The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has launched a virtual platform called ‘Antriksh Jigyasa’, meaning ‘Space Curiosity’, which is a knowledge portal for exploring Space Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and active learning. Antriksh Jigyasa offers self-paced online courses on space science, technology and their applications. 


Interested candidates can register themselves on the portal at the official website of Antriksh Jigyasa. 


Antriksh Jigyasa is open for public access, ISRO says on its website. There is innovative e-learning content on space science, technology and applications on the platform for online learners. There is a section called 'SkyPicks', where kids enthusiastic about space can showcase their creativity. The theme for this month is "Think like a Space Scientist". 






Over 560 participants have registered into the portal so far. Antriksh Jigyasa has 42 video sessions, 113 knowledge repositories, four knowledge partners and seven online courses. 


Here are some insights into the components of Antriksh Jigyasa:


Shiksha Gagan, Space Varta, SkyPicks, SPARK, Antriksh Navachar and Space Quiz are some of the interesting components of Antriksh Jigyasa. 


Shiksha Gagan


Shiksha Gagan is a 'Massive Open Online Course (MOOC)' for school students and professionals. It is an active learning virtual platform which offers self-paced online courses on space science, technology, and its applications, and enables learners to access e-learning content and study materials by registering and logging in to the ISRO E-CLASS Learning Management System (LMS). 


The learners need to follow the defined course guidelines for each course, participate in the online activities, and complete assignments to get the course completion certificate. 


The courses are available as MOOCs, and learners need to complete these within three months. 


There are courses on remote sensing technology, geographic information system, and space science, technology and applications. 


Space Varta


Space Varta is the 'voice of ISRO scientists'. Through Space Varta, scientists can share the theory behind scientific concepts related to specific areas of space science, technology and applications, and their success stories and outcomes of major space missions. Space Varta is an interactive programme for registered listeners. 


In order to ensure that a large number of people can listen to space scientists, the live sessions will be available on social media as well. The registered users can post their questions during the live sessions and the subject matter expert will answer some of the questions. 


SkyPicks


SkyPicks is a creative platform for kids to showcase their imagination and creativity associated with astronomy, astrophysics and space, and enables young people to submit creative photography, sketches, drawings and creative videos. ISRO will evaluate the creative pieces on a periodic basis and recognise the best submissions in an appropriate way. 


SPARK


ISRO unveiled SPARK, India's first virtual space museum, on August 10, 2022. 


SPARK is India's first three-dimensional virtual space technology park and includes a museum, a theatre, an observatory, a garden with life-sized rockets, a lakeside cafe area, and a playground, among other interactions. SPARK showcases digital content related to different ISRO missions in an interactive manner. There are various documents, images and videos related to ISRO launch vehicles, satellites and scientific machines on the platform. 


One can virtually enter the main museum building and navigate through the virtual facility to explore various exhibits on ISRO's achievements, satellites and launch vehicles. People can also access documents on ISRO scientists. 


Virtual Tour Of SPARK


The beta version of the platform provides a virtual tour of SPARK. One can virtually board a bus called Space on Wheels. In April 2022, ISRO shared a documentary titled "Space on Wheels", which portrays an exhibition of 75 Indian satellites as part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations. The documentary also highlights ISRO's upcoming missions including the Gaganyaan Programme and Chandrayaan-3 mission. 


The three-dimensional virtual space tech park is a fun-filled park that includes a museum, a theatre, an observatory, a garden with life-sized rockets, a lakeside cafe area, a children's play area, and several other attractions. 


There is a Solar System park in which the sizes of the different planets, from Mercury to Neptune, and that of Earth's Moon have been displayed. 


The museum exhibits ISRO's achievements, satellites and launch vehicles. In the virtual tour, one can also see the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mark III. 


In the theatre, a movie depicting ISRO's missions will be played. 


People can use arrows to virtually move to different places in the space park.


Antriksh Navachar


Antriksh Navachar is an online platform for young innovators to submit their ideas, research outcomes, models, software, tools and techniques, problem-solving approach, and other creative and innovative solutions. Students can write a short description about their innovations, and submit it with a problem-solving statement. 


Space Quiz


Space Quiz is an online quiz platform for young students, and is an event-based quiz that will be based on themes and topics related to space science, technology and applications. 


Participants who score minimum passing grades in the space quiz will be awarded with a quiz completion certificate. One can use the platform to improve and test their knowledge on space science and technology.