The “Near Space Payload Launch – High Altitude Balloon (HAB) Mission” was an educational initiative by NLC India Limited that took place on March 7, 2026, with the goal of piquing students’ curiosity in space and the atmosphere.
With the presence of Samir Swarup, Director of Human Resources, and D. V. S. N. Murthy, Executive Director of Legal, CSR & GH and President of the NLCIL Schools Central School Committee, the event was inaugurated by Prasanna Kumar Motupalli, Chairman and Managing Director of NLC India Limited, at Bharathi Stadium. Nearly 2,000 pupils were present for the successful launch of a high-altitude balloon containing a specially built near-space payload as part of the programme. The payload is engineered to soar to altitudes close to space, where it may gather photos, data, and other scientific studies of the atmosphere.
By allowing them to witness a scientific experiment in progress, the mission gave them hands-on experience with fundamental ideas in space technology, telemetry, atmospheric science, and payload systems.
The programme’s goal was to pique students’ interest in space travel and STEM fields, and it was a huge success with students from NLCIL schools.
The necessity of exposing the next generation to complex scientific concepts helps prepare them to become scientists and engineers, according to Prasanna Kumar Motupalli, who spoke at the event and underlined the need to foster young talent in science, innovation, and space exploration.
The fact that 25 female students took part in the mission on the eve of International Women’s Day was another thing he was grateful for, as it brought attention to the need to get more girls interested in STEM subjects.
