IIT Kanpur hosts AntarikX’24 for space science enthusiasts; 300 school students participate

NEW DELHI: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur celebrated National Space Day by co-hosting AntarikX’24, an event organized by the department of Space, Planetary and Astronomical Sciences and Engineering (SPASE) and the department of aerospace engineering. As per the official press release, the event aimed to ignite curiosity and foster a scientific mindset, attracting approximately 450 participants, including students and researchers from IIT Kanpur as well as local schools and colleges.

Pankaj Jain, head of the Space, Planetary, and Astronomical Sciences and Engineering (SPASE) department, and Gopal Kamath, head of Aerospace Engineering, greeted all guests, speakers, and attendees. They introduced the theme, "India's Role in Space Science: Exploring Regional Growth Opportunities via Industry-Academia Participation," highlighting the need for collaboration between educational institutions and industry.

IIT Kanpur Hosts AntarikX’24: Space exhibition highlights

The Space exhibition featured models of rockets and satellite payloads, with support from the ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) in Lucknow. The official press release read, “Exhibits from companies such as Dream Aerospace, Manastu Space, Ananth Technologies Ltd., and Scinomat Pvt Ltd., as well as contributions from the NGO Shiksha Sopan and IITK's Rocketry and Space Exploration Team (RaSET), highlighted advancements in space research and education. ’’

Poster presentations

Students and scholars showcased their research through a dynamic poster session, covering a range of topics in space science and technology. Prizes for the poster presentations and Q and A session were provided by Springer Nature.

Participation from 300 school students

The event saw participation from 300 school students, including those from Kendriya Vidyalaya IIT Kanpur and three other government schools in Kanpur Nagar and Kanpur Dehat districts, facilitated by Ranjit Singh Rozi Shiksha Kendra, IITK.

Subba Rao Pavuluri, president of SIA-India and chairman and MD of Ananth Technologies Ltd, was the chief guest and discussed the importance of the Indian space science program. Braj Bhushan, acting Director of IIT Kanpur, also spoke, encouraging school students to participate more actively in such initiatives.

Panel discussion on 'India's role in advancing space science'

As per the IIT Kanpur press release, the latter part of the day featured a panel discussion on “India's role in advancing space science,” with panelists including Ajit Khembhavi from IUCAA, Pune; MC Uttam from Savitribai Phule Pune University; Tushar Jadhav, co-founder and CEO of Manastu Space; and Amitesh Omar from SPASE, IIT Kanpur. The discussion explored innovations in space technology, educational initiatives, and the collaboration between ISRO and the private sector.

Nigar Shaji from the UR Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), Bengaluru, gave a keynote address on the “Indian Space Science Program,” covering India's science missions, technological challenges, achievements, and future plans. Prof. Sandeep Sahijpal from Panjab University, Chandigarh, presented a talk on “The Realms of Space Sciences and Technology: Our Current Understanding,” which was followed by a question and answer session that the students found engaging.

Manindra Agrawal, director of IIT Kanpur, said, “On the occasion of National Space Day, AntarikX’24 brought together a diverse group of participants to explore and celebrate the vast field of space science. This event highlighted India's growing role in space exploration and reinforced the importance of collaboration between academia and industry in fostering innovation. I would like to acknowledge the SPASE and Aerospace departments for their exceptional efforts in co-hosting this event, which has encouraged students and researchers to continue pushing the boundaries of knowledge in space science and technology.”