Date post: | 19-Jul-2015 |
Category: |
Education |
Upload: | gr8-dreamz |
View: | 111 times |
Download: | 0 times |
[SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY] November 28, 2014
Powered by www.gr8dreamz.com and www.praveenstech.blogspot.com Page 1
Science and technology
November
China has launched remote sensing satellite Yaogan-23 from Taiyuan
Satellite Launch Centre Yaogan-23 satellite will mainly be used for scientific
experiments, natural resource surveys, crop yield estimates and disaster
relief.
Yaogan Satellite series
In 2006, China launched the first satellite in the Yaogan series that is
Yaogan-1.
In future, China planned to launch about 70 remote sensing satellites to
detect the near-Earth space environment and predict extreme events.
China will also launch about 20 communication satellites to meet
communication demand in national security and public services.
Besides, China will launch about 30 navigation satellites to provide accurate
and reliable global positioning and navigation services.
Rosetta mission of European Space Agency (ESA) has landed its Philae
probe on the surface of Comet 67P/ Churyumov–Gerasimenko. Philae probe
landing on Comet 67P made a Space history, as for the first time probe has
landed on a comet.The 1 billion pound (1.58 billion US dollars) Rosetta
mission blasted off fromEurope‟s spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, in
March 2004, for a long journey involving loops around the Sun as it aimed
to get onto the same orbit as 67P.
India and United Kingdom (UK) have announced a “Newton-Bhabha Fund
programme” to scale up theirbilateral research & innovation relationship to
a greater level. This new initiative was announced during a meeting between
Union Minister for Scienceand Technology Dr. Harsh Vardhan and the UK
[SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY] November 28, 2014
Powered by www.gr8dreamz.com and www.praveenstech.blogspot.com Page 2
Minister for Universities, Science and Cities Greg Clark, who co-chaired the
4th UK-India Science and Innovation Council (SIC) held at new Delhi.
India and United Kingdom (UK) have announced a “Newton-Bhabha Fund
programme” to scale up theirbilateral research & innovation relationship to
a greater level. This new initiative was announced during a meeting between
Union Minister for Scienceand Technology Dr. Harsh Vardhan and the UK
Minister for Universities, Science and Cities Greg Clark, who co-chaired the
4th UK-India Science and Innovation Council (SIC) held at new Delhi.
Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed herbal
drug Lukosin, for treatment of leucoderma (white patches on skin). This
drug is developed from medicinal plants. The scientists of Defence Bio-
Energy Research (DIBER), Haldwani inUttarakhand,
ISRO to Launch GSLV MK III in December
On 30th October 2014, ISRO Chairman K Radhakrishnan announced that
the experimental mission of Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle
Mark III (GSLV-MK III) will take place in the first half of December.
Date of the launch is not yet fixed because of the three reasons:
Preparedness of the vehicle.
Certain analysis and reconfirmation is yet to be done for the new vehicle.
Weather: from October middle to first week of December the weather
conditions are not good because of the cyclonic storms are so frequent.
About Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (GSLV Mark-III)
ISRO has developed the geo-synchronous satellite launch vehicle (GSLV-
Mark I-III) with indigenous cryogenic engine
The main function of GSLV Mark-III is for Mid-Heavy Lift Launch System.
[SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY] November 28, 2014
Powered by www.gr8dreamz.com and www.praveenstech.blogspot.com Page 3
Objective: To launch heavy satellites weighing more than two tonnes into
geostationary orbit 36,000 km above Earth.
It will allow India to become less dependent on foreign rockets for heavy
lifting.
GSLV Mark-III comprises of three stage vehicle with a first stage consisting
of two identical large solid boosters strapped onto the second liquid stage.
The third stage is a cryogenic stage.
ISRO‟s flight development plans
First development flight (GSLV MK III D1) with an operational cryogenic
stage is planned in between 2016 to 2017.
Second development flight (GSLV Mk-III D2) is planned after one year of
GSLV Mk-III D1 flight in 2017 to 2018.
