Featured Image: Representational image of a satellite
A copy of the revered Hindu text, the Srimad Bhagavad Gita, is all set to be launched into space by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) along with the Satish Dhawan Satellite (SD Sat). The satellite is scheduled for launch at the end of February aboard the polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV) rocket, reports Hindustan Times.
The nanosatellite has been developed by SpaceKidz India, an organisation dedicated to promoting space science among students. When asked why the company is sending a copy of the Bhagavad Gita into space, the company’s founder and chief executive Dr Srimathy Kesan said that it is a common practice to send holy books such as the Bible into space.
It would also carry three other scientific payloads, one of which will study space radiation and the other one will study the magnetosphere. Meanwhile, the third payload will demonstrate a low-power wide-area communication network.
The SD Sat will also carry aboard a photograph of PM Narendra Modi and the names of 25,000 individuals.
Dr Kesan said, “There is a lot of excitement in the group right now. This will be our first satellite to be deployed in space. When we finalised the mission, we asked people to send in their names that will be sent to space. And, within a week we received 25,000 entries. Of these, 1,000 names were sent in by people from outside India. There is a school in Chennai that sent in the names of everyone. We decided to do this because it will spark the interest of the people in the mission and space science.”
She also added, “We have also added the name and photograph of the prime minister on the top panel with the words ‘Atmanirbhar mission’. This satellite has been completely developed and fabricated in India, including the electronics and circuitry.”
Additionally, the names of ISRO’s chairperson Dr K Sivan and scientific secretary Dr R Umamaheswaran have also been etched on the bottom.
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