CONTENTS
Space Programme Publicity
Space programme continues to evoke the interest of scientific community, students and the general public. Disseminating information to the public on the objectives and achievements of the Indian space programme is one of the important activities of the Department of Space (DOS). All major events are informed to the public through print and visual media. DOS also conducts exhibitions at educational institutions, including schools and colleges and other fora. Various publications, both popular and technical are brought out. General information on Indian space programme is also available on the Internet: www.isro.org.
Publicity Through Media
The print and electronic media is
an important avenue for space programme publicity. The successful launch
of the first developmental flight of Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch
Vehicle (GSLV-D1) from Sriharikota with GSAT-1 Satellite on board,
conducted on April 18, 2001 was a major event during the year that
attracted wide coverage both in the print and the electronic media. The
launch of PSLV C-3 carrying Technology Experiment Satellite (TES) and
another two satellites BIRD of Germany and PROBA of Belgium from
Sriharikota on October 22, 2001 was the other major event during the year
that was publicized well by the media, both national and international.
Both the visual and print media were invited to SHAR Centre, Sriharikota, to view the fully assembled GSLV a few days before the launch as well as for witnessing the actual launch. The media were briefed about the performance of the mission immediately after the event. A video capsule on GSLV D1/GSAT mission was telecast on national channel of Doordarshan. Immediately after the successful launch of PSLV C-3 on October 22, 2001, a Press Meet was arranged at Chennai to brief the media about the mission and its achievements. A video capsule on the launch of PSLV-C3 was also telecast on the national channel of Doordarshan soon after the launch. For both the above GSLV and PSLV missions, sufficient background material was provided to the media for factual coverage.
Information on various other events of the Department including those related to major technical events, international cooperation, etc, was widely disseminated through official press releases from time to time. Media persons were given interviews for focusing on specific space related missions and several reputed magazines have carried such interviews. Interviews were also given to various television channels to explain the features of the important space missions that were undertaken during the year.
Media Workshops
Special workshops for the media
were organised during the year at Chennai and Bangalore with the
cooperation of Press Information Bureau. These workshops helped the media
persons to interact with scientists of DOS and understand the
technicalities of the space missions and their applications. Study
material was also provided to the participants. Such media workshops are
proposed to be held in other places also.
Exhibitions
DOS organises exhibitions in different
parts of the country to highlight its achievements and to evoke interest
in space science and technology. The exhibitions are planned at such places
and on such technical meets and conferences. Requests from educational
institutions are also entertained for ISRO exhibitions, depending on the
event and occasions to attract a large gathering of public thus giving
maximum exposure for the space programme to a wide cross section of the
society. Exhibitions for specific target groups are also organised during
technical meets and conferences. Requests from educational institutions
are also entertained for ISRO exhibitions, depending on the event and
occasions like science festival, etc, in which there is participation
by a number of schools. During the year DOS organised/participated in
15 exhibitions — 10 at national level, four at school level and one at
industrial level.
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DOS has also provided displays on space programme to the University of Allahabad and to the Chandrasekhar Bharathi Maha Vidyalaya at Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu. DOS has also provided displays on space programme at the permanent Museum that was established by Hindustan Aeronautics, Bangalore, during the year. Many Schools and Colleges are loaned spacecraft and rocket models as well as posters for display in their schools as part of students’ exhibitions. Permanent exhibitions at VSSC Thiruvananthapuram, SHAR Centre, Sriharikota, ISAC, Bangalore and SAC, Ahmedabad are being visited by a large number of students and general public. |
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A boy showing curiosity
on
a satellite launch vehicle model at Science Congress Exhibition, Lucknow |
Publications
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A variety of publicity materials on Indian space programme have been brought out during the year. ‘Space India’, the quarterly journal is being published regularly. ‘Space Spectrum’, a compilation of the progress of space activities all over the world is also being brought out for restricted circulation within DOS to keep scientists and engineers |
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Space
pavilion at Children
Science Congress at Pune |
abreast of the latest developments in the field.
Literature and popular posters
have also been brought out on all important events during
the year.
The publications brought out during the year are as follows:
1. ISRO-HQ-SR-49-2001
Convection in Asian
Monsoon System during 1998
ISRO Tableau at Republic day parade
2. ISRO-HQ-SR-50-2001
Space Research in
India — January 1998-December 1999
3. ISRO-NNRMS-TR-102-2001
IMSD Nilgiris
District Tamil Nadu
4. ISO (B) 4 November 2001
Safety Information
Dissemination Service — Static Electricity Production Hazards and
Control Measures
5. ISRO-GBP:25-09-2001 (E)
ISRO/DOS Safety Directive
6. "ISRO Specification - Generic
Specifications for non-magnetic Gold Plated Normal Density
D-Sub Connectors for Space Applications" DOS also continued to
support publication from private
authors on subjects that are of interest to the Indian space programme.
The support is in the form of providing data and material to the authors
as well as procuring books relating to Indian space programme for ISRO’s
use as well as distribution to educational and academic institutions.
During the year the publication of Space Today in Hindi, special issue of
the Science Journal ‘’Resonance’’ and a research publication,
‘’Saraswati - The River that Disappeared’’ were supported.
General
The selection of Indian students as
Student Navigators for ‘Red Rover Goes to Mars Project’ of the
Planetary Society, USA, which was co-ordinated by the Department of Space
evoked good public attention, especially among the student community. The
National Science Day which was observed on February 28, 2001 in all DOS
Centres, attracted a large number of students to witness space exhibitions
and to participate in competitions like quiz, essay, painting, model
making, etc. Space Centres also observed the World Space Week during
October 4-10, 2001 by arranging lectures and organising exhibitions.
A seminar on the role of Women in ISRO was conducted at Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram during December 18-20, 2001 to commemorate the role of women in the development of the nation.
DOS has also presented a tableau during the Republic Day Parade 2002 at New Delhi.
Information on the Indian Space Programme is published on the Internet www.isro.org, which, inter-alia, contains information on the organisation, the major achievements, latest press releases, tender notices and other advertisements, and announcements regarding conferences, seminars and exhibitions, etc.
