1. NASA's SpaceX Crew-5 launches to the International Space Station
Tags: Science and Technology
SpaceX successfully launched four astronauts on NASA's Crew-5 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) on October 5.
Important facts
This is the first time that the Elon Musk-led company has sent Russian astronauts into space from its launching vehicle.
The Crew-5 mission consists of two American, one Japanese and one Russian astronaut.
These include NASA astronauts Nicole Mann and Josh Cassada, who will serve as mission commanders and pilots.
Astronaut Koichi Wakata of Japan Airspace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Cosmonaut Anna Kikina of Rokosmos will serve as mission specialists.
With the help of the Falcon-9 rocket, Crew Dragon Endurance will reach the International Space Station at a speed of 17,500 mph.
By reaching space, Crew-5 will do more than 200 science experiments.
This launch has been done under an exchange deal between NASA and the Russian space agency Rokosmos.
The top Dragon spacecraft of the Falcon-9 rocket has been launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.
About SpaceX
It is a private spaceflight company that sends satellites and people to space, including NASA crews to the International Space Station (ISS).
The company sent its first two astronauts to the ISS on May 30, 2020, aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon, and several more on behalf of NASA and other organizations.
As of mid-2022, it is the only commercial spaceflight company capable of sending astronauts into space.
SpaceX was founded by Alan Musk, a South African-born businessman and entrepreneur.
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).
2. Indian Mars Orbiter mission finally comes to end after 8 years of mission
Tags: Science and Technology
According to the reports quoting ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) the India’s Mars Orbiter spacecraft or Mangalyaan has run out of propellant and its battery drained beyond the safe limit. It signals perhaps the end of the mission which was launched eight years ago and was designed to function for 6 months.
According to ISRO, the orbiter recently went into a long eclipse, and after that, there was no communication from it. The satellite had gone into eclipse earlier also and performed automatic maneuvers to come out of eclipse and re-establish communications. But if there is no fuel left, it would not be able to perform those automated movements.
The Mangalyaan was launched in a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) C25 on 5 November 2013 and reached Mars on 24 September 2014. It was ISRO’s first interplanetary mission. At a budget of Rs 450 crore ($74 million), it is one of the most cost-effective space missions in the world.
The Mars mission was designed to last just six months, and the probe has sent a huge volume of data from the red planet in these eight years. The spacecraft carries five scientific instruments, Mars Colour Camera (MCC), Thermal Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (TIS), and Methane Sensor for Mars (MSM), Mars Exospheric Neutral Composition Analyser (MENCA) and Lyman Alpha Photometer (LAP).
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
It was set up on 15 August 1969
It is India's national space agency. It launches its space rocket from Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
Headquarters: Bengaluru
Chairman: S.Somanath
3. Defence Minister inducted first indigenously developed light combat helicopters into Indian Air Force in Rajasthan
Tags: Defence Science and Technology
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inducted the first indigenously developed light combat helicopters (LCH) named Prachand was inducted into Indian Air Force (IAF) at Jodhpur in Rajasthan on October 3.
Important facts
The LCH was inducted at an event in Jodhpur in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal VR Choudhary.
The LCH is designed to promote the combat prowess of the Indian Air Force.
In March 2022, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) had approved the purchase of 15 indigenously developed Limited Series Production (LSP) LCHs at a cost of Rs 3,887 crore.
About Light Combat Helicopter (LCH)
It is a dedicated combat helicopter designed and developed indigenously by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
The Advanced Light Helicopter in LCH is similar to Dhruv.
It has several stealth features, armoured-protection system, night attack capability and crash-worthy landing gear.
The helicopter can be deployed for high-altitude bunker-busting operations, counter-insurgency operations in jungles and urban environments, as well as assisting military forces on the ground.
It has indigenized several key aviation technologies like glass cockpit and composite airframe structure.
It is the only attack helicopter in the world that can land and take-off at an altitude of 5,000 meters or 16,400 feet with weapons that meet the specific requirements of the Indian Armed Forces.
