Sci/Tech

nobel-prize-in-physics-john-hopfield-geoffrey-hinton-hounoured-for-contributions-to-machine-learning

Tue Oct 08 16:52:36 IST 2024

John Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton were awarded the Nobel Prize in physics Tuesday for discoveries and inventions that formed the building blocks of machine learning.

This year's two Nobel Laureates in physics have used tools from physics to develop methods that are the foundation of today's powerful machine learning, the Nobel committee said in a press release.

Hopfield's research is carried out at Princeton University and Hinton works at the University of Toronto.

Three scientists won last year's physics Nobel for providing the first split-second glimpse into the superfast world of spinning electrons, a field that could one day lead to better electronics or disease diagnoses.

The 2023 award went to French-Swedish physicist Anne L'Huillier, French scientist Pierre Agostini and Hungarian-born Ferenc Krausz for their work with the tiny part of each atom that races around the centre and is fundamental to virtually everything: chemistry, physics, our bodies and our gadgets.

Six days of Nobel announcements opened on Monday with Americans Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun winning the medicine prize for their discovery of tiny bits of genetic material that serve as on and off switches inside cells that help control what the cells do and when they do it.

If scientists can better understand how they work and how to manipulate them, it could one day lead to powerful treatments for diseases like cancer.

The physics prize carries a cash award of 11 million Swedish kronor (USD 1 million) from a bequest left by the award's creator, Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel. It has been awarded 117 times. The laureates are invited to receive their awards at ceremonies on December 10, the anniversary of Nobel's death.

Nobel announcements continue with the chemistry physics prize on Wednesday and literature on Thursday. The Nobel Peace Prize will be announced Friday and the economics award on October 14.

india-japan-moon-project-lupex-cleared-heres-all-you-need-to-know

Mon Oct 07 17:10:37 IST 2024

The National Space Commission recently approved its fifth lunar mission, called the Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (LUPEX). Unlike the Chandrayaan 1 to 4 missions, this upcoming LUPEX mission is a collaboration between India and Japan. However, it remains part of India's broader lunar mission series, which aims to eventually send an Indian astronaut to the Moon and bring them back safely. It's important to note that no astronauts will be sent as part of the LUPEX mission itself. The Union Cabinet had approved the Chandrayaan-4 mission on September 18, and the LUPEX mission is expected to be presented for cabinet approval soon.

Although ISRO and Japan's space agency JAXA signed an agreement in 2017, progress on the Lupex mission was delayed after India's Chandrayaan-2 was unable to successfully demonstrate a soft landing on the lunar surface. The LUPEX project is designed to explore the Moon in search of water and other valuable resources. It also aims to develop skills and knowledge in studying the lunar surface. The LUPEX project is a joint international effort, where Japan's space agency (JAXA) is building the lunar rover, and India's space agency (ISRO) is creating the lander that will transport the rover to the Moon.

Other space agencies will also send scientific instruments for the mission. NASA's Neutron Spectrometer will search for hydrogen up to 1 metre (3.3 feet) below the surface at the Moon's south pole. Meanwhile, the European Space Agency's (ESA) Exospheric Mass Spectrometer will measure gas pressure and identify chemical signatures on the surface.

Interestingly, the global interest in the Moon is growing and that has been highlighted by the Artemis mission, a US-led initiative aimed at sending astronauts back to the Moon. The goal is to establish a long-term presence on the lunar surface and carry out ongoing exploration activities.

“Recent studies of different observation data suggest that water might exist in the lunar polar regions. These regions are located near the Moon’s north and south poles. If water is discovered in these areas, it could be used as a source of energy for future human missions on the Moon. This is why many countries are actively pushing forward with lunar exploration efforts,” space expert Girish Linganna said.

JAXA is developing a rover that will move independently to look for spots on the Moon where water may be found. “It will use a drill to dig into the ground and collect soil samples. The plan is to gather data by closely analysing these samples with the observation tools installed on the rover. The rover will carry tools to measure the water content in lunar soil (called regolith), as well as equipment for drilling and collecting samples. It will also feature advanced technologies for its driving system and batteries, which are some of the first of their kind in the world. The project faces a big challenge—getting a rover that weighs several hundred kilogrammes, loaded with all these tools, to the Moon, moving it around, and analysing the samples directly on-site,” added Linganna.

As per JAXA, the rover is still in the basic design stage, and she often encounters challenges when building prototypes and conducting tests. During these tests, they spread sand similar to lunar soil at the test site and run the rover prototype over it. The team constantly adjusts the sand's softness to match the actual Moon's surface and tweaks the unevenness to ensure the rover can move properly. They also carefully study how much the rover’s tracks (which act like its tires) sink into the sand, making small adjustments each time. It's a complex process with no simple solutions.

ISRO has developed advanced technology for operating lunar orbiters, landers, and rovers. However, for the LUPEX project, they will need to create a larger rover than ever before. The goal is to make a significant international impact by combining ISRO's expertise with JAXA's rover technology and tools for measurement and analysis.

As per Inoue Hiroka, a researcher with the Lunar Polar Exploration Project Team at JAXA's Space Exploration Center, one of the key tasks ahead is selecting a specific landing site. The plan is to land in the Moon’s south polar region, which is believed to have a high chance of containing water. However, this area has very few flat spots that are ideal for landing and ensuring good lighting and communication. Since other countries might choose the same area, the team aims to announce their landing site as soon as they identify the best location.

If the mission gathers detailed information about water on the Moon, it could open possibilities not only for living on the Moon but also for using this water to produce fuel. This would allow us to travel to farther planets, pushing the boundaries of human exploration.

isros-venus-orbiter-mission-vom-how-private-players-and-academic-institutions-will-jointly-steer-the-mission

Sat Oct 05 13:52:52 IST 2024

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is preparing for its Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM) and the spacecraft is set to launch on March 29, 2028. This mission aims to explore Venus, adding to our understanding of the planet. A recent Cabinet meeting approved an interplanetary mission to Venus. ISRO will use its new heavy-lift rocket, Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM-3), to send the spacecraft, named Shukrayaan-1, on a 112-day journey to the planet. The orbiter is set to arrive at Venus on July 19, 2028, highlighting India’s advancements in space exploration.

The development of the spacecraft and launch vehicle will involve various industries, creating significant job opportunities and potential technological advancements for other sectors. Additionally, the mission will collaborate with academic institutions, offering training for students involved in design, development and testing. Recently during a press briefing S. Somanath, the ISRO Chairman and Secretary of the Department of Space (DoS), had confirmed that each of the approved forthcoming missions would include participation from the private space sector. This marks one of the most significant boosts for India’s emerging space startups from the government to date.

The rocket will place the spacecraft in an Elliptical Parking Orbit (EPO), which ranges from 170 km to 36,000 km above Earth. This orbit has a specific angle and position. From there, the spacecraft will begin its journey to Venus. “The VOM will use advanced tools to explore Venus, focusing on its atmosphere, surface and geological features. The mission aims to detect any volcanic eruptions or quakes. The spacecraft will have cutting-edge instruments, including synthetic aperture radar and infrared and ultraviolet cameras,” explained Space expert Girish Linganna.

ISRO will oversee the development and launch of the spacecraft with a total budget of Rs 1,236 crore (approximaately $150 million). Out of this, Rs 824 crore is allocated for building the spacecraft.

