From the history of Aryabhatta to RS 75, India’s first rocket, the science exhibition organised near 18th CBSE School Youth Festival venues here unfurls everything about rockets and satellites.
The exhibition is being organised by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
Though most of the satellites and rockets displayed are scale down models, RS 75’s model was of the original rocket’s size.
“When H J Bhabha and Vikram Sarabai thought of launching rockets, Thumba was the first name that cropped up. Many suggestions came from all quarters that Thumba should be given the first priority as the place has greater geo-magnetic electro. That is how the first rocket of India was launched from Thumba,” said Suresh, who is in charge of exhibition.
To make the area suitable for rocket launching, St Mary Magdalene Church that had stood there had to be demolished.
The church authorities readily handed over the place for a noble cause and there was no commotion. Thus RS 75 was launched from Thumba in 1963,” he said.
Suresh said that they were getting a lot of queries from many organisations to hold the exhibition. But ISRO is giving priority to schools. “We receive about 100-145 queries a month. But we take up only 80-85.
The focus is more on schools and engineering colleges who will benefit immensely from such exhibitions,” he said.