General Awareness

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY - October 2016

Oct 2016

Oct 05, 2020

India and France to Launch a Constellation of Maritime Surveillance Satellites

India and France are to launch a constellation of maritime surveillance satellites to monitor illegal spillage of oil in the Indian Ocean Region.
In August 2020, the ISRO and the French Space Agency CNES agreed to develop and build a constellation of satellites. CNES is Centre National d'etudes spatiales, the National Centre for Space Studies. The satellites will carry optical-remote sensing instruments, telecommunication and radar instruments. This system is the first space-based system in the world that is capable of tracking ships continuously.
The monitoring centre is to be based in India. The satellites are to be operated jointly by both France and India. The system will also cover the entire world at the benefit of French Economic Interests.
The Indian Ocean Region has several Sea Lanes of Communication that are used by many ships every day. The main purpose of the surveillance satellites is to trace illegal oil spillage by ships. The CNES-ISRO are already operating a number of climate-monitoring satellites together. TRISHNA, a thermal infrared observer will also be a part of the constellation. Both TRISHNA and Oceansat-3 Argos Mission will augment the maritime surveillance constellation.
India and France are also working together on Gaganyaan. It is the first manned space mission of India. Also, France is also a part of ISRO's Venus Mission, Shukrayaan.

Oct 04, 2020

Intel Wins Second Phase of Contract to Help Pentagon Develop Chips

Intel Corp won a second-phase contract in a project aimed at helping the U.S. military make more advanced semiconductors within the United States.
Under the project, Intel will help the military develop prototypes of chips using its semiconductor packaging technology at factories in Arizona and Oregon. The packaging technology allows pieces of chips called "chiplets" from different providers to be combined into one package, helping cram more features into a smaller finished product while lowering its power consumption.
Intel`s work with the Defense Department comes as U.S. officials focus on boosting domestic semiconductor manufacturing in response to the rise of China as a strategic competitor. About 75% of the world`s chipmaking capacity is in Asia, with many of the most advanced plants in Taiwan and Korea, within the reach of the Chinese and North Korean militaries.
Intel is one of three companies in the world that can make highly advanced computer chips. The other two - Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd <2330.TW> and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd <005930.KS> - have packaging technology similar to Intel`s.

Oct 03, 2020

NASA Launches SS Kalpana Chawla Cargo Spacecraft

NASA launched a commercial spacecraft named after Indian Origin deceased NASA Astronaut "Kalpana Chawla". The spacecraft carried 4 tonnes of cargo including refined radishes for the International Space Station.
The spacecraft was built by a Virginia based company Northrop Grunman. It currently holds space station resupply contract with NASA. It is an aerospace and defence technology company. The company has named the space craft after Indian born astronaut Kalpana Chawla who died along with six other astronauts in 2003 Columbia Space Shuttle tragedy.
The spacecraft carried a new space toilet called the Universal Waste Management System. The 23 million USD commode is to be tested for future use in the International Space Station. It is 65% smaller and 40% lighter than the current toilet at the International Space Station. It also carried a radish-growing experiment to learn about survival and feasibility of growing plants in space.
The space craft has also carried cancer treatment technique requisites to test cancer drugs in micro gravity conditions.
Chawla was the first India-born woman to enter space. She also flew in 1997 as a primary robotic arm operator and also as a mission specialist. The Columbia spacecraft disintegrated during its return to earth that led to the death of the crew. The hot plasma entered the wing of the aircraft resulting in loss of control.
Chawla is regarded as the National Hero of India.
She was born in Haryana and moved to the US in 1982 to obtain a Master of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering.
The Government of Karnataka instituted Kalpana Chawla Award in 2004 to recognise young women scientists. An Eoan asteroid in the outer Asteroid belt of solar system has been named after Chawla.

