NASA gives Indian Names to Mars Rocks

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Mars now has India's 'Kohinoor'

 

Indo-Asian News Service

 

New Delhi, June 14, 2005

NASA gives Indian names to rocks on Mars »

Three rocks on the surface of planet Mars have been given Indian

names - Kohinoor, Nalanda and Pongal - the Nehru Planetarium said in

a statement on Tuesday.

 

The names were given by NASA (National Aeronautics and Space

Administration) geologist Amitabh Ghosh, the statement said.

 

A team of NASA scientists is visiting the Nehru Planetarium on

Wednesday to discuss the findings, including the rocks, of the Spirit

and Opportunity Rover mission to Mars. The team will also interact

with amateur astronomers and students.

 

Earlier, NASA planetary geologist Amitabha Ghosh had said that the

team comprising himself, Dr Michael Wyatt, astro-geologist Dr James

Rice and Dr Nicole Schultz would aim to boost space science research

in India.

 

"The idea is to hold talks at scientific organisations to create

awareness about space science research," Ghosh, the only Asian on the

mission, said.

 

As members of the Mars Explorer Rover Mission, the four have been

witness to the activities of Spirit and Opportunity rovers that

landed on the red planet.

 

"We will be talking about out experiences, our disappointments and

moments of glory during the 500 days of the mission through a series

of lectures in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore to create

awareness about space exploration in this country," he said.

 

The NASA team has put up a website tharsisindia.Com (tharsis is the

biggest volcanic region on Mars) to further its awareness campaign in

India.

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