1. NASA-ISRO to jointly build NISAR Earth Science Satellite
Tags: Science and Technology
In a significant event in the field of Earth Sciences, NASA and ISRO have come together to build a satellite named NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar).
Mission Objectives of the Satellite
Design, Develop and launch a Dual Frequency (L and S band) Radar Imaging Satellite.
Explore newer applications areas using L & S Band microwave data, especially in surface deformation studies, terrestrial biomass structure, and natural resource mapping.
monitoring and studies related to dynamics of ice-sheets, glaciers, forests, oil slick etc.
About NISAR satellite
It is jointly developed by NASA and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) under a partnership agreement signed in 2014.
It is a 2,800 kg satellite that includes L-band and S-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) instruments, making it a dual frequency imaging radar satellite.
NASA provided L-band radar, GPS, a high-capacity solid-state recorder, and a payload data subsystem to store the data.
ISRO has provided the S-band radar, Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) launch system and the spacecraft.
It will map the entire globe in 12 days.
2. Asia's largest 4-meter telescope inaugurated in Uttarakhand
Tags: Science and Technology National News
Asia's largest 4-meter International Liquid Mirror Telescope was launched in Devasthal in Uttarakhand on 21 March.
An overview of the news
The telescope was officially inaugurated by Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh.
It has been established at the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) located in Nainital, Uttarakhand.
The observatory will explore the deep sky, collecting an assortment of objects ranging from asteroids to supernovae and space debris.
About the International Liquid Mirror Telescope
It consists of a 4-metre-diameter rotating mirror made of a thin layer of liquid mercury to collect light.
It mainly consists of three components.
The first bowl contains a reflective liquid metal (mercury).
The second air pressure driven motor on which the liquid mirror rests.
Third is a system to run the motor. The surface of liquid mirror binoculars naturally takes on a parabolic shape as it rotates, which is ideal for focusing light.
A thin transparent film of micellar liquid protects the mercury from wind abrasion, which can create ripples on the surface of the mercury.
The reflected light passes through a sophisticated multi lens optical corrector which produces clear images over a wide field of view.
Why was the telescope made?
It is designed to survey the night sky and detect variable and transient objects such as supernovae, space debris and gravitational lenses.
Through its data, the telescope can analyze objects in the sky using machine learning and artificial intelligence.
3. ISRO to launch OneWeb India-2 mission from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota
Tags: Science and Technology National News
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch OneWeb India-2 mission from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on March 26.
An overview of the news
Under a commercial agreement with NewSpace India Ltd, will launch 72 satellites of UK-based Network Access Associates Ltd and place them in low Earth orbit.
NewSpace is the commercial wing of ISRO.
The first set of 36 satellites was launched on 23 October 2022 by an LVM3 M2 launch vehicle.
In the second mission on March 26, the remaining 36 satellites, each weighing approximately 5805 kg, will be placed in a 450 km circular low earth orbit by the LVM3 M3 launch vehicle.
LVM3 had five consecutive successful missions including the Chandrayaan 2 mission.
Satellites provide space-based broadband internet services to all corners of the globe.
After launch, Access Associates Ltd will have more than 600 satellites in space offering internet from space services to various countries.
Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)
It was established on 15 August 1969.
It is the national space agencyof India. It launches its space rocket from Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
Headquarter: Bengaluru
Chairman: S Somnath
4. Flu cases rising in India, Two suspected H3N2 deaths
Tags: Science and Technology National News
The Union Health Ministry has confirmed one death each in Haryana and Karnataka due to H3N2 subtype of flu virus in March.
An overview of the news
Figures from the Integrated Disease Surveillance Program show that at least nine people died of the flu in January.
What is the H3N2 virus?
Influenza virus, which causes the infectious disease called flu, is of four different types – A, B, C and D.
Influenza A is classified into different subtypes and one of them is H3N2.
Influenza A is an RNA virus. It is classified into subtypes based on the type of two proteins found on its surface.
Influenza D virus is found in cattle and pigs.
According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), H3N2 caused the flu pandemic of 1968, which caused the death of about one million people worldwide and about 100,000 in the US alone.
Symptoms of H3N2
Symptoms are similar to that of any other flu.
Cough, fever, body ache and headache, sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, and extreme fatigue are common symptoms.
In some cases, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea are also seen.
Transmission
H3N2 influenza is highly contagious and can spread from person to person when an infected person talks, coughs, or sneezes.
It can also spread by touching a surface contaminated with the virus and then touching someone's mouth or nose.
People at higher risk of complications from the flu include pregnant women, young children, the elderly, and people with underlying medical conditions.
Treatment
Getting proper rest, drinking plenty of fluids, and using pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to reduce fever are all parts of H3N2 influenza treatment.
Doctors may also recommend antiviral drugs like oseltamivir and zanamivir if a patient has severe symptoms.
5. The developed drug gets DCGI approval
Tags: Science and Technology National News
Recently, DGCI developed an important drug, developed by DRDO technology that has been approved for radiological and nuclear emergencies.
An Overview of the News
The drug is called 'Prussian Blue' insoluble formulation and has been developed under the Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme.
It has got approval from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI).
The drug has been developed by the industry based on technology from the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS), Delhi, a laboratory of the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO).
This drug will be available under the trade names Pru-DecorpTM and PruDecorp-MG.
The formulation is used for the purification of Cesium and Thallium and its Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API).
It is one of the important medicines listed by the World Health Organization (WHO) for radiological and nuclear emergencies.
About Drug Controller General of India (DCGI):
The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) is the head of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) in India.
DCGI is also the Central Licensing Authority for Medical Devices under the Medical Devices Rules 2017.
CDSCO is the Central Drug Regulatory Authority in India, overseen by the Drugs Controller General of India.
CDSCO works under the Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, which is part of the Government of India.
The headquarters of CDSCO is located in New Delhi, and it also has six regional offices across the country.
CDSCO's mandate is to ensure the safety, efficacy and quality of medical products manufactured, imported and distributed in India by promoting transparency, accountability and uniformity in its services.
About Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO)
The Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) is an agency of the Government of India responsible for the research, development, and manufacture of advanced technology systems in the fields of defense, aerospace, and security.
It was established in 1958 with the aim of designing and developing indigenous defense technologies to strengthen India's defense capabilities.
It operates under the Ministry of Defense and consists of more than 50 laboratories, centers, and establishments spread across the country.
Its primary mission is to provide technological solutions for the country's defense and security requirements, which includes developing new technologies, systems, and platforms for the Indian Armed Forces.
6. 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
7. 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
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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).
