American Space Icons on the Walls of The Birla Planetarium

Acting Public Affairs Officer Ragini Gupta handing over the picture of Sunita Williams to Dr. Iyanperumal Executive Director, Tamil Nadu Science and Technology Centre, also seen is the Deputy Director Dr. Sundararaja Perumal.

To commemorate increasing Indo-U.S. space ties including the recent joint discovery of water molecules on the moon, the Consulate donated photos of American space icons Neil Armstrong, Sunita Williams and Kalpana Chawla for display in the hall of fame at the Birla Planetarium in Chennai.  Host to the Consul General Andrew Simkin, during the celebration of NASA’s 50th Anniversary in August 2009, Acting Public Affairs Officer Ragini Gupta visited the planetarium on October 20, 2009 and offered the photos as a token of appreciation to the Planetarium.  Receiving the pictures, Executive Director, Dr. Iyanperumal, thanked the American Consulate General - Chennai, for conducting various programs at the center and welcomed many more in the future.