MOM successful
India has created a history on 24th September by successfully inserting Mangalyaan into the Mars orbit. This achievement on its first attempt and at a cost less than what it takes to make a Hollywood movie brought accolades to the Indian Space Research Organisation.
The country’s space agency successfully completed the Mars Orbit Insertion (MOI) manoeuvre and with this, it joins the elite set of the US, Europe and Russia in successfully sending probes to orbit or land on Mars.
India becomes the first Asian country to go to the Red Planet, beating even China. The first sign of success on the very last leg came when ISRO announced that at the end of four hours, the burning of engines on India’s Mars orbiter had been confirmed.
For the next six months, the MOM will move in an elliptical path around the planet studying the Mars surface and scanning its atmosphere for methane. It will not land on Mars.
The spacecraft, launched on November 5, 2013 through a PSLV-XL rocket from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, has travelled 666 million km (414 million miles) since.
The Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is 100 per cent designed and developed in India.
Private partnerships
At least six ISRO labs collaborated with many private sector companies in the country to design and develop scientific equipment to deliver this sterling performance.
ISRO’s satellite, which has five scientific payloads, has travelled nearly 214 million km calculated under radio distance. Measured in heliocentric (solar) path, MOM has travelled nearly 660 million km. in transmission of satellite date to the earth ISRO took help of the US, Spain and Australia
Only Rs 450 crore spent
The cost of the Mars Orbiter Mission is put at Rs 450 crore, which is one-fifth of the money spent by the US and European space agencies.
European, American and Russian probes have managed to orbit or land on the planet, but after several attempts. The first Chinese mission to Mars, called Yinghuo-1, failed in 2011. Earlier in 1998, the Japanese mission ran out of fuel and was lost.
Important points
India has created a history on 24th September by successfully inserting Mangalyaan into the Mars orbit. This achievement on its first attempt and at a cost less than what it takes to make a Hollywood movie brought accolades to the Indian Space Research Organisation.
The country’s space agency successfully completed the Mars Orbit Insertion (MOI) manoeuvre and with this, it joins the elite set of the US, Europe and Russia in successfully sending probes to orbit or land on Mars.
India becomes the first Asian country to go to the Red Planet, beating even China. The first sign of success on the very last leg came when ISRO announced that at the end of four hours, the burning of engines on India’s Mars orbiter had been confirmed.
For the next six months, the MOM will move in an elliptical path around the planet studying the Mars surface and scanning its atmosphere for methane. It will not land on Mars.
The spacecraft, launched on November 5, 2013 through a PSLV-XL rocket from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, has travelled 666 million km (414 million miles) since.
The Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is 100 per cent designed and developed in India.
Private partnerships
At least six ISRO labs collaborated with many private sector companies in the country to design and develop scientific equipment to deliver this sterling performance.
ISRO’s satellite, which has five scientific payloads, has travelled nearly 214 million km calculated under radio distance. Measured in heliocentric (solar) path, MOM has travelled nearly 660 million km. in transmission of satellite date to the earth ISRO took help of the US, Spain and Australia
Only Rs 450 crore spent
The cost of the Mars Orbiter Mission is put at Rs 450 crore, which is one-fifth of the money spent by the US and European space agencies.
European, American and Russian probes have managed to orbit or land on the planet, but after several attempts. The first Chinese mission to Mars, called Yinghuo-1, failed in 2011. Earlier in 1998, the Japanese mission ran out of fuel and was lost.
Important points
After a journey of over 660 million kilometres that took 10
months, India’s Mars Orbiter Mission has swept with effortless ease into orbit
around the Red Planet
Till now only the United States, the former Soviet Union and
the European Space Agency have succeeded in doing so.
The Indian probe joins four spacecraft already circling Mars,
including America’s MAVEN (acronym for Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution)
that went into orbit just two days earlier, as well as two U.S. rovers
exploring the planet’s surface. The Indian and U.S. space agencies are holding
discussions on possible scientific collaboration.
India has created global history by becoming the first Asian
nation to reach the Mars orbit in a space mission.
On September 22, a mission by NASA called the Mars Atmosphere
and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN), made at a cost of over $670 million, reached
Mars. This Indian marathon took 300 days to cover a distance of over 670
million kilometres — a sprint really in a record time of 10 months.
The first official hint that India was undertaking a mission
to Mars came in the budget speech of 2012. Subsequently, the then Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh formally declared in his Independence Day speech that
year that an Indian mission was heading to Mars.
The mission itself was launched on November 5, 2013
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his last visit to ISRO, when
he witnessed the launch of a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, said India’s Mars
orbiter is a “great achievement” since it costs less than the making of the
Hollywood blockbuster movie “Gravity” which had a tag of $100 million.
A few critics said why India should be sending a robotic
mission to Mars when there is so much poverty, malnutrition, death, disaster
and diseases among its 1.2 billon population, but analysis saiys that the cost
of the Mars Orbiter mission of Rs.450 crore, for Indians it works out to be
about Rs.4 per person.
