NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) USA has approved for Astronaut E. Michael “Mike” Fincke for a Virtual Appearance with Tezpur University’s National Level Annual Technical Festival ‘TechXetra 2012’ on November 2, 2012. Rajen Barua, President of FASS International, the sponsoring organization of the event on behalf of Tezpur University, stated in a Press Release from Houston.
The astronaut virtual appearance program is an exciting and memorable experience for all involved. Normally NASA receives thousands of such requests for astronaut appearances each year. However, very few of these requests can at present be accommodated due to NASA’s heavy ongoing support program of the ISS (International Space Station) and many other exciting NASA programs. However, with the personal collaboration and help of FASS International members in Houston such as Rupesh Saikia and others, it was possible to schedule an appearance on November 2 as requested by Tezpur University. At present, members of FASS International (USA) are busy interacting with the organizers of TechXetra 2012 through Skype calls to make sure all the bugs are removed to make the technical system perfect for internet connection as well as to make sure the organizers do not leave out important questions to be asked to the astronaut.
The “TechXetra 2012” program of Tezpur University, scheduled from 2nd to 4th of November, is the University’s fifth edition of its National Level Annual Technical Festival. The last four TechXetra programs have already carved out a niche in terms of learning, team spirit and entertainment. In the coming TechXetra 2012, the multifaceted festival will embrace a myriad of competitions and events in the zones of robotics, hardware and software development, structure and design, science exhibition, multi-hued photography, latent talent unfolding in ad-making event, panel discussion, brainstorming quiz, essay, guest lecture of eminent personalities and the best-pick-of-all-times hardcore computer gaming among the students from various parts of India with a module of cultural extravaganza. General public and students are also welcome to attend the festival.
The virtual appearance of astronaut Mike Fincke in the TechXetra 2012 will be very meaningful for the students of science to connect with the latest technology as well as to know more about NASA’s ongoing programs which includes the International Space Station, Mars Rover Mission and many more.
Astronaut Mike Fincke is not unknown to Assam. Being the husband of Assamese Renita Saikia, who herself is an engineer in NASA, Mike visited Assam several times in the past. Additionally, he also conducted four interactive telephone sessions with the students of four institutions in North East (Dibrugarh University, Axam Jatiyo Vidyalaya, Guwahati, St Anthony’s College, Shillong and Central University, Imphal) from the ISS in 2008 and 2009. FASS International also arranged for an integrative live session between Mike Fincke and students of 84 schools in Guwahati in 2009. This Virtual Appearance in Tezpur University is in continuation of the program of FASS International (USA) who is planning for more such programs with other interested institutions of North East.
31 Jan 2012 - 5:31am | editor
Three persons including a child died at a tragic road accident in Barpeta district on Monday.
The accident took place at around 5-30 in the evening when a speeding truck rammed into a motorcycle...
19 May 2013 - 9:07am | AT News
The Tarun Gogoi government completes two years in office. The Chief Minister claimed to have improved in the law and order situation in the state over the past 12 years.He added that the government...
6 Jun 2013 - 6:18am | Abdul Gani
In 365 days 246 people have been killed either by speeding bikes or vehicles on the streets of Guwahati leave alone the rest of the state in 2012. And the terrible trend is that the number is...
11 Feb 2015 - 5:59pm | Hantigiri Narzary
Thousands of BPF supporters from Baokhungri constituency of BTC thronged and staged demonstration at Swrang ME school ground while another aspiring candidate Uma Rani Basumatary also show her party...
In a meeting held on December 23rd in Houston, Texas, the FASS Executive committee members have discussed and determined that Jadav Payeng is a prime and deserving candidate to be nominated as a CNN Hero. As such the members have decided to promote Jadav Payeng as a CNN Hero. One can nominate a person as a CNN Hero by filling in the application form online (per link noted below). FASS also request all in Northeast India to individually nominate Jadav Payeng for this honor. CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute is an award-winning television special created by CNN to honor individuals who make extraordinary contributions to humanitarian aid and make a difference in their communities. The...
The book "পৃথিবীৰ কৱিতা" (Poetry of the World), edited and translated by Rajen Barua was released in USA on February 22, 2014 at a meeting of AALC (Assamese American Literary Circle) in Houston. The Meeting was held at the residence of Jeena and Rabin Mahanta. Barua gave a brief introduction of the book and read out a few of the poems from the book along with the English originals. AALC was formed on May 12, 2012 by a group of like minded individuals in Houston to discuss literature in general and also share each others knowledge on various topics mainly related to language, literature, history etc. AALC plans to meet every quarter and this was its 5th meeting. The group has so far...
Friends of Assam and Seven Sisters (FASS) International distributed 20 Solar Reading Lamps to poor and meritorious students in Biswanath Chariali, in the Sonitpur District Assam. The distribution function was organized in collaboration with CADAT an NGO in Biswanath Chariali at the Cheniram Das Bhawan on 25th May, 2013. Mr. Dilip Baruah. Chairman of Biswanath Chariali Municipality office presided over the function which was well attended by the public, the students, parents and the media and many CADAT members besides the following guests of honors: Mr. Prabin Hazarika MLA, Biswanath Constituency, Mrs. Zilmil Saikia,ACS. Ext. Asst. Commissioner Biswanath Sub- Division., Mr....
Friends of Assam and Seven Sisters (FASS International) distributed 20 Solar Reading Lamps free to 20 poor and meritorious students in Chaygoan, in Kamrup district. In a meeting organised for the occasion in Chaygaon by FASS International in collaboration with the Chaygaon Press Club , each of the twenty selected students was given a free Solar Reading Lamp along with a certificate from FASS International. Hitesh Kalita, General Secretary of FASS International from Washington DC, who attended the meeting, thanked the Chaygaon Press Club for arranging the meeting which was a great success, and explained the ongoing FASS program of free distribution of Solar...
Friends of Assam and Seven Sisters (FASS) mourns the sudden death of Kaushik Das (Jipu) of Guwahati in an accident on railway in Guwahati on Jan 17. We wish that his soul may rest in peace. We offer our most heartfelt sympathies for the loss to the agieved family and convey that our thoughts would be with the whole family during this difficult time.Kaushik Das (Jipu) was an unassuming individual who would like to keep a low profile for himself on the outside and high profile of his actions. He had practically dedicated his life to the welfare of the poor through his welfare projects ‘Atma Nirbhar - Ek Challenge’ and...
Friends of Assam and seven Sisters (FASS) International is announcing launching of its project to distribute Solar Reading Lamps free to deserving students in North East India under the project named “Let There Be Lights for Education in Assam and Seven Sisters”. The project is launched in Assam and Manipur at the same time. On January 12, 2013, Saturday in a public meeting arranged by FASS at Jorhat Press Club, in collaboration with Sabda Education Trust of Jorhat, 25 selected deserving students from rural areas around Jorhat district were given free Solar Reading Lamps along with a certificate from FASS. Sjt. Kamal Jyoti gogoi, AES, School Inspector of Jorhat, presided over the...
NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) USA successfully performed the Virtual Appearance program of Astronaut E. Michael "Mike" Fincke with Tezpur University’s Annual Technical Festival ‘TechXetra 2012’ on November 2, 2012. The astronaut virtual appearance program is an exciting and memorable experience for all involved. The students and faculty of Tezpur University as well as some of the neighboring institutes interacted with NASA astronaut at the Kalaguru Bishnu Prasad Rabha Auditorium at Tezpur University. The event was organized as part of the annual technical fest of Tezpur University, TechXetra 2012 with the sponsorship of FASS. The event was a huge...
Add new comment