The Shukrayaan-1 will be equipped with a range of scientific tools, such as the Venus S-Band Synthetic Aperture Radar (VSAR), Venus Surface Emissivity and Atmospheric Mapper (VSEAM), Venus Thermal Camera (VTC), Venus Cloud Monitoring Camera (VCMC), Lightning Instrument for Venus (LIVE), Venus Atmospheric Spectro-Polarimeter (VASP) and Solar Occultation Photometry (SPAV).

“These instruments will assist scientists in studying Venus’s atmosphere, surface and plasma environment. The VOM is a worldwide collaboration involving such countries as Russia, Sweden, France and Germany. The Swedish Institute of Space Physics (IRF) will be a participant in providing the Venusian Neutrals Analyzer (VNA) to examine how the Sun’s charged particles interact with Venus’s atmosphere. On the other hand the private sector may be involved in materials procurement, supply chain management, rocket engineering, testing facilities, manufacturing units, assembly and integration, and launch operations,” added Linganna.

After travelling through space, Shukrayaan-1 will move into an orbit around Venus, ranging from 500 km to 60,000 km away. This process is called Venus Orbit Injection (VOI). Over six to eight months, a process, called aero-braking, will gradually adjust the orbit to a closer path around Venus, measuring 200 x 600 km. This new orbit will enable detailed studies of Venus’s surface and atmosphere for a planned mission lasting five years.

In an earlier analysis in THE WEEK, it was mentioned that ISRO's VOM is expected to be one of the most challenging ones as the atmosphere of Venus is made mostly of poisonous sulphuric acid. Since Venus orbits the sun within Earth's orbit, the planet appears to have phases like the moon. When Venus is on the opposite side of the sun, it is in full phase, while it appears in a new phase when it is between the Earth and the sun. Despite the poisonous atmosphere, a chemical called phosphine was discovered in Venus's clouds recently. Incidentally, on Earth, phosphene is found to be produced by microbes. The study seemed to suggest that despite its extreme conditions, Venus might, after all, host life. Needless to say, the theory was disputed and alternate explanations were posited.

Linganna says landing on Venus' surface can be an extremely challenging affair as a lander (or rover) must fall through approximately 35km (1,00,000ft) of the thick, murky lower atmosphere before the final couple of kilometres where the ground finally becomes visible from above. “During descent, the temperature starts at a comfortable 20 degrees Celsius and shoots up to 450 degrees Celsius just before reaching the surface. (A standard kitchen oven runs at about 200 degrees Celsius.) Near the surface, the air is so thick that the lander will settle to the ground much like a stone settles in water—no retrorockets or sky cranes are required,” remarked Linganna.

google-doubles-down-on-ai-that-talks-in-an-indian-tongue

Thu Oct 03 21:41:23 IST 2024

GenAI is plain vanilla, if you ask the folks at Google India. As the tech behemoth rolled out its ambitious ‘Google for India’ repertoire for their biggest and fastest growing market, there was one familar focus area where further announcements predictably came – Google’s onboarding of Indian languages as a digital tool. And, of course, artificial intelligence (AI) and lots of it.

Well in verse with the parent company’s efforts to take the pole position in AI advancements and grab the thunder back from that petulant upstart called OpenAI is evidently a dream up there on Mountain View (where Google’s global HQ is), and the trickle down effect was well evident in many of the announcements in India on Thursday – Google’s Gemini AI can now go ‘Live’, with real time conversation by adapting to the user. The ‘Gemini Live’ feature is available in 8 Indian languages, besides English.

Google’s next-generation AI project called Astra is at the core of it, and while it is awaited, the slow rollout of its features, the company hopes, will be transformational. For now, there is already AI Overviews expected in Telugu, Tamil, Bengali and Marathi in the coming days, while ‘ask with video’ feature in Search also debuted, starting with English.

With image-based search on Maps, Gemini summarising Google reviews to save time, real-time weather and traffic updates on Maps, Google’s attempt is to make AI work for daily chores, beside the focus on Indian languages to take its tech evangelism to the hinterland.

Another path-breaking endeavour has been in the field of healthcare. Not only is the company tying up with the government’s Ayushman Bharat project to roll out the issuance of the ABHA health ID through Google wallets soon, its iCALL feature whereby a user can call and speak to a health professional live has been expanded to more vernacular languages. And perhaps incredibly, its AI tools are now evolved enough to detect eye issues, TB and even cancer. For instance, TB could apparently be detected through just an audio sample analysis of a person’s sound!

Google also announced a spate of partnerships, right from Adani and CleanMax (for clean energy projects) to Muthoot (for online loan-against-gold) to Glance (skilling).

india-new-multi-faceted-space-mission-what-are-these-and-their-challenges

Sat Sep 21 15:03:25 IST 2024

The Indian Cabinet recently approved four important space missions, marking a major step forward in India's space exploration journey. These missions aim to boost India's position in space research and technology, highlighting the country's dedication to advancing its space capabilities and playing a key role in global space exploration efforts. The approved missions include Chandrayaan-4, the Venus Orbiter Mission, the creation of the Bharatiya Antariksha Station, and the Gaganyaan follow-up programme. Each mission comes with its own set of challenges and opportunities, and their success will depend on advanced technology, skilled expertise, and considerable financial support.

Foremost among them is the Chandrayaan-4 which is India’s next leap towards lunar exploration. Chandrayaan-4 is set to be a ground-breaking mission for India, focusing on collecting samples from the Moon and returning them to Earth. This mission, with an impressive budget of Rs 2,104.06 crore, builds upon the success of Chandrayaan-3, which proved India’s capability to land on the Moon. Now, Chandrayaan-4 aims to deepen our understanding of the Moon’s composition and geological history.

The primary objective of Chandrayaan-4 is to gather and analyse soil and rock samples from the lunar surface. These samples will provide valuable insights into the Moon's structure and evolution, offering scientists a better understanding of its formation and the processes that have shaped it over billions of years.

“The mission is not without its challenges. A precise lunar landing is essential to ensure the spacecraft touches down safely in the targeted region. Additionally, efficient sample collection and the safe return of these samples to Earth are critical. These operations will demand high levels of precision and advanced technology to be successfully executed. To achieve its goals, Chandrayaan-4 will utilise advanced robotics and autonomous systems, which will allow the spacecraft to navigate the lunar surface and collect samples efficiently. A sophisticated heat shield will also be crucial to protect the spacecraft from the intense heat generated during re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere,” explained space expert Girish Linganna.

Chandrayaan-4 is more than just a sample return mission; it is a key stepping stone for India’s ambitious goal of landing astronauts on the Moon by 2040. Scheduled to launch in 2027, the mission will serve as a critical testing ground for technologies essential to crewed lunar missions. The mission will involve five modules launched in two separate phases, demonstrating ISRO’s innovative approach to handling complex space operations. These modules will work in tandem to collect lunar samples and return them to Earth—a feat previously achieved by only a few countries, including the United States and China.

“Chandrayaan-4 will test important capabilities, such as docking and undocking in lunar orbit, precision landings, and ensuring safe re-entry through Earth’s atmosphere. These technologies are vital for future crewed missions and will lay the groundwork for India’s eventual human moon landings,” remarked Linganna.

ISRO Chairman S. Somanath highlighted the mission’s importance, stating, "Chandrayaan-4 is not just about bringing back Moon rocks; it's about demonstrating our capability to send humans to the Moon and safely return them. This mission represents a significant leap forward in India’s space ambitions, bringing the nation closer to achieving its goal of a human presence on the Moon.