India’s Mars Orbiter mission has paved the way for cheaper
and faster inter-planetary probes. During his upcoming U.S. visit, Mr. Modi and
U.S. President Barack Obama are likely to sign a new agreement for the making
of the joint Indo-U.S. Radar Satellite Mission. China and India recently signed
an agreement on “peaceful uses of outer space.” So, many are now wanting to
partner in ISRO’s success.
The mission, within minutes of reaching Mars, has already
taken its first images of the Martian surface. The Mars colour camera, which is
essentially an Indian eye to track Mars, will bring back the first tangible
truths to Indian taxpayers that their money has been well spent.
If the 20th century witnessed a “space race” between the U.S.
and the USSR, the 21st century is seeing an Asian space race. In most aspects
of space technology, China is way ahead of India. It has larger rockets, bigger
satellites and several rocket ports. It even launched its first astronaut in
space way back in 2003 and has a space laboratory in the making.
In 2008, when India undertook its first mission to moon
Chandrayaan-1, China raced ahead and orbited its Chang’e-1 satellite ahead of
India. But in this Martian marathon, India has reached the finish line ahead of
China. This now puts India in the pole position as far as Asian Martian
exploration goes.
In 2012, the first Chinese probe to Mars Yinghuo-1 failed. It
was riding atop a Russian satellite called Phobos-Grunt. But the Chinese probe
failed to even leave earth.
Earlier in 1998, a Japanese probe to Mars ran out of fuel.
HAL-ISRO to set up cryogenic engine facility
The HAL-ISRO partnership will further get strengthened in the years to come. An Integrated Cryogenic Engine Manufacturing Facility (ICMF) will be set-up at HAL’s Aerospace Division here and the division will manufacture cryogenic/semi cryogenic engines for ISRO, said Dr R.K. Tyagi, Chairman, HAL.
At present discussions with ISRO are already on for Assembly Integration and Testing of IRNSS satellites and for productionisation of propulsion sub-system for spacecraft and launch vehicle projects.
Work packages for the Chandrayan-2 and Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) projects are also on the anvil. HAL has partnered and supported ISRO throughout its journey by providing hardware for satellites, SLV, ASLV, PSLV, GSLVMKII and GSLV MKIII (LVM3).
The HAL-ISRO partnership will further get strengthened in the years to come. An Integrated Cryogenic Engine Manufacturing Facility (ICMF) will be set-up at HAL’s Aerospace Division here and the division will manufacture cryogenic/semi cryogenic engines for ISRO, said Dr R.K. Tyagi, Chairman, HAL.
At present discussions with ISRO are already on for Assembly Integration and Testing of IRNSS satellites and for productionisation of propulsion sub-system for spacecraft and launch vehicle projects.
Work packages for the Chandrayan-2 and Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) projects are also on the anvil. HAL has partnered and supported ISRO throughout its journey by providing hardware for satellites, SLV, ASLV, PSLV, GSLVMKII and GSLV MKIII (LVM3).
Electric car sets world speed record
An ultra-light electric car built by students at a US university has set a new land speed record in its class, besting the previous mark by nearly 80kmph. Electric Blue, an E1 streamliner designed and modified by more than 130 Brigham Young University (BYU) students over the past 10 years, averaged 330kmph on two qualifying runs this month. The new mark obliterates the previous record, 250kmph, which was set by the same BYU car in 2011. The car notched the record this month in front of approximately 180 teams and their cars at the Bonneville Salt Flats in northwestern Utah.
Jim Burkdoll, president of the Utah Salt Flats Racing Association, drove the car to set the record, which was certified by the Southern California Timing Association. Electric Blue is called a streamliner because it has a long, slender shape and enclosed wheels that reduce air resistance.
An ultra-light electric car built by students at a US university has set a new land speed record in its class, besting the previous mark by nearly 80kmph. Electric Blue, an E1 streamliner designed and modified by more than 130 Brigham Young University (BYU) students over the past 10 years, averaged 330kmph on two qualifying runs this month. The new mark obliterates the previous record, 250kmph, which was set by the same BYU car in 2011. The car notched the record this month in front of approximately 180 teams and their cars at the Bonneville Salt Flats in northwestern Utah.
Jim Burkdoll, president of the Utah Salt Flats Racing Association, drove the car to set the record, which was certified by the Southern California Timing Association. Electric Blue is called a streamliner because it has a long, slender shape and enclosed wheels that reduce air resistance.
Biggest climate gathering since Copenhagen
The largest gathering of world leaders on climate change opened at the United Nations on 23rd September amid calls for action to put the planet on course toward reversing global warming. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is hosting the summit of 120 leaders, the first high-level gathering since the Copenhagen conference on climate change ended in disarray in 2009. Diplomats and climate activists see the event as crucial to building momentum ahead of the Paris conference in late 2015 that is to yield a deal on reducing greenhouse gas emissions after 2020.
