Coimbatore students witness launch of Aditya-L1 at science centre
The Hindu
Students cheered as PSLV-C57 lifted off, placing India’s first solar space observatory on its intended orbit as they watched the screening live at Regional Science Centre in Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu. The satellite was deployed into a low-Earth orbit by PSLV-C57, the 59th mission of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle.
Students witnessed the launching of Aditya-L1 at the Regional Science Centre in the city on Saturday.
The students said it was a proud moment for the nation.
Over 190 students of Class IX and above from private schools took part in the initiative by the Tamil Nadu Science and Technology Centre - ‘Flying to the Sun with Aditya-L1’. The centre involved Obuli Chandran, who founded Mango Education, to explain the process to the students.
The children posed questions such as the type of fuel, fuel content, the reason for distance and choosing this orbit, the duration for making the satellite, the effects of sunspots on earth, the reason for choosing gold as the foil, and how issues of the satellite would be solved.
The students also viewed a 3-D show on physics and the 200 exhibits in the viewing gallery — including displays on textiles, history, science and maths — and the innovation hub.
Space constraint
An official source at the centre said that some students had to be sent back due to lack of space. “An amphitheatre would be ideal. More explainers to teach students about the various aspects of the centre will be arriving next week. So, more activities will be planned. We need space to accommodate all the children willing to participate,” the source added.
The Opposition Congress demanded that the government open the Gandhi Vatika Museum, depicting Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy and freedom struggle, built at a cost of ₹85 crore in Jaipur’s Central Park last year, during the Congress-led regime in Rajasthan. The museum has not been opened to the public, reportedly because of the administration’s engagements with the State Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.
Almaya Munnettam (Lay People to the Fore), group in the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese of the Syro-Malabar Church opposed to the synod-recommended Mass, rejected a circular issued by Major Archbishop Raphael Thattil and apostolic administrator Bosco Puthur on June 9 to implement the unified Mass in the archdiocese from July 3.
Pakistan coach Gary Kirsten stated that “not so great decision making” contributed to his side’s defeat to India in the Group-A T20 World Cup clash here on Sunday. The batting unit came apart in the chase, after being well placed at 72 for two. With 48 runs needed from eight overs, Pakistan found a way to panic and lose. “Maybe not so great decision making,” Kirsten said at the post-match press conference, when asked to explain the loss.