World Space Week celebrations, organised under the theme “Rocket Revolution” by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU) and the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), all under the Department of Space, concluded with a valedictory function held at VSSC today (October 14, 2026).

Dr. M. Jayakumar, Deputy Director of VSSC and Chairman of the WSW 2026 Organising Committee, delivered the welcome address. Dr. U. P. Rajeev, Director of VSSC, presided over the function. Mr. N. Jayan, Director of LPSC, and Mr. Joji J. Chaman, Director of IISU, offered felicitations. Dr. Dipankar Banerjee, Vice-Chancellor of IIST, delivered a lecture on “Chasing the Dynamic Sun: How Aditya-L1 Shapes India’s Roadmap for Space Weather and Heliophysics”. Ms. Meera Angel, Secretary of WSW 2026, presented the activity report. Ms. Anjana S. J., Chairperson of the Valedictory Session Committee, proposed the vote of thanks.

World Space Week celebrations were inaugurated on October 6 at LPSC, Valiyamala, by Dr. Sanjay Behari, Director of the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST).

As part of the celebrations, scientists conducted interactive online and offline lectures across more than 200 schools throughout Kerala, aiming to foster scientific temper and encourage students' interest in space science. The celebrations also featured “Your Space”, a programme for students that included video competitions, along with public outreach activities.

As part of the initiative, students were invited through their schools to prepare video presentations on the theme “Space Technology for Sustainable Local Development”. The competition received an encouraging response, and six selected teams participated in the valedictory function held at VSSC.

A lecture by Dr. Anand Narayanan, Professor at IIST, on “The Great Search for Alien Worlds” was among the highlights of the celebrations. Other notable events included a public outreach lecture by Mr. Kiran Mohan, Deputy Director of LPSC, on “Beyond the Pale Blue Dot” at the Kerala State Science and Technology Museum, and a lecture by Prof. Srinivasa Murty Srinivasalu, Director of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Thiruvananthapuram, on “How Do We Search for Life in the Universe”.

A Rohini (RH200) sounding rocket was also launched from the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) at VSSC as part of the World Space Week celebrations. More than 2,500 people, including students and members of the public, had gathered at Thumba to witness the launch.

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NK

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