Similarly the Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM) is set to launch in March 2028, with a budget of Rs 1,236 crore, recently approved by the Union Cabinet. This will be India’s second interplanetary mission, following the successful Mars Orbiter Mission, which was launched in 2013 and entered Mars' orbit in 2014. The VOM aims to study Venus in detail, focusing on its surface features, clouds, lightning, volcanic activity, atmosphere, and how the Sun interacts with the planet. Scientists are particularly interested in understanding why Venus, once thought to be similar to Earth and possibly habitable, underwent such a drastic transformation.

This mission is expected to provide valuable answers to long-standing questions about Venus, shedding light on its evolution and contributing to important scientific discoveries. Out of the total budget of Rs 1,236 crore for the Venus Orbiter Mission, around Rs 824 crore will be allocated to the development of the spacecraft. ISRO will be in charge of designing and launching the spacecraft, ensuring the project is managed efficiently through their well-established procedures.

Various industries will be involved in building the spacecraft and launch vehicle, which is expected to create significant employment opportunities and have positive effects on other sectors through technological advancements.

The data collected from the mission will be shared with the scientific community using existing systems. Additionally, this mission will prepare India for future planetary missions that can carry larger scientific instruments.

“The Venus mission is highly intriguing but is expected to be one of the most difficult tasks ISRO has ever taken on. Venus is an extremely hostile planet, with its atmosphere mostly made up of carbon dioxide, resulting in scorching surface temperatures. Due to a strong greenhouse effect, temperatures can soar up to 870°F (470°C)—hot enough to melt lead. The planet’s surface is dotted with numerous volcanoes, many of which are dormant, though some could still be active. Adding to the challenge, Venus has an extremely high surface air pressure, about 90 times greater than what we experience at sea level on Earth,” pointed out Linganna.

Another major space mission is making significant strides in space exploration with its ambitious plan to build the Bharatiya Antariksha Station (BAS-1), the country’s first space station module. The Indian government has officially approved the construction of this module, which has been integrated into the expanded Gaganyaan mission. This crucial decision sets India on a path to operate its own space station by 2035 and also opens the door for a manned Moon mission by 2040.

The Bharatiya Antariksha Station (BAS) aims to create India's very own space station, which will orbit 400 km above the Earth's surface. Weighing 52 tonnes, this massive structure will act as a research hub where Indian astronauts and scientists can carry out experiments in areas like microgravity, astronomy, and Earth observation. The station will also allow astronauts to stay in orbit for periods of 15 to 20 days.

The Gaganyaan mission, originally designed for human spaceflight, has now been expanded to include eight missions, all to be completed by December 2028. This expansion covers not only additional uncrewed missions but also the launch of the BAS-1 unit, alongside the necessary hardware to support long-term human spaceflight activities.

With the updated scope, the overall budget for the Gaganyaan programme has risen to Rs 20,193 crore, with an additional Rs 11,170 crore allocated specifically for the expanded scope. This substantial financial investment underscores India’s growing ambition to become a major player in space exploration.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will spearhead the project, working in collaboration with industry partners, educational institutions, and various government agencies. The focus of the programme is to develop and demonstrate key technologies needed for extended human space missions. Four missions are planned under the current Gaganyaan schedule by 2026, followed by the construction of the BAS-1 module. Another four missions dedicated to technology demonstration and validation will be completed by 2028.

The Bharatiya Antariksha Station will play a pivotal role in advancing scientific research in microgravity, leading to breakthroughs that could benefit various sectors on Earth. The mission is also expected to create numerous job opportunities in high-tech fields related to space and technology.

Moreover, this initiative is poised to inspire a new generation of young Indians to pursue careers in science and technology. The innovations developed during this mission will have far-reaching societal benefits, further establishing India as a leader in space exploration and scientific discovery.

The fourth mission approved by the Union Cabinet focuses on the development of the Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV). This new launch vehicle will be designed to carry heavier payloads, be cost-effective, and reusable, with the potential to be commercially successful. According to the government, the NGLV will have three times the payload capacity of the current LVM-3, while only costing 1.5 times more. Its reusability will help lower the cost of accessing space, and it will feature modular green propulsion systems. A total of Rs 8,240 crore has been approved for the NGLV, covering development costs, three test flights, the setup of necessary facilities, programme management, and the launch campaign.

According to the government, the NGLV will strengthen India’s ability to carry out a variety of space missions, such as human spaceflight, lunar exploration, and satellite launches. This will greatly enhance the country’s space programme and overall space ecosystem.

sunita-williams-turns-59-find-out-how-the-astronaut-celebrated-her-birthday-in-space

Fri Sep 20 19:40:50 IST 2024

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams just turned 59 in space on Thursday. She celebrated her milestone birthday aboard the International Space Station (ISS), which is around 400 kilometres above Earth, for the second time.

Earlier her birthday celebration took place during a 2012 mission.

Since June 6, Sunita Williams along with NASA astronaut Barry ‘Butch’ Wilmore has been aboard the ISS as part of the Boeing Crew Flight Test mission. Due to technical issues with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft, their stay has been unexpectedly extended.

They are expected to return in February 2025.

On her special day, Williams took up the task of maintaining the space laboratory.

Reportedly, Williams celebrated her birthday by replacing filters in the waste and hygiene compartment. She also performed the essential task with the help of NASA astronaut Don Pettit to ensure safe and healthy living conditions on the ISS.

Williams participated in a conference with Mission Control in Houston, Texas. Williams also engaged in discussions with flight directors in Houston, collaborating with astronauts Wilmore and Frank Rubio to outline mission objectives and upcoming tasks.

Sunita Williams also received birthday wishes from Bollywood stars along with loved ones and family.

Saregama Official shared a heartwarming video on Instagram that featured a compilation video of famous Indian stars singing Happy Birthday in Hindi to the astronaut.

The video began with filmmaker Karan Johar sending birthday wishes to Williams, followed by singers, Hariharan, Sonu Nigam, Neeti Mohan and Shaan Mukherji.

In 1998, after joining NASA’s astronaut program, Williams launched into space for the first time on December 9, 2006, during the STS-116 mission.

As a flight engineer for Expeditions 14 and 15, Williams set multiple records, including over 29 hours of spacewalks and more than 195 days in orbit.

By piloting Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner’s first crewed test flight, Williams made history by successfully docking with the ISS despite facing technical challenges.

i-am-learning-a-lot-about-space-australian-cricketer-steve-waugh-at-bengaluru-space-expo

Wed Sep 18 18:54:41 IST 2024

Former Australian cricketer Steve Waugh says that he is learning a lot about space technology and is very excited about it. He was a surprise at the Bengaluru Space Expo (BSX) 2024 that began today. “I am surprised myself to be at the space expo. Space is exciting and new for me and I am learning a lot about space as I go along. I am very happy to be involved in this joint venture between Austraila and India. I have been coming to India for the last forty years with charity, with cricket, with business and this is another opportunity to collaborate with India. I am excited to be involved in it and Australia and India can do great things together in space technology,” said Waugh who is also the brand ambassador of Space Machines Company an Australian India in space servicing firm.

The Space Machines Company has forged strategic partnerships with two Indian companies Ananth Technologies and Digantara. These partnerships are expected to play a significant role in the upcoming Space MAITRI (Mission for Australia-India'Technology, Research and Innovation) mission and the launch of Space Machines Company's second Optimus satellite. Scheduled for 2026, the satellite will be deployed abroad NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV).

It will be the largest Australian-made spacecraft in orbit. The Space Machines Company’s second Optimus spacecraft, a 450 kg Orbital Servicing Vehicle will be launched on NSIL's Small Satellite Launch Vehicle and is part of the first dedicated launch agreement between Australia and India.

