Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and IAF astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla inaugurate cutting-edge space facilities at Rakhi, marking a milestone in school-level science education.
TFP Bureau, Raipur, February 3, 2026: In a landmark moment for science education in Chhattisgarh, Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai on Tuesday, along with Indian Air Force Group Captain and astronaut Shri Shubhanshu Shukla, successfully launched a rocket designed and built by schoolchildren from Jashpur. The symbolic launch was carried out by pressing the launch button during a special programme held at Rakhi in Nava Raipur, drawing wide attention for its emphasis on innovation, curiosity and experiential learning among young students.
Representatives of the Indian Development of Youth Movement (IDYM) informed that the facility inaugurated on the occasion is the first-ever space centre to be established in a government school anywhere in the country. The rocket launched during the event was conceptualised and assembled by students using basic materials such as cardboard and PVC pipes, reflecting how scientific creativity can be nurtured even with limited resources when guided by the right mentorship and infrastructure.
The space centre has been set up under ‘Project Antariksh Sangwari’, an ambitious initiative of the Raipur district administration aimed at introducing school students to advanced concepts in space science and technology. Located at the Government Higher Secondary School in Rakhi, Nava Raipur, the centre represents Chhattisgarh’s first dedicated space education facility at the school level. It was formally inaugurated by Chief Minister Shri Sai and Group Captain Shri Shukla, who also reviewed the ongoing academic and technical activities at the centre and interacted with students involved in the project.
Developed through a joint collaboration of the Raipur district administration, IDYM and the SARDA Group, the space centre is equipped with modern, state-of-the-art infrastructure. Key facilities include a space-qualified clean room, a student satellite laboratory, a ground station and a mission control centre. These facilities are designed to provide students with hands-on exposure to satellite design, assembly and testing, as well as practical training in signal reception, tracking and data decoding—skills usually reserved for higher education and professional research institutions.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said the initiative reflects the state government’s commitment to promoting scientific temper and technical skills among schoolchildren, especially in government institutions. He noted that such platforms would inspire students from rural and tribal backgrounds to dream big and pursue careers in science, technology and space research. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla lauded the students’ enthusiasm and innovation, calling the project a strong foundation for nurturing future scientists and engineers of the country.
The event was attended by Skill Development and Technical Education Minister Guru Khushwant Saheb, Forest Minister Shri Kedar Kashyap, Chairman of the Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board Dr Rampratap Singh, MLAs Shri Motilal Sahu, Shri Anuj Sharma and Shri Indra Kumar Sahu, Raipur Collector Dr Gaurav Singh, Municipal Corporation Raipur Commissioner Shri Vishwadeep, IDYM Chairman and Co-founder Shri Ratnesh Mishra, Head Officer Shri Shiv Singh Bhadoria, along with senior officials, educators, students and parents.
With the launch of the space centre, Chhattisgarh has taken a pioneering step in integrating advanced scientific learning at the school level, setting a model that could inspire similar initiatives across the country.
