It’s a manifestation of a different kind. It is the story of mankind vis-à-vis its space in the universe, retold from the antiquity-old perspective of the Indian mind that scaped the space before anyone else, arguably better than anyone else, and bequeathed to humanity more authoritatively than anyone else.
India – perhaps, journeying through the age of museums, alongside the space age – has a new, grand statement in a Space Museum. Created at Jhansi as part of the Jhansi Smart City Project, the technology-powered Indian space vision – from time immemorial to Chandrayaan-3 – is a masterly immersive audio-visual ensemble created by Pan Intellecom in association with content creator Axis 3Dee Studios, and technology partners Digital Projection, Dataton-WatchOut, Full Dome Pro, Electro-Voice and more. The museum was inaugurated on Tuesday, 12 March 2024, by the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Aditya Nath.
Having been lucky to be bang on time with its launch, SI Asia presents the ambitious space museum in its video of the month for this month. Watch it to get goosebumps, and plan for a trip to see it.
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The Space Museum at Jhansi, developed as part of the Jhansi Smart City development project, is an arguably one-of-its-kind expedition in Infotainment; a masterly creative blend of exquisite craftsmanship; an insightful, and immersive story-telling; and an ingenious weaving of audio-visual technology.
In a very crispy nutshell description, the six-gallery ensemble takes the visitors through a journey that begins from the very beginning – the origin – of the universe; its exponential expansion; the birth and death of stars; the planet earth with its life-nurturing resources; and the less than Nano particle size of earth vis-à-vis the galactic transcendence of the universe.
An important component though – in gallery 5 – is the story of our own ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization), from it very genesis to the exploits of Chandrayaan-3.
To make this galactic expanse of story-telling truly immersive, a huge scale of audio-visual technologies has been blended ingeniously with meticulous attention and accuracy. Consider this:
- Kinetic models – to show the indomitable human spirit of going beyond its limitations to explore the unknown, including Chandrayaan-3
Blended Projections – to show the origin, and the theory of expansion of the Universe - Projection Mapping – to depict the dynamics of solar system; the scale of planets vis-à-vis the earth as well as the story of astronomical discoveries made by ancient Indian geniuses, as narrated by Aryabhatta
- Holograms – to show the birth, life and death of stars
- Multi-surface fully immersive experiences – to depict the Mother Earth, humanity’s only home and its relation to humans, and vice versa
- Full dome projection – to present a fantastic journey to the edge of the known universe and humans’ existence therein
LED Walls & Screens – to unravel out facts and details of the subjects involved - Interactive screens – to stimulate interest of the visitors through various topics and quizzes on the subjects chaptered in the museum
- Immersive Games – to fully immerse the visitors through intelligent gaming and journey them to the far reaches of space
An initiative of Jhansi Smart City Ltd (JSCL) – under the aegis of Smart Cities Mission – the space-unravelling project is a fruition of not just intense hard work but acumen and exquisite craftsmanship by the stakeholders:
- AV systems integrator- PAN Intellecom (who also handled a massive chunk of acoustic work)
- Content curator- Avijit Samajdar, Director, Axis 3Dee Studios
- Subject matter expert Debiprosad Duari- eminent space scientist and Director-Research & Academic at M. P. Birla Institute of Fundamental Research, Kolkata
There is also a galaxy of high-profile officials from the JSCL who have put in their mind and mettle to make the project a marvel of men ‘n’matter.
That part, the technology partners for the museum had their own stakes to pride on:
- Electro Voice for audio
- Dataton for Media Management
- Digital Projection for video
- Full Dome Pro for Dome solution
- LBT Electronics for RGB lights
According to Harbir Singh, Managing Director of PAN Intellecom, the JSCL wanted to create in the city of Jhansi a world-class facility at par with international standards. The client ideated creation of an experience hitherto unseen in this part of the world, incorporating latest, cutting edge technology and immersive content creation.
“The ideation was simple to say- to ignite curiosity among young visitors, in our geographical history; tracing our grand heritage back to the brilliant minds of the past who pioneered in astronomy,” he reveals. “This via a sophisticated medium of audio-visual technology, and acting subtly from behind, while making subject speak lucidly from front.”
His deputy, and General Manager at PAN Sankalp Srivastava adds: “The objective was not just establishing a space museum; it was to educate visitors on the illustrious antiquity of India’s past, and the invaluable contributions made by ancient, medieval and current generations in the field- all this, utilizing cutting-edge technology.”
Given the exalted objective, the project team had truly a big task on hand. They had to do a very extensive research and exploration to gain a comprehensive understanding of the requirements for the project. They visited quite a few venues of space science both in and outside India before conceptualizing the content design.
“We drew significant inspiration from our international experiences, particularly from the CosmoCaixia Science Museum in Barcelona,” reveals Avijit Samajdar, of Axis 3Dee Studios. “The Spanish museum is renowned for its innovative use of technology to convey scientific concepts effectively,” he observes. “We embarked on a journey to reach the clouds, and now as we gaze beyond, we rejoice in our ability to soar among the stars.”
According to him, the museum’s layout is thoughtfully crafted to unfold a rich tapestry of experiences as visitors journey through its galleries. Each exhibit seeks to enrich and engage both young and old alike, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of the cosmos.
“This museum offers a truly unparalleled experience unlike anything visitors have encountered before,” sums up Harbir. “We’ve incorporated elements that captivate the interest of both the commoners and connoisseurs- in their own levels.”
Commends Tushar Srivastava, Director-India, Digital Projection, from an OEM perspective: “The space museum holds immense significance for Digital Projection India, not just as a source of pride but also as a showcase of projectors’ brilliance that has truly enhanced the overall experience.”
For him, while it is extremely difficult to choose which of the many inspiring things inside is more awesome than the others, the dome theatre and the immersive zone with its captivating content would make the visitors takeaway a great immersive experience and understanding of the subject, powered by technology.
Ashok Sharma of Dataton WatchOut is just as excited. “The PAN Intellecom team is just awesome, the way they led it all, moved around, and captured the nuances, as we trained their personnel on making the WatchOut do its best is simply fulfilling,” he commends. “We are only delighted that we are chosen for such prestigious project.”
For detailed report- read the story on SIA Digital April 2024 edition columns