UN Climate Change Summit 2014 was held at UN headquarters to put the planet on course towards reversing global warming.
The purpose of the 2014 Climate Summit was to raise political momentum for a meaningful universal climate agreement in Paris in 2015. Moreover, it aimed to galvanize transformative action in all countries to reduce emissions and build resilience to the adverse impacts of climate change.
It is the largest gathering of world leaders on climate change after the Copenhagen conference on climate change that ended in disarray in 2009. However, absence of leaders of China and India puts the cloud over the event.
Contributions announced
The largest gathering of world leaders on climate change opened at the United Nations on 23rd September amid calls for action to put the planet on course toward reversing global warming. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is hosting the summit of 120 leaders, the first high-level gathering since the Copenhagen conference on climate change ended in disarray in 2009. Diplomats and climate activists see the event as crucial to building momentum ahead of the Paris conference in late 2015 that is to yield a deal on reducing greenhouse gas emissions after 2020.
UN Climate Change Summit 2014 was held at UN headquarters to put the planet on course towards reversing global warming.
The purpose of the 2014 Climate Summit was to raise political momentum for a meaningful universal climate agreement in Paris in 2015. Moreover, it aimed to galvanize transformative action in all countries to reduce emissions and build resilience to the adverse impacts of climate change.
It is the largest gathering of world leaders on climate change after the Copenhagen conference on climate change that ended in disarray in 2009. However, absence of leaders of China and India puts the cloud over the event.
Contributions announced
Leaders announced to mobilise over 200 billion US dollars for
financing low-carbon and climate-resilient development.
Countries strongly reaffirmed their support for mobilizing
public and private finance to meet the 100 billion US dollar goal per annum by
2020.
Leaders expressed strong support for the Green Climate Fund
and many called for the Fund’s initial capitalization at an amount no less than
10 billion US dollars. Six others committed to allocate contributions by
November 2014.
The European Union committed 3 billion US dollars for
mitigation efforts in developing countries between 2014 and 2020.
The International Development Finance Club (IDFC) announced
that it is on track to increase direct green/climate financing to 100 billion
US dollars a year for new climate finance activities by the end of 2015.
Leading commercial banks announced their plans to issue 30
billion US dollars of Green Bonds by 2015, and announced their intention to
increase the amount placed in climate-smart development to 10 times of the
current amount by 2020.
A coalition of institutional investors committed to
decarburizing 100 billion US dollars by December 2015.
The insurance industry committed to double its green
investments to 84 billion US dollars by the end of 2015.
Three major pension funds from North America and Europe
announced plans to accelerate their investments in low-carbon investments
across asset classes up to more than 31 billion US dollars by 2020.
ESA unveils spot for historic comet landing
A European spacecraft flying alongside a comet in deep space finally has a place to land after a 10-year journey through the solar system. The European Space Agency on 15th September unveiled the target landing site on Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko for the Philae lander riding aboard the agency's Rosetta mission. Mission controllers picked a drop zone called "Site J" as the primary target from five potential landing sites shortlisted in late August. If all goes well, the lander will touch down on the comet on Nov. 11. ESA launched the Rosetta spacecraft and Philae into space in 2004. The probes traveled for 10 years, crossing 4 billion miles (6 billion km) of deep space before finally reaching their comet target.
A European spacecraft flying alongside a comet in deep space finally has a place to land after a 10-year journey through the solar system. The European Space Agency on 15th September unveiled the target landing site on Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko for the Philae lander riding aboard the agency's Rosetta mission. Mission controllers picked a drop zone called "Site J" as the primary target from five potential landing sites shortlisted in late August. If all goes well, the lander will touch down on the comet on Nov. 11. ESA launched the Rosetta spacecraft and Philae into space in 2004. The probes traveled for 10 years, crossing 4 billion miles (6 billion km) of deep space before finally reaching their comet target.
Sea ice levels rise in Antarctic, falls in Arctic
The extent of sea ice in Antarctica is set to reach a record high, scientists said on 16th September, as they announced that Arctic sea ice appeared to have shrunk to its sixth lowest level ever. The National Ice and Snow Data Centre (NSIDC) said satellite data was expected to shortly confirm this. “Antarctic sea ice is poised to set a record maximum this year, now at 19.7 million sq km (7.6m sq m) and continuing to increase,” the centre said.
Figures released by the NSIDC in Boulder, Colorado, show that the so-called Arctic sea ice minimum — the point where the extent of sea ice there is at its lowest after the summer — is expected to be confirmed imminently.
At 5.09 m sq km, the extent of Arctic sea ice this year would be the sixth lowest on record, slightly worse than last year, though not as extreme as the record set in 2012 when it plunged to less than 3.5 million square kilometers.
