From Aryabhatta to Gaganyaan: USTM marks National Space Day with ISRO–GU RAC-S Director

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaAugust 24, 2025

The Department of Physics, University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM), celebrated National Space Day 2025 with a two-day program on August 22 and 23, capturing the theme “Aryabhatta to Gaganyaan: Ancient Wisdom to Infinite Possibilities.”

The celebration marked the second anniversary of Chandrayaan-3’s historic lunar landing, which prompted Prime Minister Narendra Modi to declare August 23 as National Space Day. Designed to highlight India’s journey from its astronomical heritage to cutting-edge space exploration, the program blended competitions, workshops, and hands-on experiences to spark curiosity among students.

The event opened on August 22 at Block C, USTM, with two contests: a Scientific Model Competition on “Indian Space Missions: From Past to Future” and a Poster Competition on “Bridging the Past and Future – Honouring Traditional Astronomy and Showcasing Modern Space Achievements.” Undergraduate and postgraduate students from science and engineering streams participated enthusiastically, presenting ideas that linked India’s ancient astronomical traditions with its futuristic space ambitions.

On August 23, a workshop titled “Expanding Frontiers in Space Physics Research” was held at the Prof. NKC Auditorium. The session began with an inaugural speech by Dr. Murchana Khusroo, followed by a welcome from Dr. H. P. Jaishi, Head of the Department. Prof. Enamul Karim, Dean of the School of Applied Sciences, highlighted India’s growing role in the global space arena.

The highlight was a popular talk by Prof. Madhurjya P. Bora, Director of ISRO–GU RAC-S and Professor at Gauhati University, titled “To Infinity and Beyond…” Delivered in a cinematic and engaging style, his lecture took the audience from NASA’s early space journeys to India’s landmark missions such as Chandrayaan-3 and Aditya-L1. An interactive session with students followed, sparking discussions on future opportunities in space research.

Winners of the model and poster competitions were felicitated, and the day concluded with a rooftop stargazing session. Students explored the night sky through telescopes, experiencing astronomy in a hands-on way that reinforced classroom learning.

By combining competitions, expert insights, and direct engagement with the cosmos, the National Space Day 2025 celebration at USTM reaffirmed the university’s commitment to nurturing scientific inquiry and inspiring the next generation of space explorers.