Altai State University introduced pupils to new frontiers of space exploration

12 April 2018 Department of Information and Media Communications
On April 12 citizens of Russia and other former USSR countries celebrate Cosmonautics Day. In honor of this even, Altai State University decided to carry out a special astronomy lesson for pupils of Barnaul schools. The lesson was held on April 10, 2018.

The astronomy lesson, which was scheduled for Cosmonautics Day and was organized in the framework of the Space Lesson federal project, touched upon the latest research in the field of space exploration, in particular, projects to study the planets of the solar system located beyond the orbit of Mars. These are poorly studied planets, on the orbits of which the interplanetary probes Juno, Cassini and New Horizons now operate. Nikolai V. Volkov, Assistant Professor of the Department of Radio Physics and Theoretical Physics at the Faculty of Physics and Technology of Altai State University, delivered a popular scientific lecture entitled "The Unknown Solar System: New Frontiers and Breakthrough Initiatives".

"Altai State University has significant experience in the field of space research, which is done by two centers: Space Monitoring Center that has been observing natural and man-made processes from space on the territory of Siberia for several decades, and Student Science and Technology Center for Radio Physics, Space Exploration and Space Technologies. With the help of these centers we conduct research and educational activities on subjects related to the study of outer space in one way or another,” Vice Rector for Scientific and Innovative Development Evgeni S. Popov said. “Altai State University also has a fairly strong scientific school in the field of astrophysics under the guidance of Professor Anatoly A. Lagutin, whose colleagues took part in the educational project dedicated to the Cosmonautics Day."

In the framework of the Space Lesson, interactive sites were organized where students were introduced to the work of the Center for Space Technologies, learned how real-time monitoring of the current flood situation in Altai Krai was carried out, how forest fires were monitored and what knowledge and skills were required to implement all this work.
Thanks to Planetarium salon of optical devices, the participants were introduced to several types of telescopes and other equipment for space observation.

"We wanted the pupils who visited the Space Lesson to see Altai State University in general and the Faculty of Physics and Technology in particular as a scientific and educational base capable of giving them the necessary skills and knowledge in the field of space-related research," Evgeni S. Popov emphasized.

On April 12, 1961, Vostok 1 spacecraft with Yuri Gagarin aboard was launched into the outer space from Baikonur Cosmodrome. The flight lasted 1 hour 48 minutes. Gagarin became both the first human to travel into space, and the first to orbit the earth. This flight was a triumph not only for the Soviet Union, but for the whole world. It opened a new era in the history of space exploration.
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