Successful flight development will help in India‟s manned mission to space.
The 630-tonne GSLV-MK III will carry a crew module of 3.65-tonne. ISRO
plans to send astronauts into space eventually.
SpaceX Dragon spacecraft returns safely
October 28, 2014 No comments
SpaceX‟s Dragon spacecraft has concluded its mission to the ISS
(InternationalSpace Station) and returned to Earth. The spacecraft was
launched in September in SpaceX‟s Falcon 9 launch vehicle. This was
Dragon‟s fifth visit to the ISS.
Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, orSpaceX, is a space
transport services company that is headquartered in Hawthorne, California,
USA
ndia successfully launches IRNSS 1C
October 17, 2014 No comments
[SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY] November 28, 2014
Powered by www.gr8dreamz.com and www.praveenstech.blogspot.com Page 4
IRNSS 1C, the next satellite in India‟s IRNSS (Indian Regional Navigational
Satellite System) series, was launched successfully on October 16 by ISRO.
IRNSS 1C was launched on a PSLV C26 from Sriharikota.
IRNSS is similar to other satellite navigation service providers like USA‟s
GPS (Global Positioning System), Russia‟s Glonass, Europe‟s
Galileo, Japan‟s Quasi Zenith and China‟s Beidou.
Applications of IRNSS
Terrestrial, Aerial and Marine Navigation
Disaster Management
Vehicle tracking and fleet management
Integration with mobile phones
Precise Timing
Mapping and Geodetic data capture
Terrestrial navigation aid for hikers and travellers
Visual and voice navigation for drivers
Government to complete Phase-III of Cable TV Digitization by 2015
ISRO to launch M3M satellite of Canada
October 6, 2014 No comments
[SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY] November 28, 2014
Powered by www.gr8dreamz.com and www.praveenstech.blogspot.com Page 5
Canada‟s M3M (Maritime Monitoring and Messaging Micro-Satellite) is set
to be launched by India‟s PSLV rocket. The agreement for the same was
signed by India‟s Antriux Corp. and Canada‟s COM DEV Intl. The satellite is
due to be launched in July 2015. The satellite was built for the Canadian
Department ofNational Defence, and is a communications satellite
List of 2014 Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar Award Winners
September 27, 2014 No comments
The winners of the 2014 edition of the annual Shanti Swaroop
Bhatnagar Award were announced by CSIR (Council for Scientific and
Industrial Research) at its 72nd Foundation Day celebrations on 26
September 2014. The 10 awardees have been chosen from various
prestigious research institutions inIndia. The list of awardees of this year‟s
prize are as follows:-
Biological Sciences
Roop Mallik Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Mumbai
Chemical Sciences
Kavirayani Ramakrishna Prasad Indian Institute of Science Bengaluru.
Souvik Maiti Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB)
New Delhi.
Earth, Atmosphere, Ocean and Planetary Sciences
Sachchida Nand Tripathi Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur.
Engineering Sciences
[SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY] November 28, 2014
Powered by www.gr8dreamz.com and www.praveenstech.blogspot.com Page 6
S Venkata Mohan Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-
IICT)Hyderabad.
Soumen Chakrabarti Indian Institute of Technology Mumbai.
Mathematical Sciences
Kaushal Kumar Verma Indian Institute of Science Bengaluru.
Medical Sciences
Anurag Agrawal Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB)
New Delhi.
Physical Sciences
Pratap Raychaudhuri Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Mumbai.
Sadiqali Abbas Rangwala Raman Research Institute Bengaluru.
Mom Inserted Into Mars Orbit
September 24, 2014 No comments
The Mars Orbiter Mission(MOM), or Mangalyaan was successfully inserted
into Mars‟ orbit on the 24th of September 2014 with the help of the Indian
Space Research Organisation (ISRO). This gives India the distinction of not
only being the first nation to send a satellite into Mars‟ orbit in its first
attempt, but also the first Asian nation to successfully send a satellite to
Mars. This combined with the fact that MOM cost India only a tenth of what
NASA incurred to insert its satellite into Mars‟ orbit, makes this
achievement a source of great pride to the nation.
