General Awareness

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY - August 2016

Aug 2016

Jan 11, 2023

Astronomers Find most Distant Stars in Our Galaxy

Astronomers discovered more than 200 distant variable stars known as RR Lyrae stars in the Milky Way's stellar halo. The most distant of these stars is more than a million light-years from Earth, almost half the distance to our neighbouring galaxy, Andromeda, which is about 2.5 million light-years away.
The characteristic pulsations and brightness of RR Lyrae stars make them excellent "standard candles" for measuring galactic distances. These new observations allowed the researchers to trace the outer limits of the Milky Way's halo.

Indian-American Replaces another Indian-American as NASA Chief Technologist

An Indian-American aerospace industry expert was appointed as NASA's new chief technologist to serve as principal advisor to Administrator Bill Nelson on technology policy and programmes at the space agency's headquarters.
A. C. Charania joined the space agency in his new role and replaced another Indian-American scientist Bhavya Lal, who served as acting chief technologist prior to the former's appointment.
Mr Charania will align NASA's agencywide technology investments with mission needs across six mission directorates and oversee technology collaboration with other federal agencies, the private sector, and external stakeholders.
Charania is an experienced leader in managing large, rapidly shifting technology portfolios.

Jan 10, 2023

NASA Satellite Falls from Sky off Alaska

After almost 40 years circling Earth, a retired NASA science satellite plunged harmlessly through the atmosphere off the coast of Alaska.
Last week NASA had said that it expected most of the 5,400-pound (2,450-kilogram) Earth Radiation Budget Satellite to burn up in the atmosphere, but that some pieces might survive.
Space shuttle Challenger carried the satellite into orbit and the first American woman in space set it free. The satellite measured ozone in the atmosphere and studied how Earth absorbed and radiated energy from the sun, before being retired in 2005, well beyond its expected working lifetime.

Jan 09, 2023

MoS for Culture Arjun Ram Meghwal Inaugurates Astro Tourism - A Sky Gazing Event

National Council of Science Museums in association with Nehru Memorial Museum and Library organised Astro Tourism - A Sky Gazing event at Delhi's India Gate. The event was inaugurated by Minister of State for Culture, Arjun Ram Meghwal.
Mr. Meghwal said that the programme will help in developing scientific temper among the people.
The Astro Tourism event included various activities like Astro talks by expert astronomers, an exhibition on astronomy, storytelling related to celestial objects, an experience of using the telescope to see the craters of the Moon, Astronomy activities, a photographic panel exhibition, and astro-photography.

Jan 08, 2023

ISRO to Launch Space Kidz India Satellite Made by 750 School Children

Space Kidz India, a Chennai-based space tech start-up is slated to launch their satellite made by 750 girls studying in government schools across the country aboard an Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launch vehicle later this month.
Last year, Space Kidz's payloads were onboard Skyroot Aerospace's Vikram-S launch vehicle, the first Indian private rocket to launch into space.
A targeted launch date of January 16 has been set for the satellite named AzaadiSAT, but it is subject to change due to various factors.
Space Kidz India selected 10 girl students from 75 government schools across the country for this mission. "The selected students are predominantly from class VIII to XII.

Jan 06, 2023

Start-up Digantara Launches Second Satellite to Monitor Space Weather

Digantara, a space tech start-up from Bengaluru, successfully launched its second satellite Pushan-Alpha onboard SpaceX's Transporter 6 mission.
This is the latest in the line of string of satellite launches that have taken place in the Indian space tech ecosystem. In 2022, Pixxel launched its Anand satellite from another SpaceX rocket, and Dhruva Space launched their Thybolt satellites from an ISRO launch vehicle.
Digantara's satellite, named after the Hindu solar deity, will serve as a space weather test bed in sun-syncronous orbit (SSO). The European Space Agency (ESA) defines SSO, as a polar orbit (passing from north to south) where satellites travel over polar regions and are synchronous with the Sun.

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