The mission will focus on debris management and sustainability and will significantly advance Australia’s domestic space industry, by combining Australian spacecraft capabilities with India's launch expertise.

“We will work closely with Ananth Technologies and Digantara throughout the space MAITRI project lifecycle, leveraging each company's advanced engineering, logisitc, and situation space awareness capabilities to fulfil the joint Australian-Indian mission of building a more sustainable space future,” said Rajat Kulshrestha, CEO and Co-founder of Space Machines Company.

Under the partnership, Ananth Technologies will provide Assembly Integration and Testing (AIT) and comprehensive engineering and logistics support throughout the Space MAITRI program. This will include the safe transportation and handling of all spacecraft components in India, extensive testing and launch site spacecraft fueling. This collaboration with Ananth Technologies between the two companies will ensure that Space Machines Company's second Optimus spacecraft is successfully integrated into the SSLV and ready for launch.

On the other hand, the collaboration with Digantara will enable the Optimus spacecraft to track and engage short range resident space objects a vital capability when executing close approach maneuvers during in orbit operations.

Interestingly the Australian government has invested $ 8.5 million in the Space MAITRI mission in April 2024 through the Australian Space Agency's $18 million International Space Investment India Projects program. “This mission and the collaborations that underpin it emphasise the role that space can play in enhancing cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region for mutual benefit. This mission leverages our nation's respective capabilities and advantages to make space activities more sustainable-something the global space community is focussed on to protect and maintain the assets in orbit that are central to a functioning modern society,” remarked Enrico Palermo, head of the Australian Space Agency.

Space Machines Company is an Australian company that delivers on orbit servicing and protection of critical space infrastructure through its Orbital Servicing Network. This company supports mobility, inspection, deorbiting, repair, life extension and protection capbaility to satellite customers when and where they need it.

polaris-dawn-mission-spacex-crew-returns-to-earth-after-first-private-spacewalk

Sun Sep 15 19:36:23 IST 2024

After successfully completing SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission, tech billionaire Jared Isaacman and the rest of the crew returned to Earth on Sunday.

SpaceX's capsule splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico near Florida's Dry Tortugas in the predawn darkness, carrying Isaacman, two SpaceX engineers and a former Air Force Thunderbird pilot.

This was the first privately funded spacewalk mission. The mission was launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

ALSO READ | Watch | Polaris Dawn mission: Tech billionaire Jared Isaacman becomes first civilian to walk in space

Isaacman and SpaceX engineer Sarah Gillis pulled off a spacewalk while orbiting nearly 460 miles (740 kilometres) above Earth, higher than the International Space Station and Hubble Space Telescope. The spacecraft hit a peak altitude of 875 miles (1,408 kilometres) following Tuesday's liftoff.

Isaacman became the 264th person to perform a spacewalk since the former Soviet Union scored the first in 1965, and Gillis the 265th.

Until now, all spacewalks were done by professional astronauts through government-funded missions.

ALSO READ | Polaris Dawn mission: Blast off! SpaceX launches all-civilian crew for first privately-funded spacewalk

During Thursday's commercial spacewalk, the Dragon capsule's hatch was open barely a half-hour. Isaacman emerged only up to his waist to briefly test SpaceX's brand-new spacesuit followed by Gillis, who was knee-high as she flexed her arms and legs for several minutes.

“From here Earth sure looks like a perfect world,” said Isaacman after the spacewalk.

This was Isaacman's second chartered flight with SpaceX, with two more still remaining under the Polaris Dawn Mission.

So far about 263 people have conducted a spacewalk representing 12 countries.

watch-polaris-dawn-mission-tech-billionaire-jared-isaacman-becomes-first-civilian-to-walk-in-space

Thu Sep 12 20:12:33 IST 2024

Tech billionaire Jared Isaacman became the first civilian to conduct the spacewalk on Thursday. Teaming up with SpaceX, the five-day Polaris Dawn mission was launched into space with a four-member crew on Tuesday from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Joining the small elite group of spacewalkers, Isaacman and his crew waited until the capsule was depressurised before opening the hatch.

ALSO READ | Polaris Dawn mission: Blast off! SpaceX launches all-civilian crew for first privately-funded spacewalk

All the crew onboard wore SpaceX's new spacewalking suits, as the entire capsule was exposed to the vacuum of space. The suits offered protection to all the crew members from the harsh vacuum.

"From here Earth sure looks like a perfect world," said Isaacman after the spacewalk.

The orbit was reduced by half to 458 miles (737 kilometres) for the spacewalk.

ALSO READ | Human health in space: Charting the unknown on Polaris Dawn mission

Testing the spacewalking suit was one of the important tasks for the team. The spacewalking was expected to last for about two hours. Rather than the exact walking, it mostly involved stretching and movement of limbs.

Isaacman had his hand or foot always attached to the capsule as he flexed his arms and legs. The hatch sported a walker-like structure for extra support. These are considered EVA- extravehicular activities, any activity done by an astronaut in outer space outside a spacecraft.

According to experts, due to the microgravity situation nobody really ‘walks’ on the space. Any activity outside the spacecraft can be considered as spacewalking as there is movement outside the capsule in space, experts pointed out.

After about 15 minutes outside, Isaacman was to be replaced by the SpaceX engineer Sarah Gillis to go through the same motions.

So far about 263 people have conducted a spacewalk representing 12 countries.

polaris-dawn-mission-blast-off-spacex-launches-all-civilian-crew-for-first-privately-funded-spacewalk

Tue Sep 10 17:32:37 IST 2024

Four astronauts have been launched into space, before carrying out the first privately-funded spacewalk, from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Tuesday. It marks the start of the SpaceX's five-day Polaris Dawn mission.

Due to "unfavourable weather" the blast-off was delayed for almost two hours.

ALSO READ | Human health in space: Charting the unknown on Polaris Dawn mission

The four crew onboard include billionaire Jared Isaacman, retired Air Force Thunderbirds pilot Lt Colonel Scott Poteet, and two SpaceX engineers--Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon.

This is the first privately funded spacewalk. Earlier, only government-funded astronauts have carried out spacewalks.

The spacewalk is scheduled for late Wednesday or Thursday, midway through the five-day flight. Follow the mission here: https://www.spacex.com/follow-dragon

The plan is to spend 10 hours at that height filled with extreme radiation and riddled with debris before reducing the oval-shaped orbit by half.

Isaacman and Gillis will take turns briefly popping out of the hatch and also test their white-black-trimmed custom suits and see how they’ll hold up in the harsh vacuum.

Both will always have a hand or foot touching the capsule or attached support structure that resembles the top of a pool ladder. There will be no jetpack showboating and no dangling at the end of their 12-foot (3.6-metre) tethers. Only NASA's suits at the space station come equipped with jetpacks, for emergency use only.

Pilot Scott Kidd Poteet and SpaceX's Anna Menon will monitor the spacewalk from inside. Like SpaceX's previous astronaut flights, this one will end with a splashdown off the Florida coast.

SpaceX teamed up with Isaacman to pay for spacesuit development and associated costs.

William Gerstenmaier, SpaceX vice president said that we are starting to push the frontiers with the private sector.

As SpaceX astronaut trainers, Gillis and Menon helped Isaacman and his previous team and NASA's professional crews prepare for their rides.

boeings-troubled-capsule-returns-to-earth-empty-2-astronauts-left-behind-in-space

Sat Sep 07 22:50:31 IST 2024

Boeing's first astronaut mission ended Friday night with an empty capsule landing and two test pilots still in space, left behind until next year because NASA judged their return too risky.

