World Space Week, the largest annual space event in the world was celebrated in a befitting manner by U. R. Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), the lead centre of ISRO for building satellites to meet national requirements. This was organised at eight different locations across Karnataka around the theme “Moon: The Gateway to Stars”. The locations were at URSC and, in partnership with educational institutions, at Udupi, Chitradurga, Gadag, Shahapur, Kumta, Tumakuru and Bengaluru.

The World Space Week 2019 was inaugurated by Shri P. Kunhikrishnan, Director, URSC at the Satish Dhawan Auditorium, URSC on 4 October 2019. Students from St. Joseph's College and Kendriya Vidyalaya, NAL participated in the event along with members of URSC. Padma Shri Dr. H. Sudarshan, Secretary, VGKK and Karuna Trust was the Chief Guest. He pointed out that the missions like Chandrayaan-2 are opening new vistas to understand the cosmos.

The team headed by Shri Subrahmanya Udupa, Deputy Director, CDA organised and conducted the event at Poornaprajna PU College, Admar, Udupi. About 500 students along with more than 60 teachers from 28 schools participated in the event. The function was inaugurated by his Holiness Sri Vishwapriya Theertha Swamiji, President, Udupi Sri Admar Mutt Education Council. Shri H. N. Sureshkumar of URSC delivered inaugural address. Presentations were made by Shri K. V. Muralidhar and Dr. V. Radhakrishna.

The team headed by Shri Deviprasad Karnik, CGM, Facilities organised and conducted the event in SJM Institute of Technology at Chitradurga on 4th October 2019. About 300 students participated in this venue and there was a good interactive session.

The team headed by Shri M. S. Srinivasan organised and conducted the event on 5th October 2019 at R. V. College of Engineering, Bengaluru. Mrs. Vijayalakshmi Bidari, Controller, URSC inaugurated the event. Shri Subramanya K N, Principal, RVCE was the Chief Guest. About 300 high school and engineering college students participated in this venue.

The team headed by Shri Karnik moved to Tontadarya College of Engineering at Gadag on 5th October 2019 to organise and conduct the world space week events. The event was inaugurated by Dr. Diwakar P G, of ISRO HQ. and the lecture on ISRO space programme was delivered by Shri S. V. Bindagi of URSC. About 1000 students participated and it was a grand success.

The team headed by Shri Basavaraj Akkimaradi organised and conducted the event at Sri Sai Vidyaniketan Residential School, Shahapur, Yadgir district on 5th October 2019. Shri Hiriyanna S and Shri Kiran Desai, URSC gave presentations which was attended by about 350 students with rapt attention.

On 5th October 2019, the team headed by Shri Udupa moved to Konkan Education Trust High School, Kumta and conducted the event in a grand manner. About 400 students along with 54 teachers from 22 nearby high schools participated in the event. The event was inaugurated by Shri H. N. Sureshkumar of URSC. Presentations were given by Shri H. N. Sureshkumar and Dr. V. Radhakrishna.

The team headed by Shri M. S. Srinivasan conducted the event at Siddaganga Institute of Technology, Tumakuru on 9th October 2019. Shri. P. Kunhikrishnan, Director, URSC and Shri Nagesh G, Chairperson, World Space Week Organising Committee, took part in this event to witness the enthusiasm of students. About 350 students from schools in and around Tumakuru participated.

In all the eight venues, exhibition of models and posters were also organised which attracted a large number of students to ISRO activitise in particular and space in general. Prizes were distributed to all the winners of various competitions. Make your own ‘Astrosat’ 3D paper model was also given as token of appreciation to all participants of competitions. Space Odyssey booklet and sticker were distributed to all students visiting the exhibitions.

Subsequently, the concluding session of World Space Week Events was held on 10th October 2019 at URSC, Bengaluru. Shri Nagesh G, Chairman of the WSW-2019 Committee welcomed the gathering and briefed about the activities conducted. Padma Shri Dr. Kota Harinarayana, SERB, Distinguished Fellow, CSIR, NAL was the Chief Guest. Shri Jagadesh Babu, Member Secratory, presented details of the activities carried out as part of world space week at various locations. Director, URSC expressed his happiness about the way WSW events planned and successfuly organised at various institutional venues across Karnataka. Several school and college students participated in the concluding session.

Going by the immense enthusiasm shown and response received in all the eight venues, the programme has definitely gone a long way in achieving its objectives of spreading the message of space technology and its benefits to mankind.