The extent of sea ice in Antarctica is set to reach a record high, scientists said on 16th September, as they announced that Arctic sea ice appeared to have shrunk to its sixth lowest level ever. The National Ice and Snow Data Centre (NSIDC) said satellite data was expected to shortly confirm this. “Antarctic sea ice is poised to set a record maximum this year, now at 19.7 million sq km (7.6m sq m) and continuing to increase,” the centre said.
Figures released by the NSIDC in Boulder, Colorado, show that the so-called Arctic sea ice minimum — the point where the extent of sea ice there is at its lowest after the summer — is expected to be confirmed imminently.
At 5.09 m sq km, the extent of Arctic sea ice this year would be the sixth lowest on record, slightly worse than last year, though not as extreme as the record set in 2012 when it plunged to less than 3.5 million square kilometers.
2014 August recorded high temperature
2014, August was hottest, on record for global average temperatures over land and ocean surfaces, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said on 18th September. If the trend continues, 2014 could set records for planet-wide heat, raising fresh alarm at the pace of global warming and the burning of fossil fuels.
The month’s temperature was 1.35 degrees Fahrenheit above the 20th century average, the agency said in its monthly climate report. The period between January and August was also the third warmest on record
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a scientific agency within the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere. NOAA warns of dangerous weather, charts seas and skies, guides the use and protection of ocean and coastal resources, and conducts research to improve understanding and stewardship of the environment. In addition to its civilian employees, 12,000 as of 2012, NOAA research and operations are supported by 300 uniformed service members who make up the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps. The current Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere at the Department of Commerce and the agency's administrator is Kathryn D. Sullivan, who was nominated February 28, 2013, and confirmed March 6, 201
2014, August was hottest, on record for global average temperatures over land and ocean surfaces, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said on 18th September. If the trend continues, 2014 could set records for planet-wide heat, raising fresh alarm at the pace of global warming and the burning of fossil fuels.
The month’s temperature was 1.35 degrees Fahrenheit above the 20th century average, the agency said in its monthly climate report. The period between January and August was also the third warmest on record
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a scientific agency within the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere. NOAA warns of dangerous weather, charts seas and skies, guides the use and protection of ocean and coastal resources, and conducts research to improve understanding and stewardship of the environment. In addition to its civilian employees, 12,000 as of 2012, NOAA research and operations are supported by 300 uniformed service members who make up the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps. The current Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere at the Department of Commerce and the agency's administrator is Kathryn D. Sullivan, who was nominated February 28, 2013, and confirmed March 6, 201
SpaceX Falcon rocket lifts off with communications satellite
A Space Exploration Technologies Falcon 9 rocket blasted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on 7th September to put a commercial communications satellite into orbit. The 224-foot (68-meter) tall rocket lifted off from its seaside launch pad at 1 a.m. EDT/0500 GMT, dashing through partly cloudy, night time skies as it headed toward space.
Tucked inside the rocket's nosecone was the second of two satellites owned by Hong Kong-based Asia Satellite Telecommunications Holdings Ltd, or AsiaSat.
The first satellite, AsiaSat 8, was successfully delivered into an orbit some 22,200 miles (35,700 km) above Earth on Aug. 5. Both satellites were built by Space Systems/Loral, a Palo Alto, Calif.-based subsidiary of Canada's MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates Ltd.
The latest launch was the 12th flight of a Falcon 9 rocket, which in addition to delivering satellites for commercial companies flies Dragon cargo ships to the International Space Station for NASA. SpaceX is competing to build a passenger version of Dragon to fly astronauts as well and is attempting to break into the lucrative military satellite launch business.
The satellite launched on Sunday is outfitted with 28 high-power C-band transponders for video distribution and broadband network services in China and Southeast Asia.
A Space Exploration Technologies Falcon 9 rocket blasted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on 7th September to put a commercial communications satellite into orbit. The 224-foot (68-meter) tall rocket lifted off from its seaside launch pad at 1 a.m. EDT/0500 GMT, dashing through partly cloudy, night time skies as it headed toward space.
Tucked inside the rocket's nosecone was the second of two satellites owned by Hong Kong-based Asia Satellite Telecommunications Holdings Ltd, or AsiaSat.
The first satellite, AsiaSat 8, was successfully delivered into an orbit some 22,200 miles (35,700 km) above Earth on Aug. 5. Both satellites were built by Space Systems/Loral, a Palo Alto, Calif.-based subsidiary of Canada's MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates Ltd.
The latest launch was the 12th flight of a Falcon 9 rocket, which in addition to delivering satellites for commercial companies flies Dragon cargo ships to the International Space Station for NASA. SpaceX is competing to build a passenger version of Dragon to fly astronauts as well and is attempting to break into the lucrative military satellite launch business.
The satellite launched on Sunday is outfitted with 28 high-power C-band transponders for video distribution and broadband network services in China and Southeast Asia.
