As many as 15 students from different schools of Dharwad have been chosen through a competition to visit ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) and also witness the space vehicle launch at Sriharikota.

The students have been chosen for the rare opportunity under the Space Tatva programme of ISRO conducted in association with Leelavati Charantimath Public School here on Saturday.

In all, 400 students from different schools participated in the competition and among them 15 were declared winners. Among these winners, 10 students will visit ISRO and five will visit Sriharikota.

The students were declared winners after three stages of competition.

Addressing the students, the former Chairman of ISRO A.S. Kiran Kumar said that the future of India depended on the younger generation and the youths would have to try hard to carve a niche for themselves in space programme.

“Sky gazing is a fascinating experience and every child is amazed to see various celestial bodies, including the stars, Mars and the Moon. The days are not far away when children can go on a vacation to Mars,” he said.

Referring to ISRO’s new programme to send human beings to space to mark the 75th Independence Day, he said that like India, other countries too were working on space launch vehicles which could carry 100 people to Mars.

Mr. Kiran Kumar said that the Indian Space programme was taking giant strides and India alone had the ability to show the world sustainable living and the younger generation should be part of this rare feat.

Along with taking human beings to space, the ISRO had successfully launched Aditya 1 satellite to study the Sun. This satellite had a major advantage of continuously viewing the Sun without any facing any occultation or eclipses, he said.

He said that to prepare vyomanauts (one who travels in space), ISRO was holding several scientific programmes at schools to ignite the young minds.

Director of Higher Education Academy S.M. Shivaprasad, Additional Commissioner of Public Instruction Major Siddalingayya Hiremath, school chairman Arun Charantimath, the former Mayor Shivu Hiremath and others were present.

Winners

Students who were selected for the ISRO visit are Abhishekh K., Mahesh M., Koustub G., Sanjana M., Aditya B., Ramesh G., Shreyas N.K., Jaheedmulla, Saiprasad and Farhan Sayed.

Those who were chosen to witness the space vehicle launch at Sriharikota are Gouri H., Pragati, Rithvik, Girija and Sharangouda.