Lecture on National Space Day at Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla

A lecture was organized at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla, on the occasion of National Space Day. On this occasion, Professor Jitendra Rai, a scholar of the institute, delivered a lecture on the topic “An Overview of India’s Space Mission.” Scholars, officials, and employees of the institute were present at the event.

Professor Rai stated that the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon’s surface on August 23, 2023, was a landmark achievement for Indian science, particularly in space exploration. He mentioned that the history of India’s space mission began in 1962 with the formation of the Indian National Committee for Space Research under the able leadership of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai. He emphasized the need for not only a clear understanding of basic science but also a robust technical infrastructure for space missions. Additionally, gravity plays a crucial role in such launches, requiring complex calculations. For any object launched towards other celestial bodies, it is first essential to understand Earth’s gravitational field. However, when an object enters the gravitational influence of another planet, the motion of that planet becomes highly significant.

Highlighting the history of India’s space missions, the success of Chandrayaan-3, its features, technical aspects, and long-term positive outcomes, Professor Rai satisfactorily and comprehensively answered questions related to space and Chandrayaan-3 posed by the scholars, officials, and employees present after his lecture.

The lecture was conducted under the chairmanship of the institute’s secretary, Mehr Chand Negi. In his presidential address, he remarked that the success of Chandrayaan-3 is a matter of pride for the nation and expressed gratitude towards the keynote speaker, Professor Jitendra Rai, as well as the scholars and other attendees.

This lecture was organized following the guidelines of the Ministry of Education, Government of India. The program concluded with the national anthem.