1. DRDO successfully flight tests indigenous power take off shaft on LCA Tejas in Bengaluru
Tags: Defence Science and Technology
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A successful flight-test of power take off (PTO) shaft was conducted by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas in Bengaluru on 14 March.
An overview of the news
First successful flight test of PTO shaft on LCA Tejas Limited Series Production (LSP)-3 aircraft.
The PTO shaft has been indigenously designed and developed by the Combat Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (CVRDE), Chennai of the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO).
The PTO is an important device that transmits power from the aircraft engine to the gearbox.
With this successful test, DRDO has achieved a major technological achievement with the realization of complex high-speed rotor technology that only a few countries have achieved.
Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme
It was started by the center in 1984.
It replaced the Mig 21 fighter planes.
It was Designed by Aeronautical Development Agency under the Department of Defence Research and Development.
It was Manufactured by State-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
It features as the lightest, smallest and tailless multi-role supersonic fighter aircraft in its class.
About Light Combat Aircraft Tejas
It is a single-engine multirole light combat aircraft.
It was designed and developed by India’s HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited).
It replaced the ageing Mig 21 fighter planes.
It is the lightest and smallest multi-role supersonic fighter aircraft in its class.
It is designed to be air-to-air, air-to-surface, precision guided and weapon-carrying.
Variants of Tejas
LCA Tejas Navy MK2
LCA Tejas Mk-1A
LCA Navy
2. ISRO drops 12-year-old satellite Megha Tropiques into Pacific Ocean
Tags: Science and Technology National News
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) recently successfully carried out a controlled descent of its 12-year-old low earth orbit satellite Megha Tropiques-1 (MT-1) into the Pacific Ocean.
An overview of the news
ISRO has informed that it is planning to bring this satellite back to Earth.
Dropping this satellite on the earth was a very challenging task for ISRO, which ISRO successfully carried out.
ISRO has been steadily reducing the distance of the satellite from Earth since August, 2022.
For this, he was spending about 120 kg of fuel present in the satellite.
The booster of the satellite was turned on twice before reaching the earth.
This process is called de-boost. The satellite started burning rapidly as soon as it entered the Earth's atmosphere and was completely destroyed by the time it reached the sea.
About Megha Tropiques Satellite
This satellite was launched in October 2011 by ISRO in collaboration with the French space agency CNES.
The satellite was designed to provide weather information for three years, but it served for more than 10 years.
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
It was established on 15 August 1969.
It is the national space agency of India. It launches its space rocket from Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
Headquarters: Bengaluru
Chairman: S Somnath
3. IAF develops indigenous data link communication: 'Vayulink'
Tags: Defence Science and Technology
In a major achievement, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has launched the indigenously built jammer-proof communication platform 'Vayulink'. This will help in maintaining contact with the base station even in bad weather.
An overview of the news:
It is a highly secure communication system developed by the IAF.
At Aero India 2023, IAF has given information about this and also organised a gallery for detailed information about this 'Vayulink platform.
Platform 'Vayulink:
Vayulink' is an ad-hoc data link communication system that, when installed on an aircraft, transmits encrypted traffic data over a secure channel as well as the position of other aircraft.
The jammer-proof platform 'Vayulink' data link communication uses the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), also known as NAVIC.
Benefits of 'Vayulink:
From this platform radio communication can be sent to the base station even in weak signal conditions.
This system is very helpful for IAF. Because during a war situation when the aircraft are flying close to a friendly force, this system is helpful in telling the actual position of the aircraft.
This helps the pilots to get accurate and precise information about the weather. In particular, it also helps in providing accurate communication to aircraft flying over hills.
It helps prevent fratricide in case of war. Also it helps to know where our army is present.
By this, mutual collision of fighter planes can also be prevented. Which provides an accurate teaming system service. It also helps in setting real time targets with the help of which multiple teams can attack the target simultaneously.
The indigenous jammer-proof communication platform 'Vayulink' is helpful to all the three services of the country.
4. China launches Zhongxing-26 satellite
Tags: Science and Technology International News
China has launched the Zhongxing-26 satellite in February 2023 at a cost of $333 million.
An overview of the news
The Zhongxing-26 satellite was launched on a Long March 3B rocket. The main objective of this satellite is to provide broadband connectivity for aviation and shipping related operations.
Zhongxing-26 was launched by the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST). CAST plans to launch 60 more in 2023.
The rocket uses liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen fuel in the third stage. Liquid rocket fuel requires controlled temperature to remain in its form.
China is about to launch more than 200 spacecraft in its 60 missions in the coming time.
China plans to launch Tianzhou-6, a cargo craft, by the end of 2023.
Also, to strengthen its Tiangong Space Station, there are plans to launch crewed missions like Shenzhou-16 and Shenzhou-17.
5. Russian space agency launches Soyuz spacecraft to bring back 3 astronauts stranded on ISS
Tags: Science and Technology International News
Recently the Russian space agency, Roscosmos has successfully launched the Soyuz spacecraft to bring back three astronauts stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) following aleak in the cooling system in their Soyuz capsule.
An overview of the news
Two Russian and one American astronauts will board the empty Soyuz spacecraft to return to Earth.
The Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft was launched from the Baikonur Space Center in Kazakhstan and placed in orbit.
US astronaut Francisco Rubio, along with Russian cosmonauts Sergei Prokopyev and Dmitry Petelin, were due to return to Earth after their mission ended.
But two months ago, it got stuck in space due to a leak in the cooling system of Soyuz MS-22 capsule.
According to the Russian space agency Roscosmos, all three Soyuz will return to Earth on the MS-23 vehicle in September.
The leak on the MS-22 spacecraft was caused by a small piece of a micrometeoroid hitting the capsule.
About International Space Station (ISS)
It is a multi-nation construction project that is the largest single structure humans ever put into space.
