National Aerospace Laboratories

Our work happens out at the Saras Hangar over in Belur. It’s a bit of a journey to get out here, especially with the Bangalore traffic, but once you’re inside the NAL campus, it’s a different world. The hangar is a big, open space that smells a bit like oil and old metal. We spend a lot of time out here in the Belur area, working on whatever project is currently on the floor. It’s not a clean, carpeted office like you might see in the city center. It’s a place where things get built and tested. We have tools scattered around and people in jumpsuits moving from one end to the other. Sometimes it gets really hot under the metal roof, but we just keep the fans going. It’s a very practical place. We don't really have time for anything that isn't directly related to the work in front of us. Most of the staff have been here for years, and they know every corner of this facility. It feels like a small town inside the campus. We eat our lunch together and talk about mundane things before getting back to the machines. It’s a lot of hard work and staying focused on the details. We don't have any reason to make it sound more exciting than it is; it's just what we do every day out here in Belur.