Oct 02, 2020

Cabinet Committee Approves Indian Army Communication Network

The Cabinet Committee in Security approved ASCON (Army Static Switched Communication Network) Phase IV. ASCON is a high end communication system. It is to be implemented at an estimated cost of Rs. 7,796 crores. The project is to be implemented within 36 months.
The project will upgrade existing Asynchronous Transfer Mode Technology to Internet Protocol and Multi-Protocol Label Switching Technology. Microwave radio, Optical Fibre and Satellite are to be used as communication media. With this the speed of data will increase and so will the reach.
The project will provide high responsiveness, survivability and high bandwidth in any operational scenario. It will enhance communication coverage of networks closer to International border especially in Line of Actual Control and Line of Control. The network is to extend its bandwidth communication to remote operational areas in the Eastern and Central Sectors. It will also enhance communication in the western borders as well.
The project involves laying of cables, civil works, tower construction, etc.
The project has 80% of indigenous content. This is a great boost to the Indian industry. The project will help generate employment opportunities especially in the border areas and boost rural economy. It will assist in the upliftment of local economies.

Oct 01, 2020

China to Launch World's First Asteroid Mining Robot into Space in November 2020

A private company, Origin Space in Beijing (China) is set to send out the world's first asteroid mining robot into space in November 2020. The robot has been named 'asteroid mining robot' by the space start-up in China.
As per the report, the asteroid mining robot will be launched into space by a Chinese Long March series rocket. If the mission turns out to be a success, it may open a trillion-dollar industry.
While commenting on the development, the company added that being the first space-mining robot produced by a commercial company in the world, the mission will prove to be a milestone for the space resources industry.
Yu Tianhong, Origin Space Co-founder informed that the robot will not be engaging in any mining work but it will be testing the technologies. The goal will be to assess the asteroid mining robot's capabilities and to find out how well it can identify and extract the valuable resources vis-à-vis asteroid mining.

ISRO to Launch Venus Mission in 2025

The French Space Agency CNES announced that it is to participate in ISRO's Venus Mission, SHUKRAYAAN that is to be launched in 2025. The ISRO chairman and his French counter held talks to review the areas of cooperation between the countries.
VIRAL is Venus Infrared Atmospheric Gases Linker instrument that was co-developed with Russian Federal Space Agency Roscosmos and LATMOS atmospheres. After its Mars orbiter mission, Mangalyaan and moon mission Chandrayaan-1 and Chandrayaan-2, ISRO has now set its eyes on Venus.
France is one of the three countries with whom India collaborates in strategic sectors such as space, nuclear and defence. The two countries are US and Russia.
So far, 42 Venus missions have been sent to Venus from planet Earth. Japan's Akatsuki is currently flying around Venus.
In September 2020, a team of International Astronomers discovered the presence of phosphine gas in the atmosphere of Venus. The European space Agency Mission, Venus Express had earlier found signs of ozone in the upper atmosphere of Venus in 2011. These are considered as biomarkers, that is, possibility of presence of life forms in the planet.
The mission SHUKRAYAAN is to study atmospheric chemistry, compositional variations and dynamics of planet Venus. Earlier, the mission was scheduled to be launched in 2023.

Harsh Vardhan launches CSIR Technologies for Rural Development

The Union Minister of Science and Technology Dr. Harsh Vardhan launched CSIR Technologies for rural development. CSIR is Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.
It is a joint initiative of CSIR, IIT-Delhi, Unnat Bharat Abhiyan and Vijnana Bharti (VIBHA). The initiative was launched during the celebrations of 40th foundation day of CSIR-NISTADS. NISTADS is National Institute of Science, Technology and Development Studies.
The Minister launched the following technologies:
1) Improved Beehive quality and hygiene extraction of honey. It was developed by CSIR Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology
2) Manufacturing Ginger paste. It was developed by the Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore.
3) Dehumified drier for food and agri products and agricultural waste based biodegradable plates, cutleries and cups. The agricultural waste includes fruit peels, sugarcane bagasse, wheat bran. This was developed by National Institute for Inter disciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST), Thiruvanathapuram.

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