1. ISRO launched three Singaporean satellites
Tags: Science and Technology
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on 30 June successfully launched three Singaporean satellites in a commercial mission of the New Space India Limited.
It was launched in precise orbit through the PSLV Orbital Experimental Module or ‘POEM’.
This was the second launch of the year by ISRO, which put the Indian earth observation satellite into orbit in February.
What are the three Singaporean satellites?
DS-EO, a Singaporean Earth Observation Satellite
NeuSAR, Singapore’s first small commercial satellite carrying a SAR (Search and Rescue) payload
SCOOB-I satellite from the Nanyang Technological University (NTU)
What is POEM?
It is a platform that will help perform in-orbit experiments using the final or discarded, stage of ISRO’s workhorse rocket, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).
The PSLV is a four-stage rocket where the first three stages fall back into the ocean, and the final stage (PS4) — after launching the satellite into orbit — ends up as space junk.
In PSLV-C53 mission, the final stage will be utilised as a “stabilised platform” to perform experiments.
POEM is carrying six payloads, including two from Indian space startup Digantara and Dhruv Space.
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
ISRO was set up on 15 August 1969
Chairman of ISRO: S Somnath
Headquarters of ISRO : Bengaluru, Karnataka
Space Station from where ISRO launches rockets
Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh
2. NASA launched its capstone spacecraft
Tags: Science and Technology
The US space agency NASA launched its capstone spacecraft from New Zealand's Mahia Peninsula.
This microwave oven-sized spacecraft is 25 kg.
The spacecraft will orbit the Moon for six months and test the stability of the orbit before using NASA's Lunar Gateway.
It has been launched from the electron booster rocket of the American company Rocket Lab.
The Lunar Gateway will be launched in 2024 and will serve as a staging area to land humans on the Moon for the first time in 50 years.
The Lunar Gateway will be a space station revolving around the Moon.
The capstone will orbit the moon in the shape of a halo. That is, it will not rotate completely round considering the moon as the centre.
It will orbit 1600 km closest to the moon and 70,000 km farthest. It will make one round of the moon in seven days.
About NASA -
NASA was formed under the National Aeronautics and Space Act on July 19, 1948, in place of its predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA).
NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Headquarters- Washington D.C.
Administrator - Bill Nelson
3. Russia to give Iskander-M missile system to Belarus
Tags: Science and Technology
Russia has announced the transfer of the "Iskander-M missile system" to Belarus.
Iskander-M missile system
This missile system can use ballistic or cruise missiles in its nuclear and conventional versions.
The Iskander-M missile system is codenamed as "SS-26 Stone" by NATO.
Russia uses the term Iskander-M to define the transporter-erector launch system as well as the short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) it fired.
The system can be used to fire ground-launched cruise missiles (GLCMs) such as the SSC-7 and SSC-8.
It was first successfully launched in 1996.
The Iskander-M missile has a range of 500 km.
It is capable of carrying a payload of up to 700 kg.
The Iskander system was incorporated by Russia in 2006.
It was developed in the late 1980s after the "Oka" SRBM (Short Range Ballistic Missile) or OTR-23 was banned in accordance with the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty.
About Belarus -
Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe.
Capital - Minsk
President- Alexander Lukashenko
Prime Minister- Roman Golovchenko
Currency- Belarusian ruble
4. Iran launches solid fueled rocket ‘Zuljanah’ into space
Tags: Science and Technology
Iran has launched a solid fuel rocket named 'Zuljana' into space.
It is a 25.5 metre tall rocket, capable of carrying a satellite of 220 kg.
This satellite carrier is designed to reach low Earth orbit.
This will help collect data in low-Earth orbit and encourage Iran's space industry.
The rocket uses solid fuel in the first two stages while in the third stage it uses liquid fuel.
Iranian experts first tested the Zuljana satellite carrier rocket in 2012, a powerful engine powered by solid fuel.
Zuljana is named after the horse of Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad.
About Iran
Iran is a country located in the southwest section of Jambudweep (Asia). It was known as Persia (Persia) till 1935.
Iran was declared an Islamic republic in 1979.
Iran's economy is mainly dependent on oil and natural gas exports.