Its main construction was completed between 1998 and 2011.
It is not owned by a single nation and according to the European Space Agency (ESA) is a "co-operative program" between Europe, the United States, Russia, Canada and Japan.
As of May 2022, 258 individuals from 20 countries have visited the International Space Station.
The top participating countries include the United States (158 people) and Russia (54 people).
6. Indian Council of Agricultural Research developed new variety of wheat named HD-3385
Tags: Science and Technology National News
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed a new variety of wheat which is 'HD-3385'.
An overview of the news
It is capable of meeting the challenges arising due to climate change and rising heat.
This new variety is suitable for early sowing. It can survive the wrath of heat and its crop can be harvested before the end of March.
The Central Government had recently announced setting up of a committee to monitor the situation arising out of rise in temperature and its impact on the current wheat crop.
ICAR has registered the news variety HD-3385 with the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority (PPVFRA).
ICAR has also granted a license to Bioseed owned by DCM Shriram Limited to conduct multi-location trials and seed multiplication.
About Indian Council of Agricultural Research
It is an autonomous body formerly known as the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research.
Headquarters - New Delhi
Established - 1929
The Union Minister of Agriculture serves as its president. Presently its president is Narendra Singh Tomar.
ICAR is the largest network of agricultural research and education institutes in the world.
7. India first hybrid rocket launched in Chengalpattu
Tags: Science and Technology
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India's first hybrid rocket made by the school students from various states launched as part of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Satellite Launch Vehicle Mission 2023 from Pattipulam Village in Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu on 19 February.
An overview of the news
The reusable rocket has been made by the selected top 100 students.
The rocket can be used for research into weather, atmospheric conditions and radiation.
Over 3,500 government school students from classes VI to XII, including students from fishermen, tribal communities in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, participated in the launch.
Martin Foundation in association with Dr APJ Abdul Kalam International Foundation and Space Zone India successfully completed the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Satellite Launch Vehicle Mission 2023.
What is a Hybrid rocket?
It is a bipropellant rocket engine that uses propellants that are in two different states.
These propellants are usually liquid and solid which react to form exhaust gases suitable for rocket propulsion.
India’s first privately developed rocket Vikram-S
India's first private rocket Vikram-S (Suborbital) was launched on 18 November 2022 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
It was designed by the Space technology startup Skyroot Aerospace as a tribute to the father of the country's space programme, Vikram Sarabhai.
8. Sea ice cover reaches lowest level in Antarctica
Tags: Science and Technology
In the study conducted by scientists, it has been told that the area of the Antarctic Ocean covered with ice has shrunk to a record low level.
An overview of the news
According to the National Snow and Ice Data Center in the United States, Antarctica's sea ice extent was recorded at 2.2 million square kilometres last week, down from 2.27 million square kilometres as of February 24, 2022, the previous record.
This is the lowest since records began in 1979.
According to scientists, this is the second consecutive year when snow has melted up to 20 lakh square km in a day.
The coldest region on Earth, 99 percent of Antarctica is covered with ice.
About two thick layers of ice are frozen here. But now this ice is melting fast.
According to scientists, due to the hot winds, the snow is melting rapidly, this year the temperature of the hot winds has been 1.5 degrees above the average.
About Antarctica
It is the southernmost continent and the fifth largest continent on Earth.
Antarctica is uninhabited except for about 40 permanent stations set up by many countries including India for scientific research.
India has two research centres on the Antarctic continent - 'Maitri' and 'Bharati'.
India has completed 40 scientific expeditions here under the Antarctic program so far.
9. India’s lunar mission Chandrayaan-3 achieves another milestone
Tags: Science and Technology National News
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on 19 February said that the 'Chandrayaan-3' lander has "successfully" underwent the Electro-Magnetic Interference/Electro-Magnetic Compatibility (EMI/EMC) test at the U R Rao Satellite Centre.
An overview of the news
The EMI-EMC test is conducted for satellite missions to ensure functionality of the satellite subsystems in space and their compatibility with the expected electromagnetic levels.
The purpose of this test is to ensure that the satellite's systems work properly in conjunction with the expected electromagnetic levels in space.
This is an important step in preparing the test satellites.
The test was conducted between January 31 and February 2 at the UR RAW Satellite Center in Bengaluru.
During this test several points related to the post-landing phase of Chandrayaan's mission were checked.
These include a number of tests including launch capability, polarisation of antenna for radio frequency systems and compatibility of lander and rover.
All the systems performed satisfactorily during the test.
The complexity of this operation relates to the establishment of radio frequency communication links between these modules.
10. Saudi Arabia to send its 1st female astronaut to space this year
Tags: Science and Technology International News
Saudi Arabia's first female astronaut is set to go into space this year, in what is seen as a move to reform Saudi Arabia's ultra-conservative image.
An overview of the news
Saudi female astronaut Rayna Barnawi will join Saudi Ali Al-Qarni on a 10-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS) this year.
Barnawi and al-Karni will fly to the ISS aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft as part of a mission by American privately funded space infrastructure developer private space company Axiom Space .
The Ax-2 will be launched by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, America.
Another fellow Emirati, Sultan Al-Neyadi will also visit the space station at the end of February 2023.
Axiom Space launched its first private astronaut mission to the ISS in April 2022, with four private astronauts spending 17 days in space orbit.
In 2019, Saudi Arabia's neighbouring United Arab Emirates became the first Arab country to send a citizen into space. Astronaut Hazza al-Mansoori spent eight days on the ISS.
In 1985, Saudi royal prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz participated in a US-organised space mission, becoming the first Arab Muslim to travel in space.
Saudi Arabia
King - Salman
Capital - Riyadh
Currency - Saudi Arabian riyal
Official Language - Arabic
Official Religion - Islam