India‟s first interplanetary mission was launched from the Satish Dhawan
Space Centre, Sriharikota on a PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) on the
5th of November 2013. The satellite, weighing around 1,350 kg was on an
elliptical orbit around the Earth for a month before it set off towards Mars.
The objectives of the MOM are to study Mars‟ surface features, mineral
compositions and atmospheric conditions using indigenously developed
instruments. The mission also serves to showcase India‟s capabilities in
[SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY] November 28, 2014
Powered by www.gr8dreamz.com and www.praveenstech.blogspot.com Page 7
indigenously developing, planning and launching an interplanetary mission.
Apart from being a feat in itself, this latest milestone could help open up the
highly lucrative space technology market to India.
Union Ministry of Science & Technology announces “KIRAN” scheme for
Women Scientists
September 11, 2014 No comments
The Union Ministry of Science & Technology also announced KIRAN
(Knowledge, Involvement, Research, Advancement through Nurturing) for
women scientists –A unique advertising scheme to bring about, as far as
possible, gender equality in the field of science and technology.
Objectives:-
To increase the number of women researchers in India.
Provide Research grants particularly to those female researchers and
technologists who had to take a break in career owing to household reasons.
Bring about, as far as achievable, gender parity in the field of science and
technology.
The scholarships will be provided under three categories-
For those women linked in research work in basic or applied sciences with
any central or state level organization or university
For those women scientists involved in research and application of
innovative solutions for several social problems
For those researchers who are self-employed.
ICICI Bank presents „Cardless Cash Withdrawal‟ – Withdraw cash from
ATM without a card
Unit 5 of RAPS becomes world‟s 2nd longest running reactor
September 7, 2014 No comments
[SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY] November 28, 2014
Powered by www.gr8dreamz.com and www.praveenstech.blogspot.com Page 8
India‟s nuclear power programme reached a fresh milestone after Unit 5 of
theRajasthan Atomic Power Station (RAPS), become the 2nd longest
running reactor in the world by being in operation for 765 days nonstop.
The Unit 5 of the RAPS, a 220 MW Pressurized 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%
and has since then generated around 4,258 million units of electricity.
Unit 7 of Canada‟s Pickering nuclear plant holds the world record of running
the largest operating plant that ran continuously for 894 days.
Email‟ invented by Indian-American V A Shiva Ayyadurai turns 32
“The Green Bus project”: India„s first ethanol-run public bus launched in
Nagpur
August 26, 2014 No comments
India launched “The Green Bus project” in Nagpur with the launch of its
firstethanol-run, environment-friendly public bus. The bus will emit carbon
dioxide as low as 15% to 90% and its emissions will be monitored by the
Union government,Maharashtra state government and Nagpur Municipal
Corporation.
President inaugurates India‟s first IIEST
August 25, 2014 No comments
President Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated the first Indian Institute of
EngineeringScience and Technology (IIEST) of the country
in Shibpur located in the city ofHowrah, West Bengal.
Indian scientist awarded prestigious grant under Obama initiative
August 20, 2014 No comments
Partha Mitra, an Indian researcher in the US has been awarded a
prestigiousresearch grant under President Barack Obama‟s initiative to map
the human brain.
[SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY] November 28, 2014
Powered by www.gr8dreamz.com and www.praveenstech.blogspot.com Page 9
„IBM Simon‟: World‟s first smartphone turns 20
PM Modi commissions INS Kolkata into Indian Navy
August 16, 2014 No comments
Prime Minister of India, Mr. Narendra Modi, commissioned INS Kolkata
into theIndian Navy at a scintillating ceremony held at the Naval
Dockyard, Mumbai.
