Just as many applaud Mangalyaan’s entry into Mars, many others are taking pictures with the spacecraft in their living room. They let it take-off from their hands, orbit around their head and zoom at them because the ‘Mangalyaan and me’ contest is looking for innovative selfies using the Smartur Mangalyaan app.
Smartur is a Hyderabad-based start-up that develops digital classroom solutions. The new app was launched to make people aware of the ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) project and encourage them to be a part of it. “Taking a selfie helps people form a personal connect and see themselves as part of the whole programme,” says Neeraj Jewalkar, founder and CEO of smartur.com.
Not only does the app let you take pictures with the spacecraft, it also gives you a view of space through augmented reality on your phone and provides infographics about the mission.
For instance, did you know that Mangalyaan was built at 1/10th the cost of a similar US mission? The app aims to educate you on all that and more.
The Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) has made the entire country proud and many people are taking to social media to be a part of the celebration and congratulate the space project. Here are a few tongue-in-cheek tweets and Facebook status updates:
As we say in Tamil,
marana Mars. #ISRO
twinkle twinkle little stars world is envy, v r on mars up above d world so high we've made it in a single try..
Most importantly today Mangalyaan can update its shaadi biodata to "cleared in first attempt"
india's first mars mission didn't fail unlike others' because we know not to ask where it is going right when it is leaving #cultur
Can sense Telugu people lining up to apply for Mars visa early. #TheNewNewJersey
Chetan Vohra on Facebook - With our Mars Mission being successful, it is not just good news for ISRO - but many people i can think off. We will soon have a way to get you guys home!!
Once Mangalyaan completes 7 pheras around Mars we can start with the marriage jokes.
Success in first attempt! Now some coaching institute in Kota might launch "Mangalyaan crash course - clear IIT in first attempt".
