Mumbai’s Nehru Science Centre has unveiled a captivating exhibition titled "From Ancient Skies to Modern Horizons: Exhibition on Space Heritage in India," tracing the nation’s profound legacy in astronomy—from ancient scholars like Aryabhata and Bhaskara II to cutting-edge ISRO missions including Chandrayaan-3 and beyond. Designed by the National Council of Science Museums under the Ministry of Culture, this exhibition offers visitors a sweeping narrative of India’s astronomical achievements and its rise as a global space power.
Key Highlights of the Exhibition:
-
It maps India’s scientific curiosity from early mathematical and astronomical brilliance to modern space exploration.
-
Features historical contributions from ancient astronomers, Kerala School of Astronomy, and the significant influence of early cosmological models.
-
Showcases the genesis of India’s space program, from the first rocket launches at Thumba, to the launch of the Aryabhata satellite in 1975, and ISRO’s landmark missions like Mangalyaan and Chandrayaan-3.
-
Includes a scaled-down model of Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram Lander and Pragyan Rover, which has garnered widespread attention.
-
Uses interactive technology such as QR codes linking to multilingual digital flipbooks featuring ancient manuscripts, enhancing visitor engagement.
-
Aims to inspire young audiences with interactive displays and storytelling about India’s journey to the stars.
Tracing the Roots: Ancient Astronomy and Early Innovators
The exhibition opens with India’s ancient contributions to astronomy, focusing on legends such as Aryabhata—the 5th-century mathematician and astronomer who calculated the value of pi and conceptualized the earth’s rotation. The display further honors Bhaskara II, whose work in the 12th century advanced planetary theory and calculus, and highlights the Kerala School’s pioneering astronomical research predating many western discoveries. The exhibition underscores how deep-rooted curiosity and sophisticated knowledge systems laid the foundation for scientific progress, long before telescopes and modern instruments existed.
India’s Modern Space Odyssey
Visitors journey onward to the dawn of India’s space program, showcasing milestones such as:
-
Aryabhata, India's first satellite launched in 1975.
-
The first rocket launch at Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station, symbolizing India’s early ventures into space.
-
ISRO’s historic Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan) in 2013, which made India the first Asian nation to reach Mars on its maiden attempt.
-
Chandrayaan-1’s discovery of water molecules on the Moon.
-
The 2019 Chandrayaan-2 mission, whose orbiter continues providing valuable lunar data.
-
Chandrayaan-3’s 2023 historic south pole landing on the Moon, affirming India’s prowess in complex lunar missions.
-
The 2023 Aditya-L1 solar observatory mission studying solar phenomena from a unique vantage point.
The exhibition also highlights India’s broader space portfolio, including the NavIC satellite navigation system, tele-education, telemedicine, disaster management applications, and its emergence as a low-cost launch hub for over 430 foreign satellites from 35 countries.
Celebrating Contemporary Achievements: From Chandrayaan-3 to Axiom-4
The exhibition not only recounts ISRO’s impressive track record but also casts a spotlight on the latest accomplishments:
-
The Vikram Lander and Pragyan Rover models from Chandrayaan-3 draw fascination for their roles in making India the first to successfully soft-land near the lunar south pole.
-
India’s strides in human spaceflight are represented by the Gaganyaan programme, aiming to send a crewed mission into low Earth orbit.
-
Contemporary milestones include Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s journey aboard the Axiom-4 mission in 2025 to the International Space Station, establishing India’s presence in international human spaceflight collaboration.
Future Visions and Inspiration
The exhibition projects India’s future in space exploration with anticipated missions such as Chandrayaan-4, planned as a sample-return mission from the Moon, and the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS), India’s own space station sanctioned in 2024 for microgravity research and long-duration missions. It also celebrates the burgeoning space startup ecosystem anticipated to capture eight percent of the global space economy by 2035.
The Nehru Science Centre director emphasizes the exhibition’s goal to impart India’s scientific heritage and contemporary achievements in a format accessible and inspiring to youth, fostering a sense of pride and aspiration among the next generation of innovators and explorers.
This exhibition, launched by astrophysicist M.N. Vahia of Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, is now open to the public in Mumbai and stands as a bridge connecting India’s ancient astronomical roots to its modern cosmic ambitions.
Source: Deccan Herald, Mid-Day, PIB Maharashtra, Economic Times