Six hours after departing the International Space Station, Starliner parachuted into New Mexico's White Sands Missile Range, descending on autopilot through the desert darkness.

It was an uneventful close to a drama that began with the June launch of Boeing's long-delayed crew debut and quickly escalated into a dragged-out cliffhanger of a mission stricken by thruster failures and helium leaks. For months, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams' return was in question as engineers struggled to understand the capsule's problems.

Boeing insisted after extensive testing that Starliner was safe to bring the two home, but NASA disagreed and booked a flight with SpaceX instead. Their SpaceX ride won't launch until the end of this month, which means they'll be up there until February more than eight months after blasting off on what should have been a quick trip.

Wilmore and Williams should have flown Starliner back to Earth by mid-June, a week after launching in it. But their ride to the space station was marred by the cascade of thruster trouble and helium loss, and NASA ultimately decided it was too risky to return them on Starliner.

So with fresh software updates, the fully automated capsule left with their empty seats and blue spacesuits along with some old station equipment.

She's on her way home, Williams radioed as the white and blue-trimmed capsule undocked from the space station 260 miles (420 kilometers) over China and disappeared into the black void.

Williams stayed up late to see how everything turned out. A good landing, pretty awesome, said Boeing's Mission Control.

Cameras on the space station and a pair of NASA planes caught the capsule as a white streak coming in for the touchdown, which drew cheer.

There were some snags during reentry, including more thruster issues, but Starliner made a bull's-eye landing, said NASA's commercial crew program manager Steve Stich.

Even with the safe return, I think we made the right decision not to have Butch and Suni on board, Stich said at a news conference early Saturday. All of us feel happy about the successful landing. But then there's a piece of us, all of us, that we wish it would have been the way we had planned it.

Boeing did not participate in the Houston news briefing. But two of the company's top space and defense officials, Ted Colbert and Kay Sears, told employees in a note that they backed NASA's ruling.

"While this may not have been how we originally envisioned the test flight concluding, we support NASA's decision for Starliner and are proud of how our team and spacecraft performed," the executives wrote.

Starliner's crew demo capped a journey filled with delays and setbacks. After the space shuttles retired more than a decade ago, NASA hired Boeing and SpaceX for orbital taxi service. Boeing ran into so many problems on its first test flight with no one aboard in 2019 that it had to repeat it. The 2022 do-over uncovered even more flaws and the repair bill topped $1 billion.

SpaceX's crew ferry flight later this month will be its 10th for NASA since 2020. The Dragon capsule will launch on the half-year expedition with only two astronauts since two seats are reserved for Wilmore and Williams for the return leg.

As veteran astronauts and retired Navy captains, Wilmore and Williams anticipated hurdles on the test flight. They've kept busy in space, helping with repairs and experiments. The two are now full-time station crew members along with the seven others on board.

Even before the pair launched on June 5 from Cape Canaveral, Florida, Starliner's propulsion system was leaking helium. The leak was small and thought to be isolated, but four more cropped up after liftoff. Then five thrusters failed. Although four of the thrusters were recovered, it gave NASA pause as to whether more malfunctions might hamper the capsule's descent from orbit.

Boeing conducted numerous thruster tests in space and on the ground over the summer, and was convinced its spacecraft could safely bring the astronauts back. But NASA could not get comfortable with the thruster situation and went with SpaceX.

Flight controllers conducted more test firings of the capsule's thrusters following undocking; one failed to ignite. Engineers suspect the more the thrusters are fired, the hotter they become, causing protective seals to swell and obstruct the flow of propellant. They won't be able to examine any of the parts; the section holding the thrusters was ditched just before reentry.

Starliner will be transported in a couple weeks back to NASA's Kennedy Space Center, where the analyses will unfold.

NASA officials stressed that the space agency remains committed to having two competing U.S. companies transporting astronauts. The goal is for SpaceX and Boeing to take turns launching crews one a year per company until the space station is abandoned in 2030 right before its fiery reentry. That doesn't give Boeing much time to catch up, but the company intends to push forward with Starliner, according to NASA.

Stich said post-landing it's too early to know when the next Starliner flight with astronauts might occur.

It will take a little time to determine the path forward," he said.

human-health-in-space-charting-the-unknown-on-polaris-dawn-mission

Sat Aug 31 14:36:26 IST 2024

‘Sometimes the hardest journeys require the most patience’, posted Jared Isaacman on X as he and his crewmates await to embark on the ‘Polaris Dawn’ mission. This is a historical mission, with Polaris Dawn completing the first-ever private spacewalk and travelling farthest to the earth since Apollo. Over half a century has passed since humans have flown this far from Earth. Isaacman will fly as Polaris Dawn's mission commander, and will be joined by the mission's pilot, retired United States Air Force (USAF) Lieutenant Colonel Scott "Kidd" Poteet, and the first two SpaceX employees to launch to orbit, Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon, who both work as Lead Space Operations Engineers. Gillis and Menon will serve as mission specialists.

The team at TrialX is eagerly awaiting the launch of the mission they are integral to. In the last few months, they have been working to develop the EXPAND app, in partnership with the Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH) at the Baylor College of Medicine for the Polaris Dawn crew.

As part of the mission, the four-member crew will conduct a wide range of experiments to collect data on various aspects of human health in space. These studies will examine environmental factors, health and hygiene, personality development, vital signs, cognitive function, vision, motion sickness, decompression sickness, Spaceflight Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome (SANS), space radiation, and more.

All health data will be collected using integrated wearables and devices, along with nearly 30 surveys embedded in the EXPAND App. This comprehensive approach is designed to provide valuable insights into how the unique conditions of space affect human health at both physiological and molecular levels.

Additionally, the crew will collect biological samples to contribute to a biobank, aimed at uncovering the molecular changes that occur during spaceflight. A paper detailing the creation and purpose of this biobank, with the most extensive collection of data ever assembled for aerospace medicine and space biology. has been published in Nature, underscoring its significance for future research.

TrialX’s remote data collection platform is the backbone of the EXPAND App, providing a robust and secure system for data collection, management and analysis. The platform integrates seamlessly with various health monitoring devices and sensors, ensuring real-time data capture, implementing top-tier security protocols and is designed to handle large volumes of data, including genomic data.

TrialX was chosen by TRISH in 2021 to build the innovative centralised data repository and analytics platform for the first all-civilian Inspiration4 mission. The database was built as part of TRISH’s EXPAND (Enhancing eXploration and Analog Definition) programme, a multi-year initiative developed to help the NASA Human Research Program to reduce the risk to human health in space. The database supports a variety of data types across a multitude of individual research studies and currently houses data from subjects across six space missions – Inspiration 4, MS-20, Axiom-1, Axiom-2, Axiom-3 and Polaris Dawn. It equips space researchers to reuse and integrate research data across different research studies and unlock innovative actionable insights.

TrialX has always been on the forefront of cutting edge clinical research solutions and space health informatics. From launching the first clinical trials app on Google Health in 2008, to powering online patient recruitment and research data collection for space missions, co-founders Sharib Khan and Chintan Patel are on a mission to facilitate One Billion Health Research Contributions.

"Our mission at TrialX has always been to bridge the gap between research and participants, whether on Earth or in space. Partnering with TRISH to support commercial space missions allows us to extend our commitment to advancing clinical research, using technology to empower both researchers and participants in groundbreaking ways," said CEO and cofounder Sharib Khan.