4. NGT fines Telangana government 3,800 crore rupees for improper waste management
Tags: Science and Technology State News
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) in an order delivered on 1 October 2022 has imposed a penalty of ₹3,800 crore on the Telangana government for its failure to treat solid and liquid waste.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice A K Goel said huge gaps exist in the management of solid and liquid waste in the southern state.
Providing clean air, water, hygiene and environment have to be the top priorities for good governance, the bench said, adding that the state could not avoid its constitutional responsibility of providing a pollution-free environment.
The NGT said compliance would be the chief secretary's responsibility and directed him to file progress reports every six months.
The NGT is monitoring compliance with the Municipal Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 and other environmental aspects by the states and Union territories.
National Green Tribunal was established in 2010 under the National Green Tribunal Act 2010. It deals with matters related to environmental protection and conservation of forest. Its headquarter is in New Delhi.
5. Telecom Technology Development Fund scheme launched by Universal Service Obligation Fund
Tags: Science and Technology Economics/Business
The Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF), a body under the Department of Telecommunications, officially launched the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) Scheme on 1st October 2022, to promote indigenous telecom technology.
Aim of the Telecom Technology Fund
It aims to fund Research and Development in rural-specific communication technology applications and form synergies among academia, start-ups, research institutes, and the industry to build and develop the telecom ecosystem.
The scheme aims to promote technology ownership and indigenous manufacturing, create a culture of technology co-innovation, reduce imports, and boost export opportunities and creation of Intellectual Property.
The scheme entails grants to Indian entities to encourage and induct indigenous technologies tailor-made to meet domestic needs.
What is USOF (Universal Service Obligation Fund)
- To provide good quality telecom service in rural and inaccessible areas where the private sector won’t go due to low profit or loss, the government of India came up with the Policy of Universal Service obligation.
- Under this policy a Universal Service obligation Fund was set up which will provide funds for creating telecom facility in the rural and inaccessible areas.
- Every private telecom companies has to pay a certain percentage of its income to this fund.
- The Universal Service Support Policy came into effect from 01.04.2002.
- USOF comes under the Department of Telecommunication, Ministry of Communication, and Government of India.
- The infrastructure created under USOF comes under Government-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL)
6. 81st foundation day of CSIR observed on 29 September
Tags: Science and Technology National News
The Council for Industrial and Scientific Research (CSIR ) is observing its 81st foundation day on 29 September 2022. The premier government funded Scientific and Industrial Research organisation in India was set up on 26 September 1942 as an autonomous body.
CSIR has a network of 37 national laboratories, 39 outreach centers, 3 Innovation Complexes, and five units with a pan-India presence.
It is a pioneer of India’s intellectual property movement, CSIR has filed about 225 Indian patents and 250 foreign patents per year during 2015-20. CSIR has a patent portfolio of 1,132 unique patents in force, out of which 140 patents have been commercialized.
CSIR is ranked 37th among 1587 government institutions worldwide and is the only Indian organization among the top 100 global government institutions, according to the Scimago Institutions Ranking World Report 2021.
CSIR holds the 7th rank in Asia and leads the country at the first position.
The Prime Minister of India is the President of CSIR.
Headquarters: New Delhi
First Director General : S.S.Bhatnagar (1942-54)
Current Director General : Nallathamby Kalaiselvi (first women to be appointed to this post)
Headquarters : New Delhi
7. First electric plane ‘Alice’ makes its maiden flight successfully
Tags: Science and Technology
The world’s first all-electric aircraft has successfully completed its first flight in Seattle, United States. The prototype plane named ‘Alice’ flew for 8 minutes at an altitude of 3,500 feet .
The plane which has been built by Eviation Aircraft company uses a battery to power the aircraft has a maximum speed of 481 Km per hour and has zero carbon emission.
The plane has a maximum load capacity of 1,134 kg for passenger version and 1179 kg for eCargo version.
Eviation Alice is targeted at passenger and cargo markets, and will typically operate flights ranging from 150 miles to 250 miles.
8. NASA DART mission: Spacecraft slams into asteroid 9.6 million kilometres away
Tags: Science and Technology
In NASA's Dart space mission, the Dart spacecraft successfully collided with an asteroid in space on 27 September. The purpose of this mission was to change the direction and speed of the asteroid.
