General Awareness

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY - March 2017

Mar 2017

Sep 30, 2024

Earth's New Mini Moon: Asteroid 2024 PT5 Orbits for Two Months

Earth welcomed a temporary 'mini-moon' in the form of a small asteroid named 2024 PT5, which is orbiting our planet from September 29 to November 25, 2024. Discovered by NASA's Asteroid Terrestrial-Impact Last Alert System (Atlas) in August 2024, this asteroid measures approximately 33 feet wide and originates from the Arjuna asteroid belt, a region filled with various space rocks.
Asteroids like 2024 PT5 are not uncommon; similar mini-moons have been observed in the past. For instance, the asteroid 2022 NX1 has orbited Earth multiple times, with its next expected return in 2055. After 2024 PT5 exits Earth's orbit, it will remain in proximity until its closest approach on January 9, 2025. Researchers believe it will again return to Earth's orbit in approximately 30 years.

Sep 29, 2024

Tech Mahindra and University of Auckland Partner for AI and Quantum Research (29)

Tech Mahindra signed an MoU with the University of Auckland (UoA) to promote innovation in AI, machine learning (ML), and quantum computing. The collaboration will target sectors like healthcare, banking, financial services, insurance, and government, enhancing industry-academic partnerships to boost graduate employability. Focus areas include spiking neural networks, 1-bit large language models (LLMs), and post-quantum cryptography, particularly in healthcare applications such as drug discovery and personalized digital biomarkers.
AI and ML technologies, including spiking neural networks, 1-bit LLMs, and quantum security, will be central to the collaboration, aiming for innovations in drug discovery and personalized healthcare globally.
The partnership will drive joint research between Tech Mahindra and UoA, integrating academic insights with industry use cases for global markets. Generative AI will be introduced to Indigenous communities, and internships will offer hands-on experience in emerging technologies.

Sep 25, 2024

Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Poised to Make History as Pilot of Axiom-4 Mission to the ISS

In a monumental step for India's space program, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force (IAF) will pilot the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2025.
The Ax-4 mission is the result of a bilateral agreement between India and the US. Over a year ago, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official visit to the US.
It was announced that an Indian astronaut would travel to the ISS.
Following this, ISRO signed a space flight agreement with Axiom Space, an American provider of human spaceflight services.

Sep 24, 2024

Russian Cosmonauts Break Record for Longest ISS Flight

Russian cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub set a new record for the longest single mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), surpassing the previous record held by cosmonauts Sergei Prokopyev, Dmitry Petelin, and NASA astronaut Francisco Rubio, who spent 370 days onboard from September 2022 to September 2023. Kononenko and Chub arrived at the ISS on September 15, 2023, via the Soyuz MS-24 spacecraft and returned to Earth on the Soyuz MS-25 on September 23, 2024, totaling 374 days in space.
The previous record of 370 days, 21 hours, 22 minutes, and 16 seconds was set by Prokopyev, Petelin, and Rubio.

Sep 23, 2024

ISRO, IN-SPACe, and NSIL Achieve Milestone

ISRO, IN-SPACe, and NSIL reached a significant milestone by signing 75 Technology Transfer Agreements (TTAs) with non-governmental entities (NGEs). The latest batch of five TTAs was signed In September, pushing the total count to 75. Five TTAs were signed at IN-SPACe, Bengaluru, with Anabond Ltd., Salvo Industries Pvt. Ltd., Micropack Pvt. Ltd., and Astra Microwave Products Ltd. These TTAs reflect India's efforts to boost private participation in space technology, expanding the scope for commercial applications and the overall growth of the space industry.
The TTAs aim to empower private entities by granting access to ISRO's developed technologies. This enables these entities to leverage space technology for commercial applications in sectors such as agriculture, energy, infrastructure, defence, telecommunications, and cybersecurity.
Established in June 2020, IN-SPACe acts as a single-window, independent nodal agency under the Department of Space (DOS). Its role includes promoting, enabling, authorising, and supervising various space activities of NGEs, including satellite and launch vehicle development, providing space-based services, and sharing ISRO's infrastructure.
IN-SPACe operates through three Directorates: the Promotion Directorate (PD), Technical Directorate (TD), Program Management and Authorization Directorate (PMAD), alongside the Administration, Finance & Legal Wing. This structured approach facilitates the effective engagement of NGEs in India's growing space sector.

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