General Awareness

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY - December 2014

Dec 2014

Jan 08, 2024

NASA Sends Five Payloads to the Moon on Astrobotic's Peregrine Lander

The first American spacecraft to attempt to land on the Moon in more than half a century was successfully launched.
United Launch Alliance's Vulcan Centaur, lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida for its maiden voyage, carrying Astrobotic's Peregrine Lunar Lander.
The Peregrine lander is targeted to land February 23 at Sinus Viscositatis, a lunar feature outside of the hardened lava Gruithuisen Domes on the near side of the Moon. Similar natural structures on Earth require large volumes of water to form, leading scientists to believe that this landing site may contain evidence of water on the Moon.

Jan 07, 2024

Cabinet Approves MoU between ISRO, MRIC on Joint Small Satellite

The Union Cabinet approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council (MRIC) concerning cooperation on the development of a joint small satellite.
The MoU will help to establish a framework for cooperation between ISRO and MRIC on the development of a joint satellite as well as for cooperation on the use of the MRIC's Ground Station.

Jan 06, 2024

India's First Solar Observatory Aditya L1 Reaches Its Destination Halo Orbit

India's first solar observatory Aditya-L1 achieved a major milestone as it reached the Halo Orbit's L1 point, a unique spot in space outside the orbit of the Moon to give a clear view of the Sun throughout the year. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the achievement.
Objects positioned at L1 remain in a stable configuration relative to the Earth and the Sun, making it an advantageous location for certain types of satellites, like those used for solar observations or monitoring space weather. However, maintaining a satellite at L1 requires constant adjustments due to gravitational perturbations from other celestial bodies.

ISRO Tests Fuel Cell on PSLV-C58's POEM3 Platform Successfully

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) achieved a significant milestone by successfully testing a 100 W class Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell based Power System (FCPS) in its orbital platform, POEM3. This remarkable feat took place aboard the PSLV-C58 mission, marking a crucial step in the assessment of fuel cell technology for future space missions.
The primary objective of the experiment was to evaluate the operation of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel cells in the challenging environment of space. Additionally, the mission aimed to gather valuable data to inform the design of power systems for upcoming space endeavours.

Jan 04, 2024

ISRO to Tie-up with Elon Musk's SpaceX to Launch Satellite

ISRO's (Indian Space Research Oragnisation) commercial arm NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) announced that it will use Elon Musk-led SpaceX's Falcon-9 for one of its mission launches later this year (2024).
The mission to launch GSAT-20, is slated for a launch in second quarter of 2024. This mission will be the first time ISRO will be using a SpaceX rocket to launch one of its satellites.

Jan 01, 2024

China's Groundbreaking Voyage: Mengxiang Sets Sail for Earth's Mantle Exploration

China introduced its groundbreaking ocean drilling vessel, Mengxiang, signifying a pivotal moment in scientific exploration. Developed by the China Geological Survey in collaboration with 150 research institutes and companies, the vessel is named "dream" in Chinese, reflecting its ambitious mission. The Mengxiang aims to penetrate Earth's crust and delve into the mysteries of the mantle, marking humanity's inaugural foray into this uncharted territory.
Mengxiang is a colossal ship with exceptional capabilities. It boasts a range of 15,000 nautical miles and can operate for 120 days per port call. Engineered to withstand powerful tropical cyclones, it stands as a testament to advancements in deep-sea drilling technology. The vessel's drilling prowess is unmatched, with the capacity to reach depths of 11,000 metres below the sea's surface.
Traditionally confined to the Earth's crust, scientific exploration now eyes the mantle, a crucial layer connecting the surface to the core. The Mengxiang seeks to breach the Mohorovicic discontinuity, or Moho, the final frontier for human exploration into the mantle. While American scientists have pursued this goal since the 1960s, Mengxiang's cutting-edge technology represents a new chapter in the quest for understanding Earth's structure.

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