1. ISRO to launch its smallest rocket to unfurl Tricolour in Space
Tags: Science and Technology
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch its smallest commercial rocket on 7 August to unfurl Tricolour in space.
Important facts
The launch will be done from Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota.
It will drive India’s dreams of breaking into the lucrative and booming small satellite launch market.
On August 15, 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the tricolor would be unfurled in space during India's 75th year of independence.
To mark the celebration of the country's 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav', the SSLV will carry a co-passenger satellite named 'Azadisat', which will carry 75 payloads built by 750 young girl students from 75 rural government schools across India.
The project was conceptualized especially for the 75th Independence Day celebrations to encourage scientific temper and to create opportunities for young girls to choose space research as their career.
2. DRDO successfully test-fires indigenously developed laser-guided Anti-Tank Guided Missiles
Tags: Defence Science and Technology
India on 4 August successfully test fired the indigenously developed laser-guided anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM) at Ahmednagar in Maharashtra.
Important facts
The ATGM was test-fired from Main Battle Tank (MBT) Arjuna by DRDO and Indian Army in collaboration with Armored Corps Center and School (ACC&S) at KK Range.
The missiles struck with precision and successfully destroyed targets at two different ranges.
The telemetry system has recorded satisfactory flight performance of the missiles.
The ATGM has been developed with multi-platform launch capability and is currently undergoing technical trials with the 120 mm rifled gun of MBT Arjun.
This indigenous anti-tank guided missile is fitted with a Tandem High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) weapon, which is capable of destroying armoured vehicles with state-of-the-art Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA).
Earlier in June, the DRDO and the Indian Army successfully test-fired an indigenously built tank destroyer missile at the KK range in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra.
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
It is a premier defence research and development agency under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India.
It aims to make India self-reliant in critical defence technology and systems.
It was set up in 1958.
Headquarters - New Delhi
Chairman - G. Satheesh Reddy
3. Hellfire R9X missile used to kill Ayman al-Zawahiri
Tags: Science and Technology
The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) used its ‘secret weapon’ — the Hellfire R9X missile to kill Al Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri on the balcony of a safehouse in Kabul.
What is the Hellfire R9X missile?
It is basically a modified version of the renowned Hellfire missile which was an anti-tank weapon developed in the 1980s.
It was modified several times to specifically target individuals after the 9/11 attacks.
It is an American-origin missile developed to target individuals and cause minimal collateral damage.
This missile has no warhead, it deploys razor-sharp blades in the final phase of the attack.
It also helps it break through thicker steel sheets and lowers the target by using the kinetic energy of its propulsion.
The blades eject from the missile and hit the intended target without causing massive damage to the surroundings.
Why was the Hellfire R9X missile developed?
The main reason for the development of the Hellfire R9X missile was to reduce civilian casualties.
The missile was also developed to eliminate doubts about the structural robustness of a building such as the mud and thatched huts that terrorists commonly use as a hideout.
In January 2019, this missile was used to kill Jamal al-Badawi while Ahmed Hassan Abu Khair al-Masri was killed in February 2017.
4. China launches 2nd space station module
Tags: Science and Technology International News
China launched the second of three modules needed to complete its new space station on July 24 as part of the latest step in the ambitious space program.
Important facts
According to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), the giant Long March-5B Y3 carrier rocket, Wentian, was successfully launched from the Wenchang spacecraft launch site off the coast of the southern island province of Hainan.
The new module will serve as a backup to the core module, Tianhe, and as a powerful scientific experiment platform in the space station currently being built by China.
In the coming weeks, the Wentian will be transformed by a robotic device from a forward docking port to a lateral port, where it will remain and be ready for long-term operation.
The construction of China's Tiangong space station is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
This will complete the construction of Tiangong, the space station taking shape in China's space.
With the establishment of this space station, China will be the third country in the world to have its own space station.
Tianhe module
It was launched in April 2021, and the Mengtian module is set to be launched in October this year.
About 18 meters (60 ft) long and weighing 22 tons (48,500 lb), the new module has three sleeping areas and space for scientific experiments.
It will combine with Tiangong's already dispatched modules to shape the space station.
Tiangong Space Station
This is a Chinese space station being built in low Earth orbit between 340 and 450 kilometres above the earth.
It is part of China's manned space program and is the country's first long-term space station.
