“When a person inserts his debit card into an ATM machine, the machine sends signals to a satellite stationed 36,000 kilometres above the earth’s surface which establishes contact with the headquarters of the bank in any city in the world. The bank processes the client’s request and shoots the required data back to the satellite which sends signals to the ATM machine. These signals are flashed across the screen in the language selected - all in a matter of microseconds,” explains Dr PS Thakkar, in-charge of the exhibition.

On its first day of the week-long celebrations of the World Space Week, the exhibition saw almost 150 visitors. School and college students turned up in groups to see the exhibits and a video show about the Indian space science programmes.

“As students, we are prone to believe that space science is exclusive territory of noodle-haired scientists,” says Surbhi Vadgama, a student of Std IX. “After seeing how much space science we use everyday, I realize how important this branch of science is to our lives. I was astonished to learn that satellites play a role in basic communication technology like televisions, telephones and internet.”

The exhibition has elaborate models of rockets, space shuttles and space crafts launched by India. There are charts tracing the history of Indian space missions from Aryabhatta to Chandrayaan-1, with accompanying models. There are even orbiting satellite models revolving around a globe to show the path of satellites and how data is sent back and forth.

A twenty-minute video show, screened for groups of visitors, explains how space science is used in communication, urban and rural development, geology, cartography, forestry, marine science, water resource location, agriculture and even archaeology.

Parents who accompanied their children to the exhibition felt it sated their curiosity and questions as well. “I brought my daughter to the exhibition because I feel it is essential for her to be exposed to all the career options available to her. Not only is the exhibition beneficial for children like her, even adults can learn a lot about the latest developments and advances in the Indian space programmes,” said Rev Esah E Muthiah.