Despite the surging climate changes, the Earth seems alive from space. The green forests, blue oceans, auroras dancing at the poles, lightning storms flashing like fireflies. This ‘overview’ sight is something anyone would crave for!
However, these starry dreams require diligent hard work, curiosity, and patience. While there is no age bar when it comes to Space Odyssey, young people have a different craze for it.
Accounting for 16% of the global population, youth today shoulder huge responsibilities in diverse spheres. One such area is Space Exploration. The infinite expanse of the universe has fascinated young generations from time immemorial.
In recent years, the influence of space exploration on young minds has become more pronounced. All thanks to scientific advancements and a growing interest in the final frontier! Let us explore how space exploration serves as a powerful catalyst for inspiring the imagination of young minds.
The advancement of engineering and technology made possible by space flight encourages young people to pursue jobs in the STEM fields. Moreover, their contribution is not only limited to cosmic research but they offer valuable inputs in other aspects too.
Consider the recent mind-boggling success of Chandrayaan-3, which is estimated to have cost just 600 crore. The financial planning by the young minds also deserves credit besides the hard work of worthy scientists.
Secondly, the participation of youth in astronomical clubs and societies has seen a great surge. Organizations like the Young Astronomers’ Society report growing memberships, demonstrating that young individuals are actively seeking opportunities to engage in space-related activities.
Moreover, the active collaboration between countries such as the NISAR satellite by India and the U.S. has fostered the growth of online space communities. Such engagements attract young members in significant numbers and encourage healthy discussions on the cosmos.
When young minds gaze at the night sky, they wonder about the mysteries beyond. Questions arise about distant planets, the possibility of life elsewhere, and the nature of black holes. These questions become the building blocks of scientific inquiry and imaginative exploration. Perhaps, that’s the reason behind Kalpana Chawla’s interest in space from early childhood.
Also, young amateur astronomers have often played a crucial role in discovering supernovae. One notable case is that of Caroline Moore, a teenager who discovered a supernova in 2008 using a small telescope in her backyard.
These examples illustrate that age is not a barrier to making meaningful contributions to space exploration.
Further, the challenges of space exploration demand innovation. Young minds are drawn to the prospect of solving complex problems. They aim to design cutting-edge technologies and contribute to humanity’s progress. 28-year-old Muralidharan was featured in the 2022 list of ‘20 under 35’ compiled by the Space and Satellite Professionals International (SSPI). From not securing a seat in the prestigious IIT to chasing his dreams towards the stars, his story inspired many raw minds in India.
The role of women in space exploration cannot be underappreciated either. Although not widely recognized as a young space scientist, Katherine Johnson made significant contributions to space exploration at a relatively young age. She was a brilliant mathematician who, in her 30s and 40s, calculated critical orbital trajectories for NASA’s early missions. This includes John Glenn’s historic orbit around Earth. Her work was crucial to the success of the Mercury and Apollo programs.
One of the interesting attributes of our youth is that they create paths when they don’t find one. Undoubtedly, it takes humongous efforts, a pinch of luck, and a lot of patience to get into any of the training programs of ESA or NASA. Nikitha started (alongside co-founder Sujay Sreedhar) the nonprofit SSERD in 2016.
Her sole mission is to educate and empower young people across the world so that they may pursue their dreams of space in tangible ways. Her team has conducted several hands-on training programs on the lines of space giants like NASA, ESA, JAXA, ISRO, etc. Such a level of dedication and perseverance is commendable.
Space exploration is by nature a long-term and inter-generational pursuit. However, the youth should keep in mind that, “With great power comes great responsibility.” While nations and private organizations are doing their best to guide fresh minds, it is the latter’s prerogative to utilize the opportunity intelligently. Space debris, fuel utilization, waste generation has become a major concern in today’s world.
Thus, it becomes pertinent for the youth to take into account these factors as they embark on their journey of space research. Moreover, for the nations, Involving youth in determining the future direction of space policy is essential to build a better future beyond the timeline of present leaders.
In times where Instagram reels and 3D movies consume the major portion of youth’s inquisitiveness, some of them still believe in the retro glory of ‘Titanic’.
“Where to miss, To the stars.”
By: KARISHMA ARORA
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