Iran is the largest country in the world in terms of natural gas reserves.
Capital- Tehran
President - Ibrahim Raisi
Currency - Iranian Rial
5. VL-SRSAM: Successful Launch of Short Range Surface to Air Missile
Tags: Science and Technology
Recently Vertical Launched Short Range Surface to Air Missile (VL-SRSAM) was successfully flight tested from an Indian Naval Ship at Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Odisha.
The test was conducted jointly by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy.
About VL-SRSAM -
The VL-SRSAM has been jointly designed and developed by three units of the Defence Research and Development Organisation for deployment on warships of the Indian Navy.
The missile has the capability to neutralise various airborne threats at close range including sea-skimming targets.
Sea skimming is a technique used by many anti-ship missiles and some fighter or strike aircraft to evade radar and infrared detection.
The missile is designed to strike high-speed air targets at a range of 40 to 50 km and an altitude of about 15 km.
Its design is based on the Astra missile, which is an air-to-air missile beyond visual range.
Features
Cruciform Wings: They are four small wings arranged like a cross on four sides and provide a stable aerodynamic position to the projectile.
Thrust vectoring: It is the ability to change the direction of thrust, angular velocity and position of the missile with its engine.
Thrust is the force that moves the aircraft through the air.
Canistered System: It controls the environment inside, thus making it easier to transport and store, and to make the weapon durable.
6. Successful launch of Indian communication satellite GSAT-24 from French Guiana
Tags: Science and Technology
On 23 June, India launched its GSAT-24 satellite from Kourou in French Guiana in South America.
The GSAT-24 satellite was launched by the French company Arianespace on the Ariane 5 space launch vehicle.
This satellite is built by ISRO for NewSpace India Limited (NSIL).
GSAT-24 is a 24-KU band communication satellite. Its weight is 4180 kg.
This satellite will provide pan India coverage to meet the needs of DTH application.
Why was GSAT-24 launched on a French rocket?
The GSAT-24 satellite was launched on board the French rocket Ariane 5, as India currently does not have a space-launch rocket that can lift a satellite weighing more than 4 tonnes into geostationary orbit.
India's most powerful rocket GSLV MK3 is capable of lifting a maximum of 4 tonnes into geostationary orbit.
GSAT-24
GSAT-24 is a 24-Ku band communication satellite
The weight of this satellite is 4180 kg.
About NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) -
NSIL is a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) and the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
It was established on March 6, 2019.
It works under the administrative control of the Department of Space (DoS).
This organisation seeks to increase the participation of industries in the Indian space programmes.
7. IOC unveils indoor solar cook top Surya Nutan
Tags: Science and Technology
Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has unveiled its patented indigenous solar cook top, "Surya Nutan".
It is a patented product designed and developed by IndianOil's R&D Centre, Faridabad.
Surya Nutan will help drastically reduce India's CO2 emissions and protect our citizens from the uncertainty of high international fossil fuel prices.
The product was showcased at the residence of Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Puri.
About Surya Nutan -
Surya Nutan is an indoor solar cooking system installed at one location, rechargeable and always connected to the kitchen.
Surya Nutan operates in hybrid mode, which means it can run on both solar and auxiliary power sources simultaneously. The solar cook top's insulation design minimises radiative and conductive heat loss.
Surya Nutan's insulation design minimises radiation and conductive heat loss.
Surya Nutan is available in three different models: Surya Nutan's premium model (Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner) can cook a complete meal for a family of four.
Surya Nutan is a modular system and can be designed in different sizes as per the requirement.
The starting cost of the product is Rs 12,000 for the base model and Rs 23,000 for the top model. However, costs are expected to come down significantly with economies of scale.
Presently, pilot projects are being conducted at around 60 locations like Leh (Ladakh) to explore various operational and commercial aspects related to its application.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION -
About Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) -
Indian Oil Corporation Limited is the largest integrated oil refining and marketing public sector company of the Government of India.
Indian Oil has been accorded Maharatna status by the government.
Establishment- 1959
Headquarters- New Delhi, India
President- Shrikant Madhav Vaidya
8. Indian communication satellite launched by Arianespace
Tags: Science and Technology
Arianespace, two communication satellites belonging to India and Malaysia were placed in geostationary orbit on 22 June by the European Space Agency.