Robots to protect ISS from deadly space junk
Researchers have flight-tested new sharp-eyed mini robots that will protect the International Space Station (ISS) from potentially damaging space junk and help repair defunct satellites. The space laboratory regularly changes orbit to avoid colliding with derelict satellites, rocket stages and other objects whizzing around Earth at huge speeds.
These robots may fly out to assess the danger presented by the vast array of objects not already tracked by radar, ‘New Scientist’ reported.
Investigator Alvar Saenz-Otero and his colleagues at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have built several self-guided robots.
The robots are smaller than a soccer ball and designed to investigate potentially damaging objects from a safe distance with a 3D stereo camera. The images are relayed to the crew aboard the ISS, who can decide how to proceed.
Researchers have flight-tested new sharp-eyed mini robots that will protect the International Space Station (ISS) from potentially damaging space junk and help repair defunct satellites. The space laboratory regularly changes orbit to avoid colliding with derelict satellites, rocket stages and other objects whizzing around Earth at huge speeds.
These robots may fly out to assess the danger presented by the vast array of objects not already tracked by radar, ‘New Scientist’ reported.
Investigator Alvar Saenz-Otero and his colleagues at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have built several self-guided robots.
The robots are smaller than a soccer ball and designed to investigate potentially damaging objects from a safe distance with a 3D stereo camera. The images are relayed to the crew aboard the ISS, who can decide how to proceed.
Greenhouse gas levels hit new high, says UN
Surging levels of carbon dioxide sent greenhouse gases in the atmosphere to a new record in 2013, while oceans, which absorb the emissions, have become more acidic than ever, the UN said on 9th September. Concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane and nitrous oxide all broke fresh records in 2013, said the report.
Global concentrations of CO2, the main culprit in global warming, soared to 396 parts per million last year, or 142 percent of pre-industrial levels, defined as before 1750. That marked a hike of 2.9 parts per million between 2012 and 2013 alone, the largest annual increase in 30 years, according to the Greenhouse Gas Bulletin.
The report also showed that so-called radiative forcing, or the warming effect on our climate attributed to greenhouse gases like CO2, increased 34 percent from 1990 to 2013. A quarter of emissions are absorbed by the oceans, while another quarter are sucked into the biosphere, naturally limiting rates of warming gases in the atmosphere. But CO2 remains in the atmosphere for hundreds of years and in the oceans for even longer.
The gases stored in the oceans also have "far-reaching impacts," WMO warned, since more CO2 in the water leads to increased acidity, altering the ocean ecosystem. Every day, the world's oceans absorb some four kilos (8.8 pounds) of CO2 per person each day, WMO said, calling current ocean acidification levels "unprecedented at least over the last 300 million years."
Surging levels of carbon dioxide sent greenhouse gases in the atmosphere to a new record in 2013, while oceans, which absorb the emissions, have become more acidic than ever, the UN said on 9th September. Concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane and nitrous oxide all broke fresh records in 2013, said the report.
Global concentrations of CO2, the main culprit in global warming, soared to 396 parts per million last year, or 142 percent of pre-industrial levels, defined as before 1750. That marked a hike of 2.9 parts per million between 2012 and 2013 alone, the largest annual increase in 30 years, according to the Greenhouse Gas Bulletin.
The report also showed that so-called radiative forcing, or the warming effect on our climate attributed to greenhouse gases like CO2, increased 34 percent from 1990 to 2013. A quarter of emissions are absorbed by the oceans, while another quarter are sucked into the biosphere, naturally limiting rates of warming gases in the atmosphere. But CO2 remains in the atmosphere for hundreds of years and in the oceans for even longer.
The gases stored in the oceans also have "far-reaching impacts," WMO warned, since more CO2 in the water leads to increased acidity, altering the ocean ecosystem. Every day, the world's oceans absorb some four kilos (8.8 pounds) of CO2 per person each day, WMO said, calling current ocean acidification levels "unprecedented at least over the last 300 million years."
NASA laser probe to map Earth’s forests in 3D
NASA is developing a laser-based probe for the International Space Station that will study the Earth’s forests in 3D, helping to fill in missing information about their role in the carbon cycle.
Called the Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) lidar, the instrument will be the first to systematically probe the depths of the forests from space.
The system is one of two instrument proposals recently selected for NASA’s Earth Venture Instrument programme and is being led by the University of Maryland, College Park.
By revealing the 3-D architecture of forests in unprecedented detail, GEDI will provide crucial information about the impact that trees have on the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. Although it is well-established that trees absorb carbon and store it long-term, scientists have not quantified exactly how much carbon forests contain.
As a result, it’s not possible to determine how much carbon would be released if a forest were destroyed, nor how well emissions could be countered by planting new trees.
NASA is developing a laser-based probe for the International Space Station that will study the Earth’s forests in 3D, helping to fill in missing information about their role in the carbon cycle.
