China Launches Two Satellites to Test Space Based Communication Technology
On 12th May 2020, China launches two satellites Xingyun-2 01 and 02 into the orbit by Kuaizhou-1A (KZ-1A) carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the northwest China, to test the space-based Internet of Things (IoT) communication technology.
The Satellite was developed by Xingyun Satellite Co. to conduct tests on technologies including space-based IoT communications, inter-satellite laser communications and a low-cost commercial satellite platform.
Kuaizhou(KZ-1A) is a low-cost, solid-fuel carrier rocket featuring high orbit precision and a short preparation period.
The Rocket is developed by an affiliated company of Sanjiang Group under the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) used to launch low-orbit small satellites.
May 10, 2020
Brown Dwarf Shows Jupiter Like Cloud Bands
The team of astronomers has discovered that Luhman 16A, the closest brown known dwarf, has been showing the signs of cloud bands. They are similar to those seen on Saturn and Jupiter.
The technique of polarimetry has been used for the first time by the scientists in order to determine the properties of atmospheric clouds that are outside of the exoclouds or solar system.
Brown dwarfs are those objects that are lighter than the stars but heavier than the planets. They typically have the 13 to 80 times the mass of the Jupiter.
May 09, 2020
China Launches Its Most Powerful Rocket Yet
China launched Long March-5B, its largest carrier rocket, into orbit May 5, 2020.
The successful launch comes after two failed launches this year.
China has big plans for the moon and Mars; they'll be launching a Mars lander and rover in July and a lunar mission later this year.
Scientists Found a Seasonal Advancement in 220 Surge-Type Glaciers
Scientists from Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG), Dehradun have found a seasonal advancement in 220 surge-type glaciers in the Karakoram Range of Ladakh through a detailed assessment of some major surging glaciers of the Karakoram range using satellite images and thermal data.
The scientist carried out a detailed assessment of some major surging glaciers of the Karakoram range using multi-temporal and multi-sensor satellite images including Landsat 8 OLI, ASTER and Sentinel-2, Digital Elevation Models (DEM) and thermal data.
May 08, 2020
JNCASR Scientists Fabricate Energy-Efficient Photodetector for Security Application
Scientists from Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology, have fabricated an economical and energy-efficient wafer-scale photodetector (thin slice-based) using gold – silicon interface, for security applications.It could help detect weak scattered light as an indication of unwanted activity.
Photodetectors are the heart of any optoelectronic circuit that can detect light and are employed for a wide variety of applications ranging from controlling automatic lighting in supermarkets to detecting radiation from outer galaxy as well as security-related applications.
However, the material cost and the intricate fabrication processes involved in realizing high-performance detectors make them unaffordable for day to day applications.
May 05, 2020
Russia to Launch First Satellite to Monitor Arctic Climate
Russia will be launching its first Arktika-M satellite to monitor the Arctic climate and environment later this year. The information was shared by Vladimir Kolmykov, the General Director of the Lavochkin aerospace company.
The first Arktika-M spacecraft has been developed and is currently undergoing radio-electronic testing. The satellite is planned for launch towards the end of 2020. The second Arktika-M satellite is also under development and its launch is scheduled for 2023.