Khan and Patel first crossed paths at Columbia University, where their strong rapport led to the founding of TrialX Inc. and a partnership that has spanned over 16 years. Headquartered in New York, with presence in India, the Philippines, and Romania, the company is committed to accelerating clinical research and bridging the gap between research and patients—both on Earth and beyond.

Khan brings a deep understanding of clinical research and digital health to the table. With a background in medical sciences and biomedical informatics, he has been a driving force behind TrialX’s mission to democratise clinical research by using technology to engage and empower patients. Patel, with his background in computer science and a passion for healthcare innovation, plays a crucial role in driving technology solutions that make clinical research more accessible and efficient. Their shared vision and commitment to innovation and patient-centricity continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in clinical trials and space health.

More recently, TRISH, in collaboration with consortium partners Massachusetts Institute of Technology and California Institute of Technology, has partnered with TrialX to develop a software platform for a portable device that acts as a “to-go” version of the EXPAND master repository. This portable device is designed to extend the repository’s capabilities, allowing spaceflight participants to access their previously collected health information and store new data offline during their mission.

Upon returning to Earth, the device will automatically synchronise all collected data with the EXPAND Master Repository. If a participant continues on another segment of their space journey, the portable device will seamlessly transfer their existing health data from one mission segment to the next. By tackling the challenges of data transfer and interoperability in space, this portable solution aims to enhance the efficiency and quality of healthcare for astronauts.

The Polaris Dawn mission was initially slated to launch on August 27, but was delayed to August 28 due to technical issues and then postponed again, due to splashdown weather concerns for the end of the mission.

national-space-day-isros-new-system-to-detect-space-junk

Fri Aug 23 23:12:49 IST 2024

The ISRO has developed a system to track active and dead satellites, said ISRO chairman S Somnath. He added that Safe and Sustainable Operations Management will detect space junk formed due to the collision of objects in space.

Somnath was speaking at the National Space Day celebrations held on Friday in Delhi. The National Space Day fete is held to mark the first year anniversary of the Chandrayaan-3 moon mission.

Detailing ISRO's policy against littering in space, Somnath said the system also tracks the movement of unwanted satellites and anything that is above 10 cm in size. "We have created a mathematical model for the same. We can model them, we can understand them, we can predict their movement. We already have certain observational capabilities. And are now trying to expand it," he said. ISRO has vowed to bring satellites back to Earth after the completion of their mission life.

The ISRO chairman reminisced about the Chandrayaan-3 mission and the impact the mission had on the country. He also briefed on the National Space Day celebration held with the participation of departments, ministries, educational institutions, science organisations, NGOs, and the general public.

The event held at Bharath Mandapam Convention Centre in New Delhi also saw President Droupadi Murmu sharing her concern over the space debris as a result of numerous satellites being placed in orbit. "Space debris can cause problems for space missions," she said while lauding ISRO for setting itself a target to make future space missions debris-free by 2030.

The President also appreciated the ISRO System for Safe and Sustainable Operations Management Facility, which ensures continuous progress of space research activities.

The event was also attended by Minister of State for the Department of Space, Dr Jitendra Singh. The minister said that the government has set a target of $ 44 billion in revenue by 2032. As per the new report released by a European consulting firm, the space sector generated $60 billion in revenue in the last ten years against an investment of $13 billion.

national-space-day-why-it-is-a-significant-milestone-in-indias-space-journey

Thu Aug 22 15:26:37 IST 2024

India is gearing up to celebrate its first National Space Day on August 23, the date on which Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram Lander successfully landed at the ‘Shiv Shakti’ point on the Moon’s south polar region last year.

This day was officially announced by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a tribute to the scientists, engineers, and researchers who have driven India's space program to international prominence. The celebration aims to inspire future generations to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), while also highlighting the societal benefits of space technology.

“For India, National Space Day symbolises a significant milestone in its space exploration journey. It marks India's status as the fourth country to successfully land on the Moon and the first to reach its southern polar region. This achievement not only enhances India's reputation in the global space community but also serves as a catalyst for increased interest in space science among the youth. The day is an opportunity to showcase the impact of space missions on daily life, emphasising how advancements in space technology can lead to improvements in various sectors, including agriculture, communication, and disaster management,” remarked Srimathy Kesan, founder and CEO of Space Kidz India, which is into design, fabrication and launch of small satellites, spacecraft and ground systems.

ISRO Chairman S Somanath, had announced plans for 70 launches over the next five years. This ambitious goal aligns with India's growing capabilities in space technology and reflects its commitment to expanding its space exploration agenda. Given ISRO's track record of successful missions and increasing technological advancements, this target is deemed feasible. The planned launches will likely include a mix of satellite deployments, interplanetary missions, and international collaborations, contributing to India's strategic objectives in space. In addition to this the construction of a new launch pad at Kulasekarapatnam is anticipated to begin before the next National Space Day in 2025. This facility is expected to enhance India's launch capabilities.

Interestingly India's space startup ecosystem is rapidly evolving, with several notable companies making significant contributions to the industry. Some of the top Indian space startups include, Agnikul Cosmos that is known for its innovative launch vehicle solutions. Skyroot Aerospace that focuses on developing small satellite launch vehicles and Pixxel that specialises in satellite imagery and data analytics etc.

Various stake holders in the space ecosystem feel that the celebration of National Space Day is expected to foster greater awareness of space science and technology among rural populations. “Through various outreach programs, including educational workshops and mobile exhibitions, ISRO aims to engage students and communities in rural areas. These efforts are designed to demystify space technology and illustrate its relevance to everyday life, thereby inspiring interest and participation in the field of space science among youth in these regions. National Space Day serves as a pivotal platform for celebrating India's achievements in space exploration while inspiring future generations to engage with science,” added Kesan.

Involving private companies in space exploration is comparatively new for ISRO. The shift has been made possible under the stewardship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Modi has uniquely encouraged the private sector to participate, which is uncommon for Indian government programmes. In 2020, the government reformed the space sector to encourage private companies’ involvement. On June 20, 2024, Jitendra Singh, Union Minister for Science and Technology, mentioned that space startups in India had grown from just one in 2022 to nearly 200 in 2024. He credited this increase to the sector’s reforms.

These applications from Indian companies requested help with authorisations, guidance, facility access, technology transfers and consultancy. By January 1 this year, various private entities had signed 51 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) and 34 joint project plans to assist with space activities.

“India has effectively gathered technologies from various countries. It has combined them to create something uniquely Indian. Chandrayaan-3 is a great example of this approach. ISRO said the mission cost just $74 million (about Rs 610 crore), which is less than a commercial airplane and surprisingly low for a spacecraft. This was partly achieved by using affordable off-the-shelf parts along with custom-made ones and by partnering with private companies for some development and manufacturing,” remarked space expert Girish Linganna.

The Centre is planning to launch a month-long campaign starting on Friday, August 23, to celebrate the first-ever ‘National Space Day’. This special day will celebrate India’s outstanding space missions and inspire the country’s youths with a theme that embodies the spirit of exploration: ‘Touching Lives while Touching the Moon: India’s Space Saga’. This theme highlights how India’s space missions not only achieve incredible milestones, such as reaching the Moon, but also make a positive impact on everyday life.

The National Space Day is meant to celebrate key achievements in space exploration, showcase progress in space technology and spark greater interest in space science among students. It also aims to increase public awareness about the benefits of space exploration while promoting national pride and unity. This day will be celebrated with a series of exciting events across the country, aimed at honouring India’s space achievements and inspiring future generations.