Key points about INS Kolkata:
Largest indigenously-built warship
Constructed by the Mazagon Dockyards Limited and designed by Navy‟s
design bureau.
The 6,800 tonne warship is a technology demonstrator and will mark
India‟s giant leap in shipbuilding technology.
To be a part of the Kolkata Class destroyers of the Indian Navy which will
include follow-on ships by the name of INS Kochi and INS Chennai
respectively.
The Project 15A Kolkata class destroyers are follow-on of the legendary
Project 15 „Delhi‟ class destroyers which entered service in the late 1990s.
Length: 164 m, Width: 18 m, Full load displacement: 7400 tonnes.
It derives her name from the cultural capital city of India and state capital of
Bengal – Kolkata – `The City of Joy`.
Ministry of Railways Launches New Improved e-Ticketing System
August 14, 2014 No comments
Now booking rail tickets through the IRCTC website will be faster and
smoother than before with the new e-ticketing system developed by Centre
for Railway Information Systems (CRIS). IRCTC has developed and
introduced following e-systems:-
1) New e-Ticketing system: This would enable booking of 7200 tickets per
minute against 2000 tickets through the current system. Developed at a cost
[SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY] November 28, 2014
Powered by www.gr8dreamz.com and www.praveenstech.blogspot.com Page 10
of Rs 180 crore, is capable of accommodating 1.2 lakh concurrent users with
booking of e-tickets simultaneously against the earlier capacity of 40,000
concurrent users at a time. The next generation e-ticketing software will
eliminate the problems of non-availability of website like user sessions
getting terminated.
WHO approves use of experimental drug ZMapp against Ebola Virus
August 13, 2014 No comments
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has approved the use of
drug ZMapp to combat Ebola spread as the death count surged.
The WHO decision comes after a US firm Mapp Biopharmaceutical supplied
ZMapp to treat two US health workers who contracted the Ebola virus while
treating Ebola affected patients in Liberia. The drug has shown some
positive effects in saving the lives of Ebola-infected people
NASA to launch Mars 2020 Rover to further exploration of the Red Planet
August 8, 2014 No comments
NASA has announced that it will launch a new mission to Mars in 2020
named as Mars 2020 Rover mission.
NASA to launch Mars 2020 Rover to further exploration of the Red Planet
August 8, 2014 No comments
The European Space Agency‟s (ESA) spacecraft „Rosetta‟ became the first
spacecraft to intercept and go into orbit around a comet. It is now in
position tohelp researchers to begin with their investigations into how the
Solar System came into being.
Ebola is a Public Health Emergency: WHO
August 8, 2014 No comments
[SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY] November 28, 2014
Powered by www.gr8dreamz.com and www.praveenstech.blogspot.com Page 11
The emergency committee of the World Health Organization has
unanimously agreed to proclaim the Ebola virus a Public Health Emergency
of InternationalConcern.
As per the UN body, the possible outcomes of further international spread
are particularly serious in view of the mortality rate linked with the disease,
the intensive community and health facility transmission patterns, and the
fragile health systems in the currently affected and most at-risk countries.
As per WHO, the current Ebola outbreak began in Guinea in December 2013
and has since spread to Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. As of August 4,
2014, 1,711 cases of the infection have been reported and over 1,000 of which
have been confirmed, and 932 deaths due to the virus have occurred.
Micromax dethrones Samsung, emerges as India‟s No. 1 mobile supplier
August 4, 2014 No comments
As per a report by an independent market research and consulting
firm,CounterPoint Research, Micromax has overtaken Samsung to become
the largest mobile phone supplier in India in Q2 2014.
PM Modi to induct warship INS Kolkata
August 4, 2014 No comments
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to induct country‟s largest
indigenously-built combat vessel INS Kolkata in Mumbai in August 2014.
Key points about INS Kolkata:
Largest indigenously-built warship
Constructed by the Mazagon Dockyards Limited and designed by Navy‟s
design bureau.
