ISRO Sets Up Space Laboratory in Arunachal Pradesh’s Shi Yomi

New Space Education Facility

ISRO Sets Up Space Laboratory in Arunachal Pradesh’s Shi Yomi: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has established a modern space science laboratory at Mechuka Government Higher Secondary School in the Shi Yomi district of Arunachal Pradesh. The project, developed in association with the Muskaan Foundation, was inaugurated on 16 August 2025 by Education Minister Pasang Dorjee Sona.

Objective of the Lab

The centre has been designed to provide practical training in space science and technology. It will help cultivate innovation, curiosity, and scientific aptitude among students living in far-flung areas. With access to advanced tools, students from remote schools will now have opportunities that were previously limited to urban centres.

Static GK fact: Dr. Vikram Sarabhai is regarded as the father of the Indian space programme and played a key role in setting up ISRO in 1969.

Naming and Recognition

The lab has been dedicated to Pasang Wangchuk Sona, the late father of the Education Minister. This naming honours his lifelong commitment to the role of education in social transformation.

Importance for the Region

Expanding Science to Remote Corners

Arunachal Pradesh has long faced barriers to advanced education due to its mountainous terrain and limited infrastructure. By setting up a lab in Mechuka, a town close to the India-China border, ISRO has demonstrated its aim of making scientific resources available across all regions of India.

Static GK Tip: Arunachal Pradesh officially attained statehood on 20 February 1987, becoming the 24th state of India.

Inspiring Local Youth

The facility is expected to motivate students in border areas to pursue careers in aerospace engineering, research, and scientific innovation. It represents a long-term investment in the intellectual and technological capacity of the North-East.

ISRO’s Nationwide Outreach

The Mechuka initiative aligns with ISRO’s broader strategy of expanding science literacy and STEM opportunities. Similar facilities have been set up in other states to enhance student engagement in satellite development, space projects, and innovation challenges. ISRO frequently works with state governments and educational NGOs to spread access to modern scientific learning.

Static GK fact: India’s first satellite, Aryabhata, was launched on 19 April 1975 with assistance from the Soviet Union.

Future Prospects

This newly inaugurated centre will not only give hands-on exposure to rural students but also create a pipeline of talent to strengthen India’s space sector. The lab symbolizes the commitment to make space education inclusive and to ensure that students from distant corners of India can actively participate in the nation’s scientific progress.

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ISRO Sets Up Space Laboratory in Arunachal Pradesh’s Shi Yomi: