Daily News on Time
The multi-talented
singer has been invited by France based space agency, Ariane to be
present at the event representing India for the ISRO launch
The
sensational singer has been invited to the launch of an Indian
satellite in Paris to provide an Indian perspective in the event &
to help amplify interest for space studies & science in India as
a youth influencer.
While 2020 posed new opportunities for
everyone, for Sona Mohapatra the year kickstarted with going back to
her academic roots, her being a brilliant science student &
engineer. The talented artiste was recently invited to go to Paris
for a talk show that will see the launch of an Indian Satellite by
the European space launcher, Ariane. The organisers of the event
requested her to represent the country and speak about the importance
and relevance of space and science in our daily lives.
Arianespace, the European launch service provider headquartered in France, produces a curated show for each of their launches and this time it will be Sona representing India at the prestigious international event. On January 16, the space agency will be launching ISRO satellite GSAT-30, hence the organisers wished for someone to discuss the importance of space and its study in India.
Sona being someone who is articulate on a wide number of issues which resonate with the youth & has the qualifications of BTech in Instrumentation & Electronics was an obvious choice. She harbours a great love for space studies since she was a little girl and when the opportunity presented itself, she was happy to accept & provide a lay-mans perspective on the occasion. At the event, she will be joined by US-based Television presenter Sarah Cruddas and Athena Brensberger, an astrophysicist amongst others.
An ecstatic Sona
tells us, “My childhood fascination for space is well known in my
close circles. My father has a profound connection with the stars,
being a Navigation Specialist and instructor on Astro and Radar
Navigation in the Indian Navy. He used to sit us, three sisters, down
in the lawn and make us stare into the sky and do a ‘Star Quiz’.
While I went on to other fields of study and studied to be an
engineer, I eventually found my calling in music. That hasn’t
diminished my fascination for space. This opportunity thrills me to
bits. Knowing that the success of a show like the ‘Big Bang Theory’
has made kids all around the world interested in science & I feel
fortunate that I will be able to contribute through my participation
in a small way.”