The 6,800 tonne warship is a technology demonstrator and will markIndia‟s
giant leap in shipbuilding technology.
[SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY] November 28, 2014
Powered by www.gr8dreamz.com and www.praveenstech.blogspot.com Page 12
To be a part of the Kolkata Class destroyers of the Indian Navy which will
include follow-on ships by the name of INS Kochi and INS Chennai
respectively.
It also test-fired a BrahMos missile off Karwar‟s coast earlier in August 2014
as part of pre-induction weapon trials at sea.
Dongfeng-41: China‟s 12,000-kms intercontinental missile
August 2, 2014 No comments
Enhancing the reach of its fire-power, China‟s has unveiled the
sophisticatedInter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), which has a range
of 12,000 kms,placing it among the world‟s longest-range missiles.
SHERLOC: Raman UV spectrometer to be sent with Mars 2020 rover
mission to sense habitability
Japanese women are world‟s longest-lived females; Hong Kong men longest-
lived males
RTS,S: World‟s first vaccine against Malaria to hit markets soon
July 30, 2014 No comments
The world‟s first malaria vaccine– RTS,S created by pharma company GSK,
is expected to hit the markets by 2015. GSK has submitted a regulatory
application to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for its malaria vaccine
candidate, RTS,S.
Sixth C-17 Globemaster III aircraft delivered to IAF
July 29, 2014 No comments
Indian Air Force received its sixth C-17 Globemaster III aircraft at the Palam
Airbase in New Delhi in the presence of the Union Defence Minister Arun
Jaitley.
About C-17 Globemaster III
About C-17 Globemaster III
[SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY] November 28, 2014
Powered by www.gr8dreamz.com and www.praveenstech.blogspot.com Page 13
It has the potential to carry 75 tonnes of load which is almost double the
capacity of Russian IL-76 in the IAF inventory which can carry only around
40 tonnes.
It will boost up IAF‟s flexibility in terms of operational response and with
the heavy lift capability it could easily move troops and heavy tanks to
required locations.
It will have a greater strategic reach of up to 4000 kms and will also be very
useful in relief operation with its capabilities of being operational under all
conditions and abilities to take-off from short runways with heavy loads.
Flipkart raises $1 billion, largest in Indian e-commerce field
Flipkart co-founder Sachin Bansal, described the deal inked last week as a
milestone for the Indian Internet as a whole and said that the company
hoped to become one of India‟s first $100 billion company in the next five
years or more. Work on setting up „Rural ATMs‟ underway: RBI
July 15, 2014 1 Comment
Encouraged by the Reserve Bank .of India (RBI), banks are working on
setting up„Rural ATMs‟ for dispensing currency notes of smaller
denominations. Banks have been encouraged to find a solution for
introducing rural ATMs.
Generally, in city or urban centric ATMs, they will give out high
denomination notes (Rs 1,000 and Rs 500), whereas in rural areas, the
demand of people is more of lesser denomination.
INS Kamorta: India‟s first indigenous warship delivered to Indian Navy
July 12, 2014 No comments
Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE) delivered to the Indian
Navycountry‟s first indigenously built warship INS Kamorta. The highly
sophisticatedAnti-Submarine Warship (ASW), the first in its class of four
[SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY] November 28, 2014
Powered by www.gr8dreamz.com and www.praveenstech.blogspot.com Page 14
corvettes being built by GGRSE for the Navy was built with indigenous steel
produced by SAIL‟s Bhilai Steel Plant.
The corvette is the first naval warship built in the country with indigenously
developed special grade high-tensile (DMR249A) steel produced by Steel
Authority of India. The hull of the ship carries the bulk of sensors and
weapon systems that are also indigenously developed by various
Indian industries.
The ASW is a significant advancement towards India‟s quest to self-
reliance in indigenous warship building. It also brings the Indian Navy‟s
pursuit to be a „Builder‟s Navy‟ as well as a true „Blue-water Navy‟ with ships
and submarines being designed and built indigenously.
