Students of PM SHRI Government Senior Secondary School of Excellence, Totu are set to explore the mysteries of space after the school was selected for the prestigious International Asteroid Search Campaign (IASC) 2026, a global initiative under NASA’s Citizen Science Programme.
The selection places the Totu school among the few institutions from Himachal Pradesh participating in the international campaign, where students will get a rare opportunity to become part of real astronomical research.
Sharing the achievement during the morning assembly, Principal Dr Rashima Rana said the initiative would take students beyond conventional classroom learning and allow them to work with authentic space data. Under the campaign, students will examine telescope images through Astrometrica software to identify moving objects in space, analyse their characteristics and submit observations for scientific review.
The students’ findings could assist researchers in tracking known asteroids and identifying potential new discoveries in space.
Dr Rana appreciated the support of the State Project Director, Samagra Shiksha, Directorate of Education, HPSES-STEM Education Cell and M/s Valeur Fabtex Private Limited, whose support enabled the school’s participation.
She said the global exposure would nurture scientific curiosity among students while enhancing their research skills, analytical abilities, problem-solving approach and teamwork. The achievement marks a significant milestone for the school and opens a new window of opportunity for young astronomy enthusiasts.
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