Inspiring Space Enthusiasts

Students work on hydraulic systems for space applications during a workshop at the American Center New Delhi. (Photograph by Rakesh Malhotra)

Launching a dynamic partnership, SPACE India and the American Center New Delhi are igniting a cosmic spark in young minds through a monthly astronomy and space science workshop series. Aimed at fueling the passion for space exploration, this series kicked off in May 2024 with the inaugural workshop titled, “Get Set, Make Hydraulic Systems for Space Applications” hosted at the American Center New Delhi.

Tailored for students aged 13 to 18, the two-hour workshop offered a blend of theoretical knowledge and practical application. Sachin Bahmba, founder and chairman of SPACE India, says the vision of the workshop is “to popularize hands-on science, astronomy and space science through fun-filled pioneering concepts, services and programs.”

Interactive demonstrations

The theoretical segment of the workshop covered the fundamentals of hydraulics, including Pascal’s law and the concept of force multiplication in hydraulic systems. Mentors showcased how hydraulics work alongside their real-world applications using simple yet effective models. The visual approach helped students grasp complex concepts with ease.

Following a robust foundation in theory, the second segment challenged participants to construct functional models of space-inspired systems employing hydraulic principles. They were tasked with building a model of a robotic arm controlled by a hydraulic system and a mockup of a spacecraft landing gear deployment mechanism.

Beyond theory

By combining theoretical knowledge with practical skills, participants delved deeper into the realm of space technology, gaining a better understanding of hydraulics and its relevance in space missions. “The most enjoyable part was definitely constructing the different machines,” says Serene Aman. “Compared to my classroom experience, I found it easier to grasp concepts today because we focused on the practical aspects of hydraulics.”

Teamwork was essential as students collaborated to brainstorm solutions and troubleshoot any issues encountered during the construction process.

Bahmba says the partnership with the American Center has two primary goals. “First, to instill in students the belief that big problems can be solved, and one can apply the knowledge gained in books to real-life situations.” Second, he emphasizes the importance of fostering early-stage design thinking without the need for expensive equipment or facilities.

Learning by doing

The workshop offered hands-on engineering experiences, with participants delving into the world of fluid mechanics, a foundational principle in many space technologies.

“The engaging activity not only helped in learning but also introduced me to new students who are also aspiring astrophysicists,” says Narayani Bhardwaj. Similarly, for Preeti Jaswal, this workshop gave her a taste of what it takes to be a space engineer. She is already part of the astronomy club at school, “but learning to tilt a rocket at different angles and what it takes to make different components of the rocket” were new and enriching pieces of information that were not taught in class.

Parents also joined their children in this learning experience. “The ease with which the complicated science of fluid mechanics, hydraulics and mechanical advantage was so lucidly explained to the students intrigued them with the more challenging task of logging data for the same through a working model demonstration,” says Ritu Dogra. “That’s the beauty of experiential learning.”

Click here to sign up for the free SPAN newsletter: https://bit.ly/SubscribeSPAN