5. ISRO inaugurates Human Space Flight Expo in Bengaluru
Tags: Science and Technology
Indian Space Research Organisation, ISRO Chairman S Somanath inaugurated the Human Space Flight Expo in Bengaluru to commemorate the Amrit Festival of Independence.
Important facts
ISRO is soon launching its first unmanned mission Gaganyaan and the exhibit showcases the Crew Module, GSLV Mark III Manned-Rated Launch Vehicle and Crew Escape System.
The expo is being organised in association with Planetarium and Bangalore Association for Science Education (BASE).
The expo includes a number of exhibitions including scaled models of various Indian satellites and launch vehicles as well as scaled models of the proposed India space station.
The expo also includes an interactive model of Gaganyaan, the first Indian crewed spacecraft, to be launched soon.
About ISRO
It is India's leading space exploration agency, headquartered in Bangalore.
ISRO was formed in the year 1969 with a view to develop and exploit space technology while pursuing planetary exploration and space science research.
The first Indian satellite Aryabhata was built by ISRO which was launched on 19 April 1975 with the help of the Soviet Union.
Upcoming Missions
Gaganyaan Mission: India's first space mission, Gaganyaan, will be launched in the year 2023.
Chandrayaan-3 Mission: Chandrayaan-3 is likely to be launched during the third quarter of 2022.
6. Discovery of a new ozone hole over the tropics
Tags: Science and Technology
According to a recent study, a new ozone hole has been detected in tropical regions from 30 degree south latitude to 30 degree north latitude.
Facts from the study
The tropical ozone hole is about seven times larger than that of the Antarctic.
The tropical ozone hole is visible in all seasons, while the ozone hole over the Antarctic is visible only in spring.
Scientists estimate that it is so large that it can affect 50 percent of the world's population.
According to scientists, this hole has been present in the tropical region since 1980.
Like the Antarctic ozone hole, ozone values in the centre of this tropical ozone hole have been found to be 80 percent below normal.
This has the potential to cause skin cancer, cataracts and other negative effects on the health ecosystem in tropical regions.
Ozone layer
It is a special form of oxygen that has the chemical formula O3.
Most of the ozone lies 10 to 40 km above the Earth's surface. Lives at high levels in the atmosphere between This region is called the stratosphere and contains about 90% of the total ozone found in the atmosphere.
Classification
Good Ozone
Ozone occurs naturally in Earth's upper atmosphere (stratosphere) where it forms a protective layer. This layer protects us from the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun.
This ozone is slowly being destroyed due to man-made chemicals called ozone depleting substances (ODS). Ozone depleting substances include chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), halons, methyl bromide, carbon tetrachloride, and methyl chloroform.
Bad Ozone
Ozone is formed in Earth's lower atmosphere (troposphere) near ground level when pollutants emitted by cars, power plants, industrial boilers, refineries, chemical plants, and other sources react chemically in the presence of sunlight.
Surface level ozone is a harmful air pollutant.
Initiatives taken to protect the ozone layer
Vienna Convention
The 1985 Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer was an international agreement in which the members of the United Nations recognized the fundamental importance of preventing the depletion of the ozone layer of the stratosphere.
India became a party to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer on 18 March 1991.
Montreal Protocol
The Montreal Protocol is an international environmental agreement to protect the Earth's ozone layer by eliminating the use of ozone-depleting substances.
Adopted on September 15, 1987, this protocol is the only United Nations treaty to date that has been ratified by all 197 member states of the United Nations by every country on earth.
India became a party to the Montreal Protocol on 19 June 1992 on substances that damage the ozone layer.
7. Agnikul Cosmos opens India’s first private rocket engine factory in Chennai
Tags: Science and Technology
Space tech startup Agnikul Cosmos on 13 July inaugurated India's first-ever facility to manufacture 3D-printed rocket engines in Chennai.
Important facts
Space tech startup Agnikul Cosmos on 13 July inaugurated India's first-ever facility to manufacture 3D-printed rocket engines in Chennai.
It was inaugurated by N. Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons and S. Somanath, Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
On this occasion Pawan Goenka, chairman of Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) was also present.
The facility will house world-class machinery, including a 400 mm x 400 mm x 400 mm metal 3D-printer from EOS, and several other machines that will enable end-to-end manufacturing of rocket engines under one roof.
Agnikul had entered into an agreement with EOS in 2021 as the 3D printing partner for the engines.
Rocket Agnibaan
It is building India’s first private small satellite launch vehicle whose name is Agnibaan, a rocket that enables plug-and-play configuration and is capable of carrying up to 100 kg of payload to low Earth orbits.
