Bhubaneswar, May 26: The top 30 winners of the 19th edition of the Young Astronomer Talent Search (YATS), a flagship initiative of Tata Steel in collaboration with Pathani Samanta Planetarium (PSP) under the Science and Technology Department, have embarked on an educational exposure visit to the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota Range (SHAR), Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The visit is scheduled from May 26 to May 29, 2026.
The educational tour was flagged off by Krushna Chandra Patra, Science and Technology Minister during a ceremony held at the Pathani Samanta Planetarium in Bhubaneswar.
This year’s YATS witnessed overwhelming participation, with more than 76,700 students from across Odisha taking part in the competition through both offline and online modes. The top 30 students were selected through a rigorous multi-stage evaluation process designed to test scientific aptitude, curiosity and understanding of astronomy and space science.
The flag-off ceremony was attended by Chithra Arumugam, Additional Chief Secretary, Science and Technology Department, and Chairperson, Pathani Samanta Planetarium; Urmiprava Maharana, Deputy Secretary, Science and Technology Department, and Director In-charge, Pathani Samanta Planetarium, Subhranshu Panda, Chief, Corporate Services, Tata Steel Meramandali (TSM) along with senior officials from the Government of Odisha, Tata Steel and Pathani Samanta Planetarium.
Flagging off the exposure visit, Krushna Chandra Patra, Science and Technology Minister said, “For the first time YATS winners are getting a chance to visit ISRO’s facility at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. I am sure the exposure visit will enlighten the YATS winners on space science, astronomy and astrophysics. Wish all the best to the young astronomers to become renowned scientists and bring glory for the state and the nation.”
Wishing the YATS winners for a wonderful journey and experience at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota, Chithra Arumugam said, “There is a huge opportunity in the space sector today. Be it private or government. So, I urge you all to work hard and smart to be among the space explorers. I am happy that all of you will get the opportunity to witness the telemetry and see how the rockets are launched. It will surely inspire you all.”
During the visit, the students, accompanied by teachers and officials from Tata Steel and Pathani Samanta Planetarium, will explore various facilities at SDSC-SHAR and gain insights into India’s space missions, launch vehicle systems, satellite technologies and tracking operations.
Themed “Stargazer Today, Gagannaut Tomorrow”, the 2025-26 edition of YATS aims to ignite imagination and strengthen scientific temperament among students. Since its inception in 2007, the initiative has engaged over 5.4 lakh students, with more than 260 winners having visited various ISRO facilities across the country.
