YUVIKA – YUva VIgyani KAryakram (Young Scientist Programme)
- The YUVIKA programme was first introduced by the former ISRO chief K Sivan on January 18, 2019
- Indian Space Research Organisation is organising a special programme for School Children called “Young Scientist Programme” “YUva VIgyani KAryakram”, YUVIKA, to impart basic knowledge on Space Technology, Space Science and Space Applications to the younger students in emerging trends in space science and technology amongst the youngsters, who are the future building blocks of our nation.
- ISRO has chalked out this programme to “Catch them young”. The programme is also expected to encourage more students to pursue in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) based research /career. It was a two-week residential programme for the high school students.
- It was a two-week residential programme for the high school students.
- The programme aims to select 150 students across the country, who are studying in class IX
NEtwork for space object TRacking and Analysis (NETRA)
- In view of ever-growing population of space objects and the recent trend towards mega-constellations, Space Situational Awareness (SSA) has become an integral and indispensable part of safe and sustainable space operations.
- For the last few decades, ISRO has been carrying out SSA activities, mainly focused on safeguarding India’s space assets.
- Recognising the need for dedicated efforts to tackle the emerging challenges of operating in an exceedingly crowded and contested space domain, Directorate of Space Situational Awareness and Management (DSSAM) has been established at ISRO.
- The Directorate engages in evolving improved operational mechanisms to protect Indian space assets through effective coordination amongst ISRO/DOS Centres, other space agencies and international bodies, and establishment of necessary supporting infrastructures, such as additional observation facilities for space object monitoring, and a control centre for centralized SSA activities.
- NEtwork for space object TRacking and Analysis (NETRA) project is initiated as a first step towards meeting this goal, its main elements being a radar, an optical telescope facility, and a control centre. ISRO SSA Control Centre, “NETRA”, is now set up within the ISTRAC campus at Peenya, Bangalore.
