Budding space scientists do tricity proud

CHANDIGARH: A team of budding space scientists from Dikshant International School, Zirakpur, have done the tricity proud. Their orbital space settlement project 'Apara Kshiti-Mandala' was declared 'numero uno' by top space science experts of India, at the recently concluded National Conference on Space-2015 in Bhopal, organized by the Madhya Pradesh Council of Science and Technology (MPCST).The students won the first prize of Rs11,000, along with a trophy in the 'Orbital Space Settlement Design' competition.
The competition was intense, as 150 students from across the country had submitted their projects. The judges' panel included Dr V Narayanan, deputy director, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Thiruvananthapuram; Suresh Naik, former group director, ISRO; and Prof PK Verma, director-general, MPCST. Six students from grade VIII to X had made the project. The space settlement design by students was based on an orbital settlement with a self-sufficient life-support system. They had created a 'near earth' model of a space colony, where approximately 10,000 people can live, work, and enjoy life.
School chairman Mitul Dikshi said: "The achievement by students will ignite us to provide even better facilities to them to increase their scientific temperament. We always try to expose students to practical aspects of science, and are, therefore, setting up a fixed digital planetarium in the school premises soon."