Now minimum broadband speed is 512 kbps: TRAI
IMG studying GAGAN‟s potential for non-aviation sector
July 7, 2014 No comments
The government has set up an Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) under
Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation to evaluate the potential of GAGAN
(GPS Aided Augmented Navigation) system for non-aviation sectors.
Advantages of GAGAN:
It will modernize air traffic management and communication-navigation
surveillance system.
Aircrafts will get more accurate figures while landing, take-off and in-flight.
India would join the elite club of U.S., Europe and Japan who have the same
level of space-based augmentation.
GAGAN offers free enhanced satellite navigation signals over India which is
10 times more precise than GPS.
It can offer civilian users integrity, i.e. a measure of trust which can be
placed in the accuracy of the information supplied by the system, with the
[SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY] November 28, 2014
Powered by www.gr8dreamz.com and www.praveenstech.blogspot.com Page 15
user being automatically alerted whenever an error made by the system is
beyond a certain confidence limit.
The role of integrity is significant in the safety of life applications in
transport, sensitive commercial applications and liability-critical
applications requiring legal recourse.
Trial run of India‟s fastest train on Delhi-Agra at 160 kmph successful
July 3, 2014 No comments
The first trial run of the India‟s fastest train on the New Delhi-Agra route
was performed successfully by the Indian Railways. The train covered a
distance of 200 kms in 100 minutes against the slated time of 90 minutes.
Although the average speed of the train during the entire journey was 125-
130 km/h, its speed reached a maximum speed of 160 kmph.
Currently, the Bhopal Shatabdi Express is India‟s fastest train with a highest
speed of 150 km/h.
4 new vaccines added to India‟s Universal Immunization Programme (UIP)
July 3, 2014 No comments
As per an announcement made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the
Government of India plans to introduce four new vaccines as part of
India‟sUniversal Immunization Programme (UIP).
The vaccines will be against Rotavirus, Rubella and Polio (injectable) which
will speed up India‟s progress on meeting the Millennium Development
Goal (MDG)four targets to bring down child mortality by 2/3rd by the year
2015 and meet global polio eradication targets.
India successfully launched PSLV C-23 with 5 satellites
June 30, 2014 1 Comment
India‟s ANTRIX (ISRO‟s commercial arm) successfully launched 5 foreign
satellites from four countries on board PSLV-C23 rocket which placed them
in orbit.
[SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY] November 28, 2014
Powered by www.gr8dreamz.com and www.praveenstech.blogspot.com Page 16
The rocket was launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre
in Sriharikota and was also witnessed by PM Narendra Modi.
ISRO‟s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C23 placed all five satellites into
their respective orbits.
The rocket carried with it primary payload of 714 kg French Earth
Observation Satellite SPOT-7, 14 kg AISAT of Germany, NLS7.1 (CAN-X4)
and NLS7.2 (CAN-X5) of Canada each weighing 15 kg and the 7 kg VELOX-1
of Singapore.
PM Modi extolled the efforts Indian space scientists and asked the space
community to develop a SAARC satellite.
He referred to pictures showing rocket components being transported on
bicycles.
SPOT 7: French satellite, it will be part of the existing Earth observation
satellite. It has been built by European space technology
company Airbus Defence and Space.
AISAT: German nano-satellite, to focus on the global sea-traffic monitoring
system with special emphasis on high traffic zones using AIS signals.
NLS 7.1 and NLS 7.2: Canadian satellite, they will perform Two-spacecraft
precision formation flying using differential GPS with centimetre-level
relative position and sub-metre level accurate position control system.
VELOX-1: Singaporean satellite, it is a technology demonstrator for in-
house design of image sensor, MEMS-based attitude determination and
control system and inter-satellite RF link.
Biochip developed to measure blood sugar via saliva
June 26, 2014 No comments
A new biochip sensor that can selectively measure glucose concentrations in
a complex fluid like saliva has been developed by scientists at Brown
University in the US.