The two satellites cumulatively weighed over 10 thousand kilograms, flown by Ariane-5 rocket from the spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.
The Indian satellite, GSAT-24, has been developed by New Space India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of ISRO, for television service provider Tata Sky.
GSAT-24 is a 24-Ku band communication satellite weighing more than four thousand kilograms and caters to the needs of DTH applications across the country.
GSAT-24 will be the 25th Indian satellite to be orbited by Arianespace.
On September 28, 2021, NSIL handed over Arianespace with the launch of its GSAT-24 telecommunications satellite, the European Space Agency.
The other satellite MEASAT-3d is a multi-mission telecommunications satellite built by Airbus Defence and Space for MEASAT, a Malaysian satellite operator.
This new satellite will significantly increase broadband speeds of up to 100 Mbps in areas with limited or no terrestrial network or in rural Malaysia.
About Arianespace
It is the world’s first commercial launch service provider.
It is a French company founded in 1980.
It operates and markets the Ariane program.
The company offers several different launch vehicles such as the heavy-lift Ariane 5 for dual launch in geostationary transfer orbit, Soyuz-2 as a medium-lift option, etc.
9. China launches third most advanced domestically built aircraft carrier ‘Fujian’
Tags: Science and Technology
China recently launched the country's most advanced and first fully domestically built aircraft carrier named 'Fujian'.
The third aircraft carrier named after China's eastern coastal province of Fujian was commissioned.
China's first aircraft carrier Liaoning is a refined version of the Soviet-era ship, which was commissioned in 2012 and was followed by the launch of second aircraft carrier 'Shandong' in 2019 which was indigenously built.
China's new warship is said to be the first drone aircraft carrier.
The ship can carry 50 unmanned systems, including unmanned boats, drones and underwater vehicles.
Important facts
China officially the People's Republic of China is a country in East Asia.
It is the world's most populous country, with a population of more than 1.4 billion.
China spans five geographical time zones and borders 14 countries,
the second most of any country in the world after Russia.
China's capital is Beijing, and the financial centre is Shanghai.
China is the world's largest economy by GDP at purchasing power parity, the second-largest economy by nominal GDP, and the second-wealthiest country.
China is one of the fastest growing major economies and is the world's largest manufacturer and exporter.
China is the world's largest standing army by military personnel and second-largest defence budget.
President- Xi Jinping
10. U.S. to fund 3 Indian research institutions
Tags: Science and Technology National News
The United States of America has announced $122 million in funding to the top three Indian medical research institutes to help prevent preventable pandemics, early detection of disease threats, and prompt and effective response.
A total amount of US$ 122,475,000 will be disbursed to three top Indian health research institutes over a period of five years.
These three research institutes are Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune and National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE), Chennai.
The fund will accelerate progress towards India that protects against infectious disease threats by focusing on emerging pathogens.
The fund will help in detecting and controlling zoonotic disease outbreaks through a ‘one health’ approach, evaluate vaccine safety monitoring systems, capacitance of the public health workforce in epidemiology and outbreak response.
Starting from September 30, 2022, eligibility for funding is limited to ICMR, and ICMR institutions, which are the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, and the National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE), Chennai.
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
It is one of the oldest medical research bodies in the world headquartered in New Delhi for the coordination and promotion of biomedical research.
It works under the Department of Health Services (DHS), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
It was established in 1911 as Indian Research Fund Association (IRFA).
Later in 1949 its name was changed to ICMR.
National Institute of Virology (NIV)
It is one of the major institutes of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
It was established at Pune, Maharashtra in 1952.
It was established as Virus Research Center (VRC) under the aegis of ICMR and Rockefeller Foundation (RF), USA.
National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE)
It is a permanent premier institute of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) established on 2 July 1999.
It was established by merging the Central JALMA Institute for Leprosy (CJIL Field Unit), Avadi with the Institute for Research in Medical Statistics (IRMS), Chennai.
The objectives of the Institute are conducting epidemiological studies, development of human resources in epidemiology and bio-statistics etc.
