Astronautical Society of India (ASI) with sponsorship by ISRO, proposes to select and depute five students to International Astronautical Congress (IAC-2006) to be held at Valencia, Spain during October 2-6, 2006.  The International Astronautical Congress (IAC) is an annual event held every year at different parts of the globe and provides a platform for all astronautical engineers, scientists and industrialist from all space faring nations to meet and exchange views on various developmental aspects on space.  (visit http://www.iac2006.org/ ).  Students who are completing their Engineering Course or Post Graduation in Science (M Sc) during the year 2007 and born on or after June 1, 1983 only  are eligible for selection which will be based on academic performance and competitive evaluation in the following manner.

The following procedure needs to be strictly followed for participating in the competition.

1.  Download the application form and the Checklist.
2.  Write a Technical Paper of about 2000 words (hand-written or typed in MS Word on any one of the following topics). 
   
   • Extending Human Habitat  Beyond Earth
   • Faster, Safer and Economical Space Transportation Systems to Reach Moon, Mars and Beyond.
   • Manned Vs Robotic Space Missions.
   • Meeting Earth's Energy Requirement Through Solar Power Stations in Space 
   • Unexplored Vistas of Space Technology Applications
   • Role of Space Systems in Managing Earth's Resources
   
   
3. Submit an abstract of the Essay not exceeding 200 words
4. Answer the following Questions in not more than five sentences

   a) What are the effects of lower gravity on most planets on the mechanics and
       energetics of  human locomotion?
   b) What are the risks of space exploration?
   c) What processes marked the first billion years of Solar System?
   d) Which are the possible habitable zones for life to exist in our solar system and what
       are the planetary processes that can  produce and sustain life?
   e) Why does Moon cause sea tides and not Sun which has a much higher gravitational
       pull?
   f)  When and how the last Earth's magnetic reversal did take place? How many times it
       has happened? Who discovered it first?

5. Complete the application Form in all respects
6. Enclose a Demand Draft for Rs 100/- as application fee in favour of Astronautical Society of India,     Bangalore, payable at Bangalore.  Applications without the DD will not be honoured.
7. Send the filled in Application Form along with the checklist, items 2, 3, 4 and 6, above to reach the following address on or before 5th, July 2006.
   Astronautical Society of India,C/o. ISRO Satellite Centre, Airport Road, Bangalore-560 017
            

Notes:

• Incomplete and late applications will not be considered. 
• If you are selected for the semifinals you will be informed by July 20th, 2006
• Semifinalists will be required to make a presentation and attend an interview at Bangalore during End of July or First week of Aug 2006. 3-Tier AC Sleeper Class Railway Fare/Bus fare from place of Residence to Bangalore will be reimbursed.
• Finalists should be prepared to travel to Valencia, Spain by end of September. Cost of their travel from place of Residence to Valencia and back and staying expenses at Valencia will be arranged by ASI. 
• The selected finalists have to arrange for their Passport and Visa. 
• Astronautical Society of India reserves the right of selection and its decision will be final.  No appeals will be entertained.
  
  Click here to download the application form