“With Chandrayaan-3, India has demonstrated its dominant role in growing global space market and aims to have 10 percent share of the global space economy in the next 10 years from $9 billion to $45 billion. Indian Space Policy 2023, ISRO and IN-SPACe have created a framework that provides the opportunity for startups to build critical technologies including small rockets, multi-sensor (fusion) satellite constellations, optical space communication, in-orbit maintenance & manufacturing. As India looks to the future ISRO carries the vision to build human space flight, space station and sending an Indian to the moon by 2040,” said Vishesh Rajaram, Managing Partner at Speciale Invest a seed-stage venture capital firm that invests in founders building technologies of tomorrow.

Interestingly the Indian space technology startup ecosystem has experienced remarkable growth over the past decade, especially post the sector’s liberalization, the government has significantly enabled the private sector's development through multiple initiatives. Key measures such as the Indian Space Policy, 2023, the National Geospatial Policy, 2022, as well as amendments to the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy highlight the support ISRO and In-SPACe have taken for the private space sector.

“Recently, the announcement of allocation of a Rs 1,000 crore venture capital fund during the Union Budget 2024 and the announcement of a Public-Private Partnership to develop a comprehensive Earth Observation System, are very positive indicators of the belief of the Government to substantially enhance the sector's progress. As an ecosystem, we still look up to the government for the creation of pathways for commercialisation via the private sector, streamlining and accelerating FDI applications and regulatory processes, and exploring updates to taxation policies on intellectual property in the deep tech sector. These efforts will support innovation and drive continued growth and success,” remarked Akash Yalagach, CTO and Co-Founder, KaleidEO.

what-are-2024-qa-and-2024-jv33-nasa-warns-of-two-gigantic-asteroids-racing-towards-earth

Mon Aug 19 10:51:58 IST 2024

NASA has issue a warning about two asteroids -- Asteroid 2024 QA and Asteroid 2024 JV33 -- moving really fast towards towards our planet, according to a report.

What is Asteroid 2024 QA?

Asteroid 2024 QA is an aircraft-sized rock with a length of 23.5 metre and a diameter of 41.3 metre. The gigantic rock belonging to Apollo asteroid group is expected to come as close as 7,06,502 km from the Earth.

It is travelling at a speed of 21.66 km per second. However, we need not worry as the asteroid will not change its path, all thanks to Earth's gravitational force, reports News9Live. It has been classified as a Near-Earth Object.

What is Asteroid 2024 JV33?

Asteroid 2024 JV33 is a building-sized rock which has a length of 207 metre and a diameter of 335 metre. The closest the asteroid will come near Earth is 4,58,663 km and it's expected to happen on August 19.

This has prompted NASA to categorise the Apollo group asteroid as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid. It's speed is 11.08 km per second.

Though it is extemely close, it is expected not to deviate from its path, according to News9Live.

why-is-isros-third-developmental-flight-sslv-d3-unique

Tue Aug 13 19:44:54 IST 2024

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up to launch the Earth Observation Satellite-08 (EOS-08) on Friday at 9:17 am using the third developmental, Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV)-D3. The launch is planned to occur at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

This is the third developmental flight (SSLV-D3), the first one being the SSLV-D1 which was launched on August 7, 2022, carrying the Microsat 2A and AzaadiSAT satellites. Unfortunately, it did not achieve its goal of placing the satellites in their intended circular orbit due to a sensor failure that the ground control teams did not detect.

The second SSLV development flight, SSLV-D2, took place on February 10, 2023. This mission successfully launched the EOS-07 (Earth Observation Satellite-07), Janus-1, and AzaadiSAT-2 satellites into an orbit 450 kilometres above Earth.

Why is this launch special?

Space experts say that the SSLV is a three-stage rocket, with the first three stages powered by solid propellant. The final stage, known as the terminal stage, features a liquid propulsion system called the Velocity Trimming Module (VTM) and a payload adapter. The VTM is used to adjust the rocket's speed when needed, while the payload adapter securely attaches the payloads to the top of the rocket, ensuring their safe delivery into space.

The VTM makes adjustments by releasing small amounts of liquid fuel to create thrust. This thrust can either increase or decrease the rocket's speed, allowing precise control over its velocity. By carefully managing these bursts of thrust, the VTM helps guide the rocket into its intended orbit.

The rocket is 2.1 meters wide and 34 meters long, with a liftoff weight of about 120 tonnes. It offers different options for mounting various types of satellites, including nanosatellites (1 to 10 kilograms), microsatellites (10 to 100 kilograms), and mini-satellites (100 to 500 kilograms).

“The SSLV can be launched quickly when needed, allowing ISRO to serve the growing market for small satellite launch services efficiently. This launch vehicle can send one satellite weighing up to 500 kg into a planar orbit, 500 km above the Earth and is capable of conducting six to eight missions each year,” said space expert Girish Linganna.

Additionally, it can carry up to three different satellites, with weights ranging from 10 to 300 kg, to the same 500-km orbit, he added.

A planar orbit is a flat, horizontal path around the Earth, allowing satellites to maintain a consistent altitude and position relative to the Earth's surface. The rocket can transport payloads of up to 500 kg to low-Earth orbit (LEO) and up to 300 kg to sun-synchronous orbit (SSO).

Low Earth Orbit (LEO), ranging from 160 to 2,000 km, hosts Earth observation, communication, scientific satellites, and space stations like the ISS. Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO), typically 600 to 800 km high, is ideal for satellites needing consistent lighting, such as Earth observation, remote sensing, and weather satellites.

“The SSLV is designed to be a cost-effective choice for launching into space. It offers the flexibility to carry multiple satellites and can be ready to launch quickly. The SSLV requires minimal infrastructure, has a short turnaround time, and can be built faster by industries. It also requires very little time at the launch pad, allowing integration and launch within 24 hours,” remarked Linganna.

The EOS-08 satellite is created to improve monitoring of the environment, aid in managing natural disasters, and support the Gaganyaan mission. The Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) development project by ISRO has been completed with SSLV-D3. Designed to launch small satellites, SSLV will now move to regular missions managed by Indian companies and NewSpace India Limited (NSIL). This shift enhances private sector involvement in India's space industry and boosts satellite launch capabilities.

The satellite carries three payloads namely the Electro-Optical Infrared Payload (EOIR), the Global Navigation Satellite System-Reflectometry (GNSS-R) payload, and the SiC UV Dosimeter.

EOIR is a device that captures images using infrared light, specifically in the Mid-Wave Infrared (MIR) range of 3-5 micrometres and the Long-Wave Infrared (LWIR) range of 8-14 micrometres, making it useful for surveillance, disaster monitoring, fur detection, volcanic activity and environmental studies both during the day and at night.

On the other hand, the Global Navigation Satellite System-Reflectometry (GNSS-R) is an instrument that uses signals from satellites to study various environmental factors, such as ocean winds, soil moisture, floods and inland waterbody detection. Then there is the SiC UV Dosimeter which is a sensor that detects ultraviolet radiation and alerts for high levels of gamma radiation, helping to keep astronauts safe.

“EOS-08 is built on the Microsat/IMS-1 bus, which is a compact and efficient satellite platform designed for small satellites. It operates in a circular low Earth orbit at an altitude of 475 kilometres and an inclination of 37.4 degrees. The satellite weighs about 175.5 kilograms, generates around 420 watts of power, and is designed to function for one year,” said Linganna.

