During a lecture on history of science and technology in India by Dr. P. Jaysimha, we learnt about the Meru Prastara of Pingala, which was similar to Pascal’s Triangle and was invented before Pascal. We learnt that Aryabhatta knew about Heliocentricity and Kepler’s Law in 200 A.D. and also about different contribution of India to the field of science and mathematics.
At 3.20 PM, we had an interaction with Dr. K. Radhakrishnan, former Chairman of ISRO. He was also the Chairperson during the Mars Orbital Mission (MOM). I consider myself fortunate to meet such an eminent personality. At 5 PM we had a practical session of Air Rocket Launch. After that, we went to see the telescope and observed the craters of the Moon.
On 15th May, 2019, we reached Jawaharlal Nehru Planetorium at 10.30 AM. Firstly we saw a 40 minute movie called ‘The Dawn of Space Age’. Then we had an interactive session with Dr. Shailja, who taught us about exoplanets, circumsteller discs, centre of mass radial velocity etc. We learnt about the different methods of finding extra solar planets and about the Kepler Mission, which has discovered close to 3000 exo planets. We learnt about TRAPPIST – 1 System, Kepler – 22 System, Planetary migration and why Mercury and Jupiter are important for solar system.
At 12.45 PM we had another show on 'Our Solar System' and 'Science Watch'. We had lunch, ate ice-cream and then reached Vishweshwaraiya Industrial and Technological Museum (VITM). We came back at 6.25 PM and at 7 PM we had a briefing session on Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota High Altitude Ranging (SHAR). Next day at 9.15 AM, we went to I-SITE (ISRO Satellite Installation Test Establishment). At 10 AM, we went inside the clean room after wearing proper gears and taking an air shower. There we saw the Chandrayaan-2's Orbital, Lander (Vikram) and Rover (Pragyan).
Vanita Mam was the Project Director and she explained Chandrayaan – 2 to us. We became the first people other than Scientists to see the Chandrayaan – 2. It was one of the best moments of my life. Then we went to anechoic chamber and saw the antenna testing facility.
Later, we went to Thermo Vaccum Chamber also known as the 'Torture Room' and it is used for testing. Liquid nitrogen was used for cooling here. At 12 Noon, we came back to URSC Guest House and left for SHAR at 2 PM. The trip from the URSC to SHAR was the most fun-filled journey I had ever had. The bus was amazing and we saw movies and played games. After three and a half hours we stopped for Ice-cream and finally reached SHAR at 9.25 PM.
The weather in SHAR was very humid and after dinner we retired to our rooms. It was in this place that all the 108 students from all the four centers had gathered together. On 17th May, 2019, we had breakfast at 7.30 AM and left for Brahma Prakash Hall. Till 9 AM we were arranged in the Hall according to our States. After that we were addressed by the Director, SDSC, SHAR, Sri S. Pandyan.
The write up is in first person, written by Dhriti Barnwal, a class 8 student of Delhi Public School, Ranchi, who was one of the 108 children in India who attended the Indian Space Research Organization’s (ISRO) YUVIKA programme from May 13 to May 25.