India’s Missile Woman Interacts with Students

Distinguished Scientist and Director General-DRDO Dr. Tessy Thomas visited UPES recently for National Space Convention 2020

Uttarakhand witnessed its second National Space Convention, Renaissance 2.0 in collaboration with Uttarakhand Science Education and Research Centre (USERC), Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC) of United Nations and SPACE INDIA,organised by Infinity Space Club, the Department of Aerospace Engineering, UPES. The inter-university national-level space convention took place in UPES, Dehradun, with the support of its media partner, World of Science, and sponsors, CADD and Rocketeer India.  

Among the dignitaries present at the event were Shri Kusum Lata Sharma, Director of Ministry of Civil Aviation, Mr. Tarun Sharma from Space India, Delhi, Mr. V.M. Chamola, Ex–Director, Human Resource at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), and Dr. Durgesh Pant, whois among the earliest adopters and pioneers of Computer Science and Information Technology and is currently the Director of Uttarakhand Science Education and Research Centre (USERC).

Missile Woman speaks on leadership skills

The audience was captivated when Dr. Tessy Thomas, the Missile Woman of India, stepped on the podium to give her remarks.  Sheis currently the Distinguished Scientist and Director General at Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO). Dr. Tessy was the Project Director for AGNI-4, becoming the first woman in India to lead a missile project in the country. She presented the young minds with a presentation on Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles, an introduction about the ongoing ISRO projects and development on missilesand lastly, India’s Aerospace industry’s progress on a global level.

Speaking about the qualities that make a good leader, Dr. Thomas said: “A leader should take his subordinates along and not just dominate them. He or she should be ready for every challenge and try and protect their team like their own family. A leader should be well-prepared for tackling any situation. He should know the plus points of his subordinates and focus on them to get the best out of them!”

This interaction was followed by flagship and non-flagship events such as Endeavour (treasure hunt), Destinesia (space quiz), Astrometrica (workshop) and webinar session with NASA scientist, Marcos Pena, the man behind the Artemis mission.

UPES Aerospace Engineering Department

This department has, over the years, promoted various teams, clubs and students to partake in various activities that promote the research and development of Space systems. UPES, Team Astral under the department of Aerospace Engineering has over the years secured top ranks on the global scale and also making India proud by securing the first rank at the CanSat competition organized by the American Astronautical Society which tests the electronic and mechanical systems of a canister sized satellite with weight and size constraints. Another team of the same department, Team Agastya makes breakthrough in the Aeronautical domain by partaking in the world’s best aero design challenge organized by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. There are also other teams like team Odyssey and team Tessaract which are setting benchmarks in the Singapore Space Challenge and wining the Lockheed Martin Roll on Roll off Challenge. Apart from these UPES also encourages students pursuing research in the field of space sciences and clubs like Infinity Space Club and Aeroclub that promotes the education of this science.

Renaissance, the National Space Convention, was a brainchild of the students of Infinity Space Club. The idea of conducting a one-of-its-kind national space conventionfor the first time in 2018 was nurtured and nourished by the continuous support from the UPES Administration: Dr. Kamal Bansal, Dean of Academic Development and Innovation and School of Engineering, Dr. S.J. Chopra, the Chancellor of UPES, Department of Aerospace Engineering, which has been a constant pillar of strength for Infinity Space Club, especially Dr. Sudhir Joshi, Head of DepartmentandFaculty Mentors, Mr. Zozimus Labana and Mr. Vipin Kumar.