Called the Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) lidar, the instrument will be the first to systematically probe the depths of the forests from space.
The system is one of two instrument proposals recently selected for NASA’s Earth Venture Instrument programme and is being led by the University of Maryland, College Park.
By revealing the 3-D architecture of forests in unprecedented detail, GEDI will provide crucial information about the impact that trees have on the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. Although it is well-established that trees absorb carbon and store it long-term, scientists have not quantified exactly how much carbon forests contain.
As a result, it’s not possible to determine how much carbon would be released if a forest were destroyed, nor how well emissions could be countered by planting new trees.
SFC personnel test-fire Agni-I
Agni-I, a surface-to-surface, nuclear-weapons-capable ballistic missile, was test-fired for its 700-km strike range from the Wheeler Island, off the Odisha Coast, on 11th September. Strategic Forces Command (SFC) personnel launched the single-stage, short-range missile, powered by a solid propellant, from a rail mobile launcher as part of regular user training to consolidate operational readiness. The missile carrying a 1,100-kg payload zeroed in on the target with a high degree of accuracy.
Agni-I, a surface-to-surface, nuclear-weapons-capable ballistic missile, was test-fired for its 700-km strike range from the Wheeler Island, off the Odisha Coast, on 11th September. Strategic Forces Command (SFC) personnel launched the single-stage, short-range missile, powered by a solid propellant, from a rail mobile launcher as part of regular user training to consolidate operational readiness. The missile carrying a 1,100-kg payload zeroed in on the target with a high degree of accuracy.
Japan first to implant iPS stem cells
Japanese researchers on 12th September conducted the world's first surgery to implant "iPS" stem cells in a human body in a major boost to regenerative medicine
A female patient in her 70s with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a common medical condition that can lead to blindness in older people, had a sheet of retina cells that had been created from iPS cells implanted.
The research team used induced Pluripotent Stem (iPS) cells -- which have the potential to develop into any cell in the body -- that had originally come from the skin of the patient. Until the discovery of iPS several years ago, the only way to obtain stem cells was to harvest them from human embryos.
The surgery is still at an experimental stage, but if it is successful, doctors hope it will stop the deterioration in vision that comes with AMD.
AMD, a condition that is incurable at present, affects mostly middle-aged and older people and can lead to blindness. It afflicts around 700,000 people in Japan alone. The study was being carried out by researchers from government-backed research institution Riken and the Institute of Biomedical Research and Innovation Hospital.
Stem cell research is a pioneering field that has excited many in the scientific community with the potential they believe it offers. Stem cells are infant cells that can develop into any part of the body.
What are ipStem cells?
Induced pluripotent stem cells (also known as iPS cells or iPSCs) are a type of pluripotent stem cell that can be generated directly from adult cells. The iPSC technology was pioneered by Shinya Yamanaka’s lab in Kyoto, Japan, who showed in 2006 that the introduction of four specific transcription factors could convert adult cells into pluripotent stem cells. He was awarded the 2012 Nobel Prize along with Sir John Gurdon "for the discovery that mature cells can be reprogrammed to become pluripotent.
Japanese researchers on 12th September conducted the world's first surgery to implant "iPS" stem cells in a human body in a major boost to regenerative medicine
A female patient in her 70s with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a common medical condition that can lead to blindness in older people, had a sheet of retina cells that had been created from iPS cells implanted.
The research team used induced Pluripotent Stem (iPS) cells -- which have the potential to develop into any cell in the body -- that had originally come from the skin of the patient. Until the discovery of iPS several years ago, the only way to obtain stem cells was to harvest them from human embryos.
The surgery is still at an experimental stage, but if it is successful, doctors hope it will stop the deterioration in vision that comes with AMD.
AMD, a condition that is incurable at present, affects mostly middle-aged and older people and can lead to blindness. It afflicts around 700,000 people in Japan alone. The study was being carried out by researchers from government-backed research institution Riken and the Institute of Biomedical Research and Innovation Hospital.
Stem cell research is a pioneering field that has excited many in the scientific community with the potential they believe it offers. Stem cells are infant cells that can develop into any part of the body.
What are ipStem cells?
Induced pluripotent stem cells (also known as iPS cells or iPSCs) are a type of pluripotent stem cell that can be generated directly from adult cells. The iPSC technology was pioneered by Shinya Yamanaka’s lab in Kyoto, Japan, who showed in 2006 that the introduction of four specific transcription factors could convert adult cells into pluripotent stem cells. He was awarded the 2012 Nobel Prize along with Sir John Gurdon "for the discovery that mature cells can be reprogrammed to become pluripotent.
Gujarat to get Asia’s first Ballistic Research Centre
India is all set to achieve self-reliance in testing of armoured vehicles, as Asia's first Ballistic Research Centre will soon be functioning at Gujarat Forensic Science University (GFSU). Till now, the armoured vehicles from India are sent to countries like the UK, USA and France for testing.