“EOS-08 marks a major step forward in satellite technology by featuring an Integrated Avionics system. This system, called the Communication, Baseband, Storage, and Positioning (CBSP) Package, combines essential functions like communication, data processing, storage, and positioning into one unit. This integration improves efficiency and performance, making the satellite more capable and reliable,” he pointed out.

why-elon-musks-spacex-crew-dragon-was-chosen-to-handle-the-return-of-sunita-williams-from-iss

Sun Aug 25 09:23:37 IST 2024

Eighty days since they took off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida onboard Boeing’s Starliner mission, astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore will have to remain on the International Space Station (ISS) till February 2025. Their return journey to Earth ran into trouble because of issues plaguing the Boeing Starliner spacecraft.

With the Starliner suffering setbacks with helium leaks and thrusters, NASA on Saturday deemed it was too risky to bring the two astronauts back in the capsule. Instead, the space agency decided to turn to Elon Musk's SpaceX’s workhorse Crew Dragon spacecraft.

NASA administrator Bill Nelson said NASA considered its extensive experience with spaceflight — both successful and unsuccessful — when they decided to opt for SpaceX. The agency also held a poll of its representatives from across its departments and oversight and development centres. He added that NASA lost two space shuttles "as a result of there not being a culture in which information could come forward."

"Spaceflight is risky, even at its safest and even at its most routine. And a test flight, by nature, is neither safe, nor routine," he said.

The starliner will fly home empty in early September.

SpaceX, which has been conducting astronauts to the ISS since 2020, has a routine mission scheduled in September, called Crew-9. This will now have to be reconfigured to carry Williams and Wilmore. It will have to scrap the initial plan to send a four-person crew and leave two seats for the duo. New Dragon spacesuits for the astronauts, along with other necessary supplies, will be brought to the station in the coming months. SpaceX will work with NASA to decide which astronauts will not fly to the ISS on Crew-9.

It was during 2020 that SpaceX’s Crew Dragon completed its first crewed test flight, thereby earning certification from NASA. The successful flights of SpaceX's workhorse.

Over the last four years, it has carried a dozen crews to and from the ISS.

SpaceX president and chief operating officer Gwynne Shotwell has shared that her company is ready to work with NASA to bring back astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams on the Crew Dragon spacecraft.

congress-aims-for-unity-in-jk-ahead-of-assembly-polls

Thu Aug 29 22:38:34 IST 2024

“While both public and private sectors face cyber security challenges, the public sector tends to be more exposed to the threats in an ever-evolving landscape,” consultancy major KPMG said in a recent report. A Palo Alto study last year said that 67 per cent of Indian government and critical public sector installations had a 50 per cent increase in cyber attacks

It is no exaggeration. From the country’s premier medical institution—the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) came under not one, but two malware attacks over the course of one year—to premier banks losing money, India, and particularly its public sector, remain vulnerable to cyber crimes in what is one of the top five cyber attacked countries in the world.

ALSO READ | India's defence, other govt departments fell prey to cyber attacks in 2024, Telegram a hotbed: Report

“India’s public sector is the Achilles’ heel of our national cyber security,” said Trishneet Arora, founder and CEO of the cyber security company TAC Securities. “The absence of an actionable risk management system and outdated infrastructure leave critical systems vulnerable to cyber threats.”

Banks, including public sector banks, are a particularly high-value target. According to data, there were 248 successful breaches of Indian banks by cyber attackers in the four year period between 2018 and 2022, primarily card information leakage and theft. However, in a serious incident in November last year, UCO Bank had reported erroneous crediting of more than 800 crore rupees via IMPS. The bank later managed to recover nearly 80 per cent of the amount through actions like freezing accounts.

After a cyber security and information technology examination, or CSITE, identified vulnerabilities in certain Indian banks, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had in March this year cautioned banks to adopt cyber security measures. RBI’s deputy governor T. Rabi Sankar, speaking at a banking conference in February, had called on banks to upgrade their encryption systems to counter artificial intelligence (AI)-spawned attacks.

RBI has also instituted a dedicated Cyber Security Framework for Scheduled Commercial Banks.

For India’s public sector undertakings (PSU), the problems stem from “legacy systems, staff training, bureaucratic complexities, relying on third parties, difficulties in continuous monitoring and real-time threat detection (and) cultural resistance to change, scarcity of specialised cyber security personnel...(all) leaving these institutions vulnerable to evolving cyber risks,” according to Ruchin Kumar, vice president (South Asia) of Futurex, a US-based cyber security company.

So what can be done? Modernising IT infra and complying to cyber security regulations would be a no-brainer, but many PSUs still don’t allocate enough budget, or specialised personnel, for this. “Furthermore, strengthening third-party and supply chain security, promoting inter-agency collab and enhancing threat detection capabilities are vital components of this approach,” added Ruchin Kumar. With cyber threats always evolving, it is imperative that PSUs invest in continuous monitoring tools and stay updated. They also need to enhance security by following government updates, including encryption and tokenisation to protect sensitive data, as well as deploying hardware security modules (HSMs) to manage and protect cryptographic keys.

ALSO READ | 'Data breach, ransomware threats amount to cyberattack on India, not trolling Prime Minister or LoP online'

The situation is even more critical for public sector banks, as they deal in millions of financial transactions daily. “Cyber criminals obtain data from social networks and are also learning new technologies to make cyber attacks,” pointed out Rajendra K. Sinha, professor and chairperson, Centre of Excellence in Banking, JAGSoM. “Further, they use methods that are not easily detected by endpoint protection code.”

So what can the hapless ordinary citizen who is a bank customer do? Sinha has some tips in addition to training and awareness of bank staff and customers. “Precautionary measures include changing passwords regularly with strong password, removing personal information from social media, and not opening emails from an unknown source.”

amity-school-students-win-international-space-settlement-design-competition-at-nasa

Thu Aug 08 22:33:38 IST 2024

A team of 10 students from Amity International School at Pushp Vihar in New Delhi has won the International Space Settlement Design Competition held at National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

The competition was held at the Kennedy Space Centre of the US space agency in Florida from July 26-29.

The Balderol space settlement designed by the winning team aims to establish a large-scale, sustainable community on the moon, providing a residential and working environment for 12,000 full-time residents, the Amity school said in a release.

Designed to support data centres and associated industries, the settlement will also accommodate up to 1,500 transient visitors and 4,500 annual rotational workers, including engineers and technicians, it said.

The team comprises Samaya Chauhan, Akshita Bhandari, Dhruv Bhandari, Aaditya Raj Verma, Namya Jain, Yash Wadhwa, Avneet Kaur Virdi, Taarush Goswami, Daksh Dhull and Arsh Arora.

They participated in the international event after winning national and Asian rounds.

Arsh Arora, a class 12 student, was also awarded the ‘Dick Edwards Leadership Award’ for his leadership skills in the company of over 60 students from different parts of the world.

“We, at Amity, are committed to the holistic development of the students and nurture their skills and talent so that they are ready for all championships, at national as well as international level,” said Dr Amita Chauhan, Chairperson, Amity International Schools.

Dr Ameeta Mohan, Principal, Amity International School Pushp Vihar, stated, “Our students are prepared to showcase their talent at various platforms and proper guidance and training is provided to every student, and enable them to develop their skill sets.”

isro-axiom-space-collaboration-to-have-a-significant-impact-on-global-space-exploration

Mon Aug 05 19:38:23 IST 2024

The partnership between India’s space agency, ISRO and Axiom Space for the Axiom-4 mission is a major achievement in India’s space exploration efforts. Set to launch in October 2024 for the International Space