Bhubaneswar: The top 30 winners of the 19th edition of the Young Astronomer Talent Search (YATS), a flagship science outreach initiative jointly organised by Tata Steel and Pathani Samanta Planetarium, have embarked on an educational exposure visit to the Indian Space Research Organisation’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre from May 26 to May 29, 2026.
The four-day visit aims to provide students with first-hand exposure to India’s space research and satellite launch programmes, while encouraging scientific curiosity and interest in astronomy, astrophysics and space technology.
The educational tour was flagged off at the Pathani Samanta Planetarium in Bhubaneswar by Odisha Science and Technology Minister Krushna Chandra Patra.
Addressing the students, the minister said that for the first time YATS winners are getting an opportunity to visit ISRO’s premier launch facility at Sriharikota. He said the exposure would help young minds gain deeper insights into space science and inspire them to contribute to the country’s scientific advancement in future.
Additional Chief Secretary of the Science and Technology Department and Chairperson of Pathani Samanta Planetarium Chithra Arumugam encouraged the students to pursue scientific learning with dedication and aspire to become future space explorers and innovators.
This year’s YATS competition witnessed participation of more than 76,700 students from across Odisha through online and offline modes. The top 30 winners were selected after a multi-stage evaluation process designed to assess scientific aptitude, analytical ability and understanding of astronomy and space science.
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 learn about India’s space missions, launch vehicle systems, satellite technologies and mission tracking operations.
Officials said the initiative is aimed at nurturing scientific temperament among school students and providing them exposure to advanced scientific institutions and emerging technologies.
The programme is being conducted under the theme “Stargazer Today, Gagannaut Tomorrow”, reflecting its objective of inspiring the next generation of scientists, innovators and space enthusiasts.
Since its launch in 2007, YATS has engaged more than 5.4 lakh students across Odisha, with over 260 winners visiting different ISRO centres and scientific institutions across the country as part of the initiative.
Among others present during the flag-off ceremony were Additional Secretary of Science and Technology Sibani Mohanty, Director In-charge of Pathani Samanta Planetarium Urmiprava Maharana, and Chief of Corporate Services, Tata Steel Meramandali, Subhranshu Panda, along with senior officials from the Odisha government, Tata Steel and the planetarium.
