In a move highlighting the growing scientific collaboration between India and Switzerland, visiting Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis presented his Indian counterpart, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, with a unique gift during his recent visit to India. The symbolic token was a specially designed Swatch watch titled “Mission to the Sun,” a nod to India’s ambitious Aditya L1 mission, currently studying the sun from its vantage point in space.
This gift holds particular significance considering India’s Aditya L1 mission, launched in February 2023, stands as a testament to the country’s growing prowess in space exploration. The mission studies the sun’s corona, aiming to gain a deeper understanding of solar flares, coronal mass ejections, and other solar phenomena that can impact Earth’s communication systems and power grids.
The “Mission to the Sun” Swatch gifted by Mr. Cassis features a captivating design inspired by the sun’s fiery prominence. The watch face showcases vibrant yellows and oranges, reminiscent of the solar disc, while the strap bears an artistic representation of the Aditya L1 spacecraft. This personalized present serves as a symbol of appreciation for India’s scientific achievements and strengthens the existing ties between the two nations in the “sphere of space research.”
The exchange between the two ministers highlights the potential for further collaboration between India and Switzerland in the domain of space science. Both countries have expressed interest in joint ventures, with Switzerland keen to leverage its expertise in areas like precision instrumentation and satellite technology. India, on the other hand, presents a lucrative market and a skilled workforce, making it an attractive partner for international space endeavors.
The gifting of the “Mission to the Sun” Swatch transcends a mere exchange of presents; it represents a promising glimpse into the future of Indo-Swiss collaboration in space exploration. As both nations continue to explore the cosmos, their combined efforts hold the potential to unlock “new discovery” and contribute significantly to our understanding of the universe.
Features of the “Mission to the Sun” Swatch:
The “Mission to the Sun” Swatch is a limited edition watch that was released in March 2023.
- Design: The watch features a captivating design inspired by the sun’s fiery prominence. The watch face showcases vibrant yellows and oranges, reminiscent of the solar disc, while the strap bears an artistic representation of the Aditya L1 spacecraft.
- Case: The case is made of bioceramic, a sustainable material made from a blend of ceramic and bio-sourced plastic. It is 42mm in diameter and 13.25mm thick.
- Strap: The strap is made of white Velcro® and features an orange loop.
- Movement: The watch has a quartz movement.
- Water resistance: The watch is water resistant to 3 bar (30 meters).
- Special features: The watch has a tachymeter scale on the bezel and a sun-shaped counterweight on the seconds hand. The glass structure integrates the letter S hidden in the center of the crystal.