The contingent of 32 students of Rajiv Gandhi University of Knowledge Technologies (RGUKT) who won prizes in the NASA Ames Space Settlement Design Contest 2014 will be participating in the 33rd NSS International Space Development Conference in Los Angeles, scheduled to be held from May 14 to 18.

The State Bank of Hyderabad and the State Bank of India have come forward to provide sponsorship to the tune of Rs.30 lakh and Rs. 5 lakh respectively to fund the participation of the students. The university is also providing partial support, said R.V.Raja Kumar, Vice- Chancellor, RGUKT.

Prof. Kumar said that RUGKT students have been participating in this global competition for the last three years. This year they have won prizes for all the 19 projects done by them. “We are proud of our students for the recognition they got. They get a chance to interact with space scientists of high reputation from different countries.”

The NASA Ames Space Settlement Contest is an annual contest, which invites students from around the world, to design permanent orbital settlements in space, not on any planet or moon, and the best designs are awarded prizes.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – May 13th, 2014