Bengaluru gets India's first space technology gallery

Imagine experiencing live satellite launches held at Sriharikota's Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Bengaluru. Now this is possible at the country's first Space Technology Gallery, set up at Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum (VITM), in collaboration with Indian Space Research Organization (Isro).

The gallery, which is dedicated to Indian space technology and its space-related achievements, has been curated with smaller replicas of launchpads at the Sriharikota launch complex and demonstrates how rockets are used to launch satellites. It shows the actual launch sequence from countdown till the rocket takes off, at the press of a button.

The gallery was inaugurated by Isro chairman A S Kiran Kumar and chairman of National Education Policy and Karnataka Knowledge Mission, K Kasturirangan, on Tuesday. "This gallery will give students a chance to learn about India's achievement in space technology over the years. And you never know when this will push imagination of youngsters to do something more innovative in the field," said Kasturirangan.


Kiran Kumar said, "Isro is trying to reach out to many people to impart knowledge about Indian space technologies. Soon, young scientists can pick a satellite and do research with data available with Isro."

A special section has been dedicated to APJ Abdul Kalam, who headed the Rohini satellite project at Isro. The original heat shield - SLV 3 - used at that time has been displayed at the gallery, said VITM director K G Kumar. Starting from Aryabhata, India's first satellite, to Aditya, a satellite to study the sun, the gallery has an interactive display of many Isro satellites.

Next gallery in New Delhi

After setting up the first one in Bengaluru, the National Council of Science Museums is planning the next Space Technology Gallery in New Delhi. "We are holding talks with Isro," said AS Manekar, director general, NCSM.