The FSL in Gujarat was so far able to conduct testing of only bulletproof jackets, helmets and bulletproof plates, but with this new venture the entire armoured vehicle can be tested successfully.
The Ballistic Research Centre will conduct tests for armoured vehicles of the Indian Army and also provide services to private players who supply vehicles to the VIPs. The centre will also provide services to other countries. The tests include firing on armoured vehicles from different firearms, like a small pistol to AK 47 and Insas rifles. The centre will adopt a method in which manufacturers can witness their armoured vehicles being tested
India is all set to achieve self-reliance in testing of armoured vehicles, as Asia's first Ballistic Research Centre will soon be functioning at Gujarat Forensic Science University (GFSU). Till now, the armoured vehicles from India are sent to countries like the UK, USA and France for testing.
The FSL in Gujarat was so far able to conduct testing of only bulletproof jackets, helmets and bulletproof plates, but with this new venture the entire armoured vehicle can be tested successfully.
The Ballistic Research Centre will conduct tests for armoured vehicles of the Indian Army and also provide services to private players who supply vehicles to the VIPs. The centre will also provide services to other countries. The tests include firing on armoured vehicles from different firearms, like a small pistol to AK 47 and Insas rifles. The centre will adopt a method in which manufacturers can witness their armoured vehicles being tested
Govt sets up panel to review key environment laws
The Union Government has set up a high-level committee to draft the proposed amendments within two months.
The committee, to be headed by former Cabinet Secretary TSR Subramanain, will review the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, according to Environment Ministry office order dated August 29.
The other members of the committee are Viswanath Anand, former Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Justice (Retd.) AK Srivastav and KN Bhat former Additional Solicitor. Bishwanath Sinha, Joint Secretary, MoEF, Hardik Shah, Member Secretary, Gujarat State Pollution Control Board would serve as secretaries of the Committee.
The terms of reference of the committee include assessing the status of implementation of each of the aforesaid Acts vis-a-vis the objectives; examining and taking into account various court orders and judicial pronouncements relating to these Acts; recommending specific amendments needed in each of these Acts so as to bring them in line with current requirements to meet objectives and draft proposed amendments in each of the Acts to give effect to the proposed recommendations.
The Union Government has set up a high-level committee to draft the proposed amendments within two months.
The committee, to be headed by former Cabinet Secretary TSR Subramanain, will review the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, according to Environment Ministry office order dated August 29.
The other members of the committee are Viswanath Anand, former Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Justice (Retd.) AK Srivastav and KN Bhat former Additional Solicitor. Bishwanath Sinha, Joint Secretary, MoEF, Hardik Shah, Member Secretary, Gujarat State Pollution Control Board would serve as secretaries of the Committee.
The terms of reference of the committee include assessing the status of implementation of each of the aforesaid Acts vis-a-vis the objectives; examining and taking into account various court orders and judicial pronouncements relating to these Acts; recommending specific amendments needed in each of these Acts so as to bring them in line with current requirements to meet objectives and draft proposed amendments in each of the Acts to give effect to the proposed recommendations.
World's first super massive dinosaur discovered
The world's first super massive dinosaur — even larger than seven Tyrannosaurus Rex put together, has been discovered. With a 37-foot neck and weighing around 65 tonnes — the 85 feet high Dreadnoughtus schrani has now been confirmed as the largest dinosaur to ever walk the earth? It is the biggest land animal for which a body mass can be accurately calculated, says scientists.
Its skeleton is exceptionally complete, with over 70% of the bones, excluding the head, represented.
Because all previously discovered super-massive dinosaurs are known only from relatively fragmentary remains, Dreadnoughtus offers an unprecedented window into the anatomy and biomechanics of the largest animals to ever walk the Earth.
According to the scientists, the new dinosaur belongs to a group of large plant eaters known as titanosaurs. The fossil was unearthed over four field seasons from 2005 through 2009 by Lacovara and a team including Lucio M Ibiricu of the Centro Nacional Patagonico in Chubut, Argentina; the Carnegie Museum of Natural History's Matthew Lamanna and Jason Poole of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University.
Over 100 elements of the Dreadnoughtus skeleton were found from this site, including most of the vertebrae from the 30-foot-long tail, a neck vertebra with a diameter of over a yard, scapula, numerous ribs, toes, a claw, a small section of jaw and a single tooth, and, most notably for calculating the animal's mass, nearly all the bones from both forelimbs and hindlimbs including a femur over six feet tall and a humerus. A smaller individual with a less-complete skeleton was also unearthed at the site.
The world's first super massive dinosaur — even larger than seven Tyrannosaurus Rex put together, has been discovered. With a 37-foot neck and weighing around 65 tonnes — the 85 feet high Dreadnoughtus schrani has now been confirmed as the largest dinosaur to ever walk the earth? It is the biggest land animal for which a body mass can be accurately calculated, says scientists.
