As the first Indian mission to Mars nears its high point in space next Wednesday, it is time for the event to be celebrated in Bangalore, the headquarters of the Department of Space.
Over the next 20 days, the Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium is capturing the Mars mood with a Festival of Mars. ‘India’s March to Mars’ coincides with the entry of the Indian spacecraft of the Mars Orbiter Mission into the Martian orbit millions of km away on September 24.
Down here, the planetary extravaganza will be on from Wednesday through October 12.
Apart from a special show on the Red Planet within the sky theatre, colourful posters on the Indian Mars mission, the saga of the 50-year-old Indian space programme, its benefits and man’s quest for space greet visitors to the planetarium.
If you are lucky to be there at noon, 2 p.m. or 4 p.m., you can witness the launch of a small mock rocket along with a countdown and control room ambience.
B.S. Shylaja, Director of the State-run planetarium, said youngsters and space buffs can make models of a Mars rover or a rocket, sit in workshops, watch the mock launch or listen to lectures by space scientists.
The planetarium started working on the activities three months back and arranged for nearly 100 small, disposable palm-sized demo rockets, among other educational materials.
Indian Space Research Organisation has displayed a few models of spacecraft and launch vehicles.
Minister for IT & Biotechnology S.R. Patil launched the festival in the presence of former ISRO chairperson U.R. Rao, and Director, IT & Biotechnology, Tanusree Deb Barma.
For details: call Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium on 2379725 & 22266084 (except Mondays, alternate Tuesdays & general holidays).
