After that we had our 13th lecture by M. Venkatrao on Weather and Climate. This session was paused at 11.20 am and we had an interactive session with Dr. P.V. Venkata Krishnan, Director, CBPO (Capacity Building Programme Office). At 1.10 pm, we continued with Mr Venkatrao’s lecture and after lunch reached HAL (Hindustan Aeronautical Ltd.) at 2.15 pm. We visited exhibition and after coming back Prabhakar Sir made us play a communication game.
On 23rd May, 2019, we had our 14th lecture by M Venkatrao on Telescopes – Special types and uses. We learnt about reflective, refractive and catadioptric telescopes. Our 15th lecture was with Ritu Kharidal on Inter Planetary Mission. After that we had another lecture on great scientists by Smt. Srividya. We learnt about the great scientists of the world, India and about famous astronauts.
At 2.45 pm, Mr Ramesh and Mr Chandrababu gave us a practical session on making telescopes.
At 3.15 pm, we again went to URSC Main Building and saw the Thermo Vaccum Chamber. We experienced Liquid Nitrogen and saw Chamber Testing Facilities. We saw the GSAT 20 Solar Panels being tested in the 4 meters Chamber Testing. After that we saw PCB (Printed Circuit Board) and ASIC (Application Specified Integrated Circuit). We then went to the Solar Panel Laboratory and saw Honeycomb Structure Solar Panels folded in Z shape and learnt about them. Prabhakar also told us the reasons for satellite life completion.
At around 6 pm, we had a lecture by Mr Hiriyanna on Earth and its Environment and then had a puzzle session. Along with study, we also had a lot of fun with our friends as well as Professors. From 7.30 pm to 9 pm, we had a D.J. Night and after that Mr Prabhakar told us story. On 24th May, 2019, we had our last lecture by Lalitha on Human Space Exploration. From 10.30 am onwards we had a State Presentation. We needed to talk about our States and in the process, we learnt about different States as well. After lunch we went on the City Tour. We took Metro to Vidhan Sauda, Vikas Sauda and High Court. After that we reached Orion Mall via Metro and had lot of fun there.
We came back at 7.45 pm and we slept late to enjoy the last night of our stay. On 25th May, 2019, everyone was sad as it was the last day and nobody wanted to leave. It was the most amazing experience any of us had ever had. After breakfast some 16 interested students were taken by Mr Hiriyanna to Shiv Temple, I was one of them. We then went to Indian Model Makers. We had the E-tab Demo, Feedback Session and then went to the Valedictory Session. The Chief Guest of Valedictory Session was Dr. Anand Kumar Sharma, the Deputy Director, MISA.
We were given certificates and we also gave the feedback of the trip. In the evening all of us enjoyed a lot, cutting cakes and playing games. We were also sad that we had to leave. In these two weeks, I had gotten close to all of the amazing students and the teachers there. The next day, I had my flight at 6.50 am. Since it took one hour to reach the Airport, I left the campus along with Rinki Kumari and her teacher Mrs Shashi Bala Singh at 4 am. I reached back home at 9.30 am and let me tell you that it was the best trip of my life.
The write up is in first person, written by Dhriti Barnwal, a class 9 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.