Its skeleton is exceptionally complete, with over 70% of the bones, excluding the head, represented.
Because all previously discovered super-massive dinosaurs are known only from relatively fragmentary remains, Dreadnoughtus offers an unprecedented window into the anatomy and biomechanics of the largest animals to ever walk the Earth.
According to the scientists, the new dinosaur belongs to a group of large plant eaters known as titanosaurs. The fossil was unearthed over four field seasons from 2005 through 2009 by Lacovara and a team including Lucio M Ibiricu of the Centro Nacional Patagonico in Chubut, Argentina; the Carnegie Museum of Natural History's Matthew Lamanna and Jason Poole of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University.
Over 100 elements of the Dreadnoughtus skeleton were found from this site, including most of the vertebrae from the 30-foot-long tail, a neck vertebra with a diameter of over a yard, scapula, numerous ribs, toes, a claw, a small section of jaw and a single tooth, and, most notably for calculating the animal's mass, nearly all the bones from both forelimbs and hindlimbs including a femur over six feet tall and a humerus. A smaller individual with a less-complete skeleton was also unearthed at the site.
Global programme sought to tackle climate change
Sir David King, the UK foreign secretary's special envoy on climate change, on 5th September urged for a global programme to tackle climate change. He said about a new Phenomena “Appollo programme” which is aimed to tackle climate change. King who is currently in India for meetings with the Indian government to invite membership for the Global Apollo Programme.
The Project aims at putting together a fund which will focus on R&D and deployment of new technologies which help produce clean energy on a massive scale. The goal is to reach a point during 2016-2025 where renewable energy becomes cheap enough over coal to provide base load for electricity grids in the entire world.
The new Global Apollo Programme………..
Involves the creation of a global alliance, which will require governments to pledge to spend an annual average of 0.02% of GDP on the Programme from 2016 to 2025 as an admission fee in order to gain membership.
The program aims at creating a surge in R&D for clean and renewable electricity production, electricity storage and smart grids. He said that since 1990 the world added one billion new members to the middle class and most of these are in the India, China, South Africa and Brazil and in urban areas.
Sir David King, the UK foreign secretary's special envoy on climate change, on 5th September urged for a global programme to tackle climate change. He said about a new Phenomena “Appollo programme” which is aimed to tackle climate change. King who is currently in India for meetings with the Indian government to invite membership for the Global Apollo Programme.
The Project aims at putting together a fund which will focus on R&D and deployment of new technologies which help produce clean energy on a massive scale. The goal is to reach a point during 2016-2025 where renewable energy becomes cheap enough over coal to provide base load for electricity grids in the entire world.
The new Global Apollo Programme………..
Involves the creation of a global alliance, which will require governments to pledge to spend an annual average of 0.02% of GDP on the Programme from 2016 to 2025 as an admission fee in order to gain membership.
The program aims at creating a surge in R&D for clean and renewable electricity production, electricity storage and smart grids. He said that since 1990 the world added one billion new members to the middle class and most of these are in the India, China, South Africa and Brazil and in urban areas.
Record in Rajasthan Atomic Power Station
India’s nuclear power programme on 6th September reached a new milestone after Unit 5 of the Rajasthan Atomic Power Station become the second longest running reactor in the world by being in operation for 765 days continuously.
The Unit 5 of the Rajasthan Atomic Power Station (RAPS), a 220 MW Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR), in Rawatbhata has been in uninterrupted operation since August 2, 2012 and it has been operating at full power with a capacity factor of 105 per cent.
It has since then generated around 4,258 million units of electricity.
The plant, commissioned in February 2010, has been running at the capacity of 98.5 per cent and until now generated 8,663 million units of electricity. The DAE Secretary said in 1970 they would often make 3-4 trips in a month to RAPS because of the grid failure.
The Unit 5 of RAPS would be shut for maintenance, a mandatory procedure which is to be followed. Unit 7 of Canada’s Pickering nuclear plant holds the world record of running the largest operating plant that ran continuously for 894 days.
India’s nuclear power programme on 6th September reached a new milestone after Unit 5 of the Rajasthan Atomic Power Station become the second longest running reactor in the world by being in operation for 765 days continuously.
The Unit 5 of the Rajasthan Atomic Power Station (RAPS), a 220 MW Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR), in Rawatbhata has been in uninterrupted operation since August 2, 2012 and it has been operating at full power with a capacity factor of 105 per cent.
It has since then generated around 4,258 million units of electricity.
The plant, commissioned in February 2010, has been running at the capacity of 98.5 per cent and until now generated 8,663 million units of electricity. The DAE Secretary said in 1970 they would often make 3-4 trips in a month to RAPS because of the grid failure.
The Unit 5 of RAPS would be shut for maintenance, a mandatory procedure which is to be followed. Unit 7 of Canada’s Pickering nuclear plant holds the world record of running the largest operating plant that ran continuously for 894 days.
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