Important facts
NASA's spacecraft collided with the asteroid at a speed of 22500 kilometers per hour in space.
Through this test, NASA wanted to see whether the direction of an asteroid coming towards Earth could be changed or not.
The asteroid that the spacecraft collided with is named Dimorphos.
Dimorphos orbits around another asteroid, the asteroid Didymos.
The purpose of this program is to see that if a dangerous asteroid comes towards Earth, it can be destroyed or its direction can be diverted.
Now scientists will keep an eye on the speed and movement of the asteroid for the next two months, it will be calculated. Only after this will get accurate information about how successful NASA has been in trying to change the path of the asteroid.
NASA has recorded more than 8000 Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) around the Earth.
Some of these are larger than 460 feet in diameter, if they hit the earth, they can destroy many cities.
About NASA DART Mission
'DART' is a low cost spacecraft.
This is a technique that can prevent an asteroid from hitting the Earth.
Its purpose is to test a technology that can change the direction of incoming asteroids towards Earth.
The purpose of this mission is to test new technology to be prepared in the event of an asteroid coming towards Earth in the future.
9. President Murmu unveils foundation stone for ICMR-National Institute of Virology, South Zone at Bengaluru
Tags: place in news National Science and Technology State News
President Droupadi Murmu unveiled the foundation stone for ICMR-National Institute of Virology (NIV) Pune, South Zone at Bengaluru in virtual mode, in presence of Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Bharti Pravin Pawar on 27 September 2022.
The setting up of the zonal campus of the National Institute of Virology, Pune is part of the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM)) of the central government.
Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM))
- The Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission
- was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh on 25 October 2021.
- The total outlay on the scheme is Rs 64,180 Crore and the duration of the scheme is from 2021-22 to 25-26.
- The Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission is one of the largest pan-India schemes for strengthening healthcare infrastructure across the country.
- Its objective is to fill gaps in public health infrastructure, especially in critical care facilities and primary care in both urban and rural areas.
- It will provide support for 17,788 rural health and wellness centers in 10 high-focus states.
- Further, 11,024 urban health and wellness centers will be established in all the States.
- Under the scheme, a national institution for one health(set up in Nagpur), four new regional centers of the national institutes for virology, a regional research platform for WHO South East Asia Region, nine biosafety level-III laboratories, and five new regional national centre for disease control will be set up.
- For the first time in Asia, two container-based hospitals with comprehensive medical facilities will be kept ready at all times, which can be rapidly deployed via rail or air to deal with any disaster or calamity in the country.
National Institute of Virology (NIV)
The National Institute of Virology is one of the major Institutes of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
It was established at Pune, Maharashtra State in 1952 as Virus Research Centre (VRC) under the auspices of the ICMR and the Rockefeller Foundation (RF), USA. Now it is fully funded by ICMR.
NIV is also the National Centre for Hepatitis and Influenza.
NIV has been designated as one of the collaborating laboratories of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Chairman: Dr Priya Abraham
10. Rohini RH-200 Rocket
Tags: Defence Science and Technology
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is planning the 200th consecutive successful launch of the Rohini RH-200 sounding rocket.
About Rohini RH-200 Rocket
The RH-200 is a two-stage rocket capable of climbing to an altitude of 70 km.
The first and second stages of the RH-200 are driven by solid motors.
The '200' in the name refers to the diameter of the rocket in mm.
Other Rohini variants - RH-300 Mk-II and RH-560 Mk-III.
Over the years, the RH-200 rocket used a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) based propellant.
The first RH-200 to use a new propellant based on hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) was successfully flown from TERLS in September 2020.
Since the inception of the RH200 rocket, both solid stages are processed using polyvinyl chloride (PVC) based propellants.
About Sounding Rocket
These are one- or two-stage solid propellant rockets used for exploration of the upper atmospheric regions and for space research.
Rockets are used to launch instruments 48 to 145 km above the Earth's surface.
The first sounding rocket to be launched from Thumba was the American Nike-Apache, which was launched on November 21, 1963.
The ISRO launched its own version, Rohini RH-75 in 1967.
ISRO has so far launched more than 1,600 RH-200 rockets.
