General Awareness

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY - December 2018

Dec 2018

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.

Sep 19, 2024

Scientists Discover New Blood Group, Solve 50-Year-Old Mystery

A new blood group system, known as MAL, was identified by a team of scientists from the University of Bristol and NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT). The blood group system has been elusive for over 50 years, which the researchers have reportedly finally cracked.
The research team, led by senior research scientist Louise Tilley, has developed a genetic test to identify patients missing the AnWj antigen. This innovation will enable better care for rare patients and facilitate finding compatible blood donors.

Union Cabinet Approves Venus Mission, Indian Space Station among 4 Key ISRO Projects

The Union Cabinet approved four big-ticket space projects, including the next mission to the moon, a mission to the planet Venus, follow-ups to the ongoing Gaganyaan mission and the setting up of an Indian Space Station. These approvals were in line with the Vision 2047 mapped by the space agency.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will aim for a March 2028 launch for the Venus mission — when Earth and Venus are at their closest. This will be India's second mission to a planet, after the Mars Orbiter Mission in 2014. The project has been approved for Rs. 1,236 crore. An orbiter going around the planet will study the surface of the planet, its dust and cloud, volcanism, atmosphere and ionosphere, as well as the interaction of the planet with the sun.
The Union Cabinet also approved the continuation of the Gaganyaan mission and the setting up of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) at the cost of Rs. 20,193 crore. The space agency has set a deadline of December 2029 for the completion of all launches and operations of the first module of BAS. The project will have eight missions, including four needed to build the space station. This will be in addition to the two uncrewed and one crewed mission that has already been approved for the first human spaceflight under the Gaganyaan mission.

Sep 17, 2024

SpaceX Crew Returns to Earth after Historic Mission

SpaceX's Polaris Dawn crew returned to Earth after five days in orbit, following a historic mission featuring the world's first commercial spacewalk.
The Dragon capsule made splashdown off the coast of Florida.
Re-entering earth's atmosphere, the spacecraft neared temperatures of 1,900C (3,500 degrees Fahrenheit), caused by the intense pressure and friction of pushing through the air at around 7,000mph (11,265kph).
The four-member civilian team, bankrolled and led by billionaire Jared Isaacman, travelled further into space than any humans for more than fifty years.
Scott Poteet, a retired US Air Force pilot, and SpaceX employees Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon were also on the crew.
Mr. Isaacman and Ms Gillis are the first non-professional crew to perform a spacewalk, a risky manoeuvre that involves depressurising the crew compartment and exiting the spacecraft.

Iran Launches Second Satellite This Year (2024)

Iran launched its Chamran-1 research satellite into orbit, its second successful satellite launch this year (2024).
The launch came as the United States and European countries accuse Iran of transferring ballistic missiles to Russia that would be likely used in its war with Ukraine within weeks. Iran has denied this.
The satellite, designed and built by Iranian Electronics Industries (SAIran), was put into a 550 km (340-mile) orbit.
In January 2024, Iran's Sorayya satellite was launched into a 750 km orbit, the highest by the country so far.

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