Tech fest takes on a journey through Mars, moon, sky Mumbai is second to host exhibition on the Red Planet outside the US Express News Service
Mumbai, January 20: Did you know that the rocks on the Red planet are cold and the dust hot? Or that a part of Mars' surface is covered with sand dunes that help scientists across the world determine wind circulation patterns? One can learn all this and more at Techfest-2006, the ninth edition of Asia's largest science and technology festival, kicked off on Friday by Union Minister for Civil Aviation Praful Patel at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT). The festival will conclude on January 22. Day One of the festival presented a plethora of events, including an air show by the Indian Air Force (IAF), a robotrix workshop by the Robotics Institute funded by the IIT-Bombay alumni, an IAF presentation on the defence systems and an enchanting exhibition on Mars that drew hordes of curious visitors. Shashi Kant Sharma, a banker who came all the way from Worli, said: ''The exhibition is fascinating. I think this is the best source to learn about Mars.'' Titled 'Welcome to Mars', the exhibition has been brought to India by a team of experts of Arizona State University, USA, and includes senior researchers Steve Ruff and Dr Amitabha Ghosh. The exhibition has come to India after a successful run in China in May 2005. ''In fact, India becomes the second country to host this exhibition outside the United States,'' said Rohit Hippalgaonkar, Techfest spokesperson. The exhibition also displays miniature models of rovers Spirit and Opportunity that were sent to Mars in 2004, storyboards on the mission and the latest pictures of the red planet. The Indian Space Research Organisation's exhibition titled 'India in Space' showcases Chandrayan Pratham, the country's first-ever moon mission with life-size models of the project and displays on Indian space launch vehicles. The Army's adventure wing also showcases ingenious models of various technological innovations made by unsung heroes and a spectacular display of hot air ballooning by its professional team. The IAF exhibition, on the other hand, explains the challenges inherent in keeping the skies safe and the difference missile systems like Pichora and Indira could make to the defence system.
