By Arlene Cardoza Dcruz for BIS Mumbai

On July 29 2024, St Dominic Savio High School in Andheri hosted an extraordinary event that left students buzzing with excitement. The school had the privilege of welcoming a distinguished guest, Mr Partha Ajit Surve, an esteemed alumnus and a promising scientist, who delivered a compelling talk on Space Exploration and Rocketry. This event was a highlight in the school's year-long celebration of the bicentenary of Don Bosco’s Dream, as outlined in the Strenna 2024, aligning perfectly with the theme of the school, “Vision with Heart.”

The occasion was introduced by the school’s Principal, Ms Valerie Mascarenhas, who set the stage for what would become a memorable and enlightening session. Mr Surve, a Scientist Engineer SD at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), ISRO, took centre stage to share his remarkable journey from a bright-eyed student at St Dominic Savio to a leading figure in India's space missions.

The students of classes 8, 9, and 10 were treated to an engaging presentation on the evolution of rocketry. Mr Surve took them on a journey from the early days of astronomy, discussing figures like Galileo and Kepler, to the cutting-edge milestones of modern space exploration. He elaborated on the sophisticated mechanisms of rocket structures, propulsion systems, and avionics—the technologies that drive rockets into space. The discussion included landmark projects such as Sputnik-1 and India’s ambitious missions like Gaganyaan and Aditya -L1. Mr Surve's remarkable ability to break down complex concepts like Earth’s gravity, rocket weight, and velocity into relatable terms kept the students engrossed and edified. The speaker also encouraged students to dive into hands-on projects such as model rockets, water rockets, and amateur astronomy to spark their interest in space science. He shared insights on the academic pathways that would be most beneficial for students aiming to enter this exciting field.

The students were in high spirits, as the speaker invited questions from the audience. Some prominent questions asked by the students were, “What happens to the space junk and how is it tackled? How does gravity affect age in space? Why is water often sprayed on the launch pad or at the bottom of a rocket before take-off?” The event concluded with a heartfelt token of appreciation presented by Mst. Dhairya Vishwakarma, followed by a sincere vote of thanks from Mst. Fabian Fernando.

Mst. Yuvraj Pawar of grade 9 stated that he was inspired by Mr Surve’s story that encouraged students to dream boldly and work diligently, with perseverance and a continuous quest for learning. Mst. Cassian Mendes of grade 10 said, “Mr Surve’s talk was not only a deep dive into the world of space exploration but also a powerful source of motivation encouraging us to follow our dreams and passion.”