Suparco chairperson Major General (retd) Ahmed Bilal briefs the audience about the discoveries of science at the inaugural ceremony of World Space Week. PHOTO COURTESY: SUPARCO
KARACHI:
Having discovered nearly all of Earth, the world will explore Mars during the World Space Week that is being observed from October 4 to October 10.
In Karachi, the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) will be celebrating the week with various activities, it announced at the inauguration ceremony at the National Centre for Remote Sensing and Geo Informatics, Suparco headquarters on Friday.
Talking about the discoveries made by science, Suparco chairperson Major General (retired) Ahmed Bilal revealed that, through remote sensing applications, communication can be maintained in disaster-hit areas. "Communication is the first thing that is affected following a disaster," he pointed out. "Through space technology and dish satellites communication can now be re-established in disaster hit areas, such as Awaran."
The mystery of humans
Former Higher Education Commission chairperson Prof. Dr Attaur Rehman, who was the chief guest, admired the space science. "It is an exciting frontier as exhilarating space activities, such as the Mars fly-by mission in 2018, are taking place every second," he said. "With every passing day, the mystery of space becomes deeper."
In his presentation Dr Rehman said, "The atom of your skin was once part of a burning star." He added that humans are the greatest mystery of all. Dr Rehman talked about the presence of water in other planets, even the moon, but how life cannot exist on it.
Red planet
In an attempt to keep the global theme of dedicating the week to the discoveries of the Red Planet, Dr Rehman explained how, after a certain period of time, the Earth's magnetic field goes through a reversal. The north becomes the south and the south becomes the north, he said. This occurs after a period that may vary from tens of thousands of years to a million years. "The last one happened 780,000 years ago when north became south and south became north."
Why celebrate a week?
According to Bilal, the aim of celebrating the World Space Week was to promote awareness among decision makers and the public on space science, technology and its applications for further discoveries. "The idea is to inculcate the benefits of the space technology in people's mind," he said. The objective of the week was to encourage greater use of space for sustainable economic development, he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 5th, 2013.
COMMENTS (5)
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@Ashkenazi: There are no first world nations that can compete with India. China is noo first world, neither is Russia. US uses Russian Soyuz to launch, and "european UNION"(not nation) uses the Ariane. So basically, by virtue of your statement India has noo comp.
all the modern world keeps control of Science in there hands. @modified is unaware of the world around him , i would recommend you to see the interventions of american forces in NASA , indian forces in ISA, and Iranian forces in ISRA and even in russia. Most of the space agenceis around the world are under the control of Generals. for the love of GOD havent you seen the movies, in terminator 3 who was heading cybertron and skynet, in Armagedon, why was the General called in the NASA to discuss. But we pakistanis are like petty KHALAs wining all the time. Despite we know anything or not. Ignorant as a Nation, we dream of the Ideal world.
the western world is considered to be far ahead in the field of science. it is a thought that counts. indeed. our very own Pakistan is no less in this field. reason being that it was our Allama Iqbal whose two nation theory inspired our Jinnah to pursue a seperate homeland for the Muslims of the sub-continent.he picked up the vision of Iqbal and with the help of Allah Almighty he turned a dream into reality.Our Jinnah is a personification of the following couplet of Iqbal....[according to me].....'khudi se mard-e-khud agaah ka jalaal-o-jamaal, keh yeh kitab hai baqi tamaam tafseeraiin'..this might be translated in the English language as follows..in a world full of copies he remains an original.
@ModiFied: Congratulations on your Mars mission, now let us do our thing. If you really like to be topper, try posting in first world newspapers.
Retired Major General heading a Research department in Pakistan ?... Does he really understand the basics of Atmospheric Science? Time to find out some qualified person to head this department. Here is the news from India on their Mars mission http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/india-s-mission-mars-the-journey-begins-427247
Indian Mars probe should be on its way on 28th October 2013.