Two schoolboys from Hyderabad reach for the stars and beyond

The two have recently won valid certification from the United States’ NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) and much applause for their discovery of two main-belt asteroids which were named as 2021 GB34 and 2021 GG166. 

When you meet sibblings Morapaka Abhiram (12) and Morapaka Vishwaksena (9), they seem to look like most other kids their age. But outward appearances can be so utterly deceptive. Indeed, it is hard to imagine that these youngsters are already reaching out for the stars in a quest for impossible dreams, literally speaking. 

The two have recently won valid certification from the United States’ NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) and much applause for their discovery of two main-belt asteroids which were named as 2021 GB34 and 2021 GG166. 

Besides NASA, their discovery has also been validated by the International Astronomical Search Collaboration (IASC), and the Pan STARRS-Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawaii.

Residents  of Nizampet, Hyderabad, and students of grades  7 and 4 of Ravindra Bharathi School in the city,  the boys are quite thrilled with their discovery. They say they have regularly been receiving help and guidance from Spaceport India. 

Both brothers say they’ve been actively participating in the monthly campaigns and programmes of IASC.

According to the students, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the International Astronomical Search Collaboration (IASC), and the Pan STARRS-Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawaii, all recognised and validated their discovery

Every month, the brothers had been participating in the IASC’s initiatives.  The asteroids were discovered and reported in April last year as part of the campaign and after thorough scrutiny, the two brothers got recognition for their discovery a few days ago. 

Abhiram says “as part of the IASC monthly campaigns, data and images were provided to them. These images were converted into animation with software. And we were able to find two main-belt asteroids in the images and reported the same in April”. 

Elated over the discovery, Abhiram says he wants to establish a SpaceX-type of company here in India.

The parents of the boys, Surya and Archana, are equally proud and elated over the achievement of the boys. Archana, a qualified civil engineer and Surya, an MBA with a couple of years in the banking industry, have now become entrepreneurs, with a completely fresh and different approach to bottling and selling world class honey.  

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