This on-demand rocket can be completely customized to the needs of the customer at an affordable cost.
Agnibaan will be launched in 2022.
Agnikul Cosmos
Agnikul Cosmos is a group of enthusiasts, rocket scientists, engineers, programmers etc.
It was founded in 2017 by Srinath Ravichandran, Moin SPM and S R Chakravarthy (from IIT Madras).
Agnikul became the first Indian company to sign agreement with ISRO in December 2020.
8. DCGI grants marketing authorization to SII's qHPV Vaccine
Tags: Science and Technology
The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) granted market authorisation to Serum Institute of India (SII) to manufacture India’s first Quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus vaccine (qHPV) which is indigenously developed against cervical cancer.
Important facts
qHPV is the first indigenous vaccine developed in India against cervical cancer which is likely to be launched by the end of this year.
It will be an Indian vaccine for the treatment of cervical cancer in women that is both affordable and accessible.
What is Cervical Cancer?
Cervical cancer starts in the cells of the cervix, the lower part of the uterus.
The cervix connects the body of the uterus to the vagina.
Cancer starts when cells in the body grow out of control.
Most cases of cervical cancer are caused by infection of the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is preventable with a vaccine.
Cervical cancer grows slowly, so it usually has time to be detected and treated before it causes serious problems.
Women between the ages of 35 and 44 are most likely to get this disease.
Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI)
It comes under the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO).
It is responsible for approval of licences of specified categories of drugs like blood and blood products, vaccines, IV fluids and sera in India.
It sets the standards and quality of the manufacture, sale, import and distribution of drugs in India.
9. Indian scientists develop novel mechanism to inactivate SARS-CoV-2
Tags: Science and Technology
Indian Scientists have developed an innovative system to inactivate the SARS-CoV-2 virus by preventing the entry of the SARS-CoV-2 virus into the cells of the body, reducing its infection capacity.
Important facts
For this, the researchers have informed about the design of a new class of synthesized peptides.
This peptide can not only inhibit the entry of SARS-CoV-2 virus into cells, but can also entangle virus particles together in a manner that reduces their ability to infect.
This new effort provides an alternative mechanism to inactivate viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 and promises a new class of peptides as antivirals.
The research was supported under the COVID-19 IRPHA call of the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), a statutory body of the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
What is the new innovative system?
The developed peptides are helical and hairpin-like in shape.
Each of these is able to associate with another of its kind, which is known as a dimmer.
Each dimeric 'bundle' presents two surfaces for interaction with the two target molecules.
Scientists from the Indian Institute of Science, in collaboration with researchers from the CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology, have taken advantage of this approach to design these peptides.
The team of researchers used a peptide called SIH-5 to target the interaction between the SARS-CoV-2 receptors of SARS-CoV-2's spike(S) protein and SARS-CoV-2's ACE2 protein in human cells.
What is the sars-cov-2 virus?
It is responsible for causing the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
SARS means Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.
For the first time in 2019, it was reported that SARS-CoV-2 can infect people as well.
It is believed that the virus spreads from person to person through droplets released when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks.
Coronaviruses are a specific family of viruses, some of which cause less-severe damage, such as the common cold, while others cause respiratory and intestinal diseases.
10. Ola Electric Unveils Indigenous Lithium-Ion Cell
Tags: Science and Technology
Electric vehicle company Ola Electric has unveiled its indigenously developed lithium-ion cell, the NMC 2170.
Important facts
The specialty of this cell of Ola is that it can store more energy than the ordinary lithium cell used in an e-vehicle.
Apart from this, its life cycle is also long, due to which it can be used for a long time.
Ola Electric claims that this new cell will help in increasing the range of electric vehicles.
Ola will start mass production of SAIL from its Gigafactory by 2023.
Ola is building the world's most advanced cell research centre that will enable us to rapidly expand and innovate and manufacture the most advanced and cost-effective EV products in the world.
The company said it is committed to invest in research and development to create indigenous advanced SAIL technologies, strengthen manufacturing capabilities and create an integrated Ola electric vehicle hub.
About Ola Electric
Ola Electric Mobility is an Indian electric two-wheeler manufacturer, based in Bangalore.
Its manufacturing plant is located in Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu, India.
Ola Electric launched its first electric vehicle in August 2021 and has set up the world's largest 2W manufacturing facility in India.
Founder & CEO - Bhavish Aggarwal
