiastic participation from the students, with Rishabh Raj securing first place, Aryan coming in second, and Ishan Daharia finishing third. Additionally, a poster exhibition showcasing India’s remarkable space achievements was displayed on campus, further inspiring and educating the participants about the nation’s progress in space exploration.

Earlier in the day, a live webcast of the inaugural National Space Day celebration from Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, was held at the institute. The event featured an address by Her Excellency President Droupadi Murmu. The live telecast was attended by Dr. N. V. Ramana Rao, Dr. Nitin Jain, Dr. M. K. Prasad, Dr. N. V. Swaminaydu, along with faculty members, staff, and students, who gathered to witness this significant occasion. During the webcast, awards for various national-level technical competitions were distributed, and videos showcasing ISRO’s and India’s space achievements were presented. President Droupadi Murmu praised ISRO’s remarkable efforts and reflected on the historic moment of Chandrayaan’s successful landing on the moon, underscoring the significance of India’s advancements in space exploration.