Turning a Shared Vision into Accessible Astronomy

Access to a telescope can fundamentally change the way a student experiences science. Instead of learning about the Moon, planets, and stars only through textbooks and photographs, a telescope gives students an opportunity to observe the universe directly and develop a deeper curiosity about science.

This belief has been at the heart of the work of the Open Space Foundation (OSF) since its establishment in 2018. Founded with a passion for making science education more accessible, OSF has been working over the years to develop educational resources and opportunities for students, particularly those from socio-economically disadvantaged communities. As a registered Space Tutor of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), OSF has continued to create pathways for students and teachers to engage with astronomy and space science.

One of OSF’s initiatives emerging from this vision is Namma Telescope — an effort to bring practical astronomy closer to students in Government schools by providing them with access to telescopes and the knowledge required to use them effectively.

It was in this context that CSTERC Techno Science LLP and Open Space Foundation began their technology partnership for the Namma Telescope initiative.

From Telescope Workshops to Telescope Development

Before this partnership, CSTERC had already conducted several telescope construction workshops in schools and colleges. These programmes provided students and teachers with hands-on experience in understanding how telescopes work and how different components come together to create a functional astronomical instrument.

The experience gained through these workshops revealed something important: there was not only an interest in astronomy, but also a genuine demand for affordable, locally developed astronomical equipment.

CSTERC’s emerging expertise in telescope design, fabrication and assembly created an opportunity to take the next step.

Rather than limiting telescope construction to workshops, CSTERC could contribute directly to the development and manufacturing of telescopes that could reach more students.

The partnership with OSF became a natural extension of that journey.

Under the partnership, CSTERC committed to supporting the Namma Telescope initiative as its technology partner, taking responsibility for the design and development of telescopes while also supporting the educational component through hands-on training.

Designing a Telescope for Government Schools

As the first step of this collaboration, CSTERC undertook the development of a 70 mm refractor telescope specifically for the Namma Telescope project for the 2023–24 academic year.

The objective was not simply to produce a telescope.

The instrument had to be suitable for an educational environment, practical for teachers and students to use, and affordable enough to support the larger vision of bringing astronomy into Government schools.

CSTERC’s approach was therefore centred on developing a telescope that could serve as both an astronomical instrument and an educational platform.

For the first phase of the commitment, CSTERC planned to design and develop 25 units of the 70 mm refractor telescope for deployment through the Namma Telescope initiative.

This first batch represented the beginning of a larger technology partnership rather than an isolated manufacturing exercise.

Technology with a Social Purpose

The strength of the CSTERC–OSF partnership lies in the complementary nature of the two organisations.

OSF brings its experience in science education, outreach and working with students and communities that have historically had limited access to advanced scientific resources.

CSTERC contributes its growing capabilities in telescope design, fabrication, engineering and hands-on technical education.

The partnership therefore goes beyond supplying equipment. CSTERC’s commitment includes providing hands-on training to teachers and students so that the telescopes become actively used educational resources rather than instruments that simply remain in a school laboratory.

Teachers can learn how to operate and maintain the equipment, while students can develop practical skills through observing sessions and astronomy activities.

Building the Namma Telescope

The name Namma Telescope reflects the central idea behind the initiative — making astronomy something that belongs in every community and is accessible to students regardless of their socio-economic background.

For many students, their first view through a telescope can be a memorable experience. Seeing the Moon’s craters, Jupiter and its moons, Saturn’s rings or bright deep-sky objects can transform an abstract lesson into a personal scientific experience.

By supporting the development of locally designed and manufactured telescopes, CSTERC aims to help make such experiences more accessible.

The first 25 telescopes planned for the 2023–24 academic year were therefore more than a set of instruments. They represented a prototype for a scalable model of astronomy education — one in which technology development, manufacturing and science outreach work together.

A Partnership for the Future

The collaboration between CSTERC and OSF demonstrates how a non-profit science education initiative and a technology-development organisation can work together toward a common objective.

OSF’s long-standing commitment to accessible science education provides the social foundation for the Namma Telescope initiative, while CSTERC’s work in telescope development provides the technological foundation.

The 70 mm refractor project marked the first major step in this partnership.

From the initial 25 units, the broader ambition is to develop a sustainable ecosystem in which more Government schools can gain access to telescopes, teachers can receive practical astronomy training, and students can experience observational astronomy directly.

For CSTERC, this partnership is also an important chapter in its own evolution — from teaching students how to build telescopes to taking responsibility for designing and manufacturing telescopes for real-world educational deployment.

And for Namma Telescope, it is a step toward a simple but powerful idea:

Every student should have the opportunity to look at the sky and wonder what lies beyond it.

Through the partnership between CSTERC and Open Space Foundation, that opportunity is being brought a little closer to the classrooms of Government schools.