THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR,
JUNE 2, 2026
For a group of young astronomy
enthusiasts from Odisha, a cherished dream recently became a reality as winners
of Tata Steel’s Young Astronomer Talent Search (YATS) 2025 returned from an
immersive educational visit to the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR),
Sriharikota — the launch hub of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
Organised by Tata Steel in
collaboration with the Pathani Samanta Planetarium under the Department of
Science and Technology, Government of Odisha, the four-day exposure visit
offered students a rare opportunity to witness India’s space programme up close
and interact with the scientists and engineers shaping the nation’s future in
space exploration.
During the visit, the students engaged
with ISRO experts and gained first-hand insights into India’s space missions,
launch operations and emerging technologies. A major highlight was learning
about Vyommitra, ISRO’s AI-powered humanoid designed for future human
spaceflight missions.
The young participants interacted with
Ch. Venkata Ramana, Deputy Division Head, ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command
Network (ISTRAC-SHAR) and Deputy Project Director (Telemetry), who explained
the complexities of launch vehicle assembly and the extensive preparations
involved before every rocket launch. They also met Amitav Mohanty, Head, EP
& FMD, SDSC-SHAR, and N. Kumar, Library Officer, SDSC-SHAR, who shared
valuable insights into ISRO’s research ecosystem and scientific pursuits.
Beyond technical interactions, the
students toured several key facilities at the spaceport, including the Mission
Control Centre, First Launch Pad and Second Launch Pad. ISRO scientists
introduced them to the organisation’s fleet of launch vehicles — SSLV, PSLV,
GSLV and LVM3 — as well as the upcoming Human-Rated Launch Vehicle (HRLV) being
developed for the Gaganyaan Mission. Demonstrations and discussions on launch
technologies and safety systems planned for India’s human spaceflight programme
further enriched the learning experience.
Reflecting on the visit, Anshika Dash,
a student of Vikash Residential School, Bargarh, said, “I am grateful to Tata
Steel for giving us the opportunity to visit ISRO. The experience was truly
inspiring and strengthened my interest in science and innovation. I also thank
the Government of Odisha, Pathani Samanta Planetarium and our mentors for their
constant support and guidance.”
Echoing similar sentiments, Rishita
Samantaray of KIIT International School said, “Exploring the launch pads,
Mission Control Centre and the ISRO campus was an inspiring and enriching
experience that offered valuable insights into India’s remarkable achievements
in space science.”
Jyotiranjan Chand, Assistant Teacher
at Mallikeswar Government High School, Derabish, Kendrapara, added, “The visit
inspired young minds to explore science and space research, and will remain a
cherished memory for all of us.”
The exposure visit was flagged off on
May 26, 2026, by Krushna Chandra Patra, Minister for Food Supplies &
Consumer Welfare and Science & Technology, Government of Odisha. The event
was attended by Chithra Arumugam, Additional Chief Secretary, Science &
Technology Department and Chairperson of Pathani Samanta Planetarium; Urmiprava
Maharana, Deputy Secretary, Science & Technology Department and Director
In-charge of Pathani Samanta Planetarium; Subhranshu Panda, Chief, Corporate
Services, Tata Steel Meramandali; and other dignitaries.
This year’s YATS theme, “Stargazer
Today, Gagannaut Tomorrow,” attracted more than 76,700 entries from across
Odisha. Over its 19 editions, the programme has reached more than 5.4 lakh
students, with 260 winners earning the opportunity to visit ISRO centres across
the country.
Today, YATS stands among India’s most
impactful science outreach initiatives, nurturing curiosity in astronomy, space
science and innovation while inspiring the next generation of scientists,
researchers and explorers.
