Space Mission Training for students

BANGALORE :Fifteen BSc and BE students have been invited for an eight-day training programme at the Space Engineering Academy at University of Alabama (UA) Huntsville College of Engineering in USA. “We have been facilitating space camp visits for high school students for the last five years. This time, however, science and engineering students will get hands-on experience on space mission training,” Sudhir Kamath, Space Camp Ambassador India, told Express.Kamath believes that the programme would bring in a experiential approach to science education. “Indian students are really smart. The problem is that there is a severe lacuna when it comes to training that gives students experience,” said Kamath.As a part of the training programme organised by US Space and Rocket Centre and UA, Huntsville, students will receive practical space mission training, where each one will assume different roles. Along with this comes the understanding about the mental, emotional and physical demands that astronauts face. The students will also build, launch and recover a balloon satellite. “Here is an opportunity for the students to interact with provosts of universities and NASA engineers and scientists. While NASA camps for high school students of India is regular feature, this is the first such opportunity for  UG and PG students,” said Kamath. Being a self-financed programme (costs upto `1,95,000), Kamath said there was no hard and fast selection criteria that is being followed. “As the programme is self-financed, we have to depend on the lists sent to us by the respective colleges,” he said. “It will definitely not be the last such programme. The University of Huntsville is looking at increased collaboration with Indian students and universities in the future,” said Kamath. The students’ performance during the training would be evaluated and suitable candidates would be offered a transfer into their UG courses, with some eligible students being offered scholarships. The programme will be held between March 17 and 24, 2012.For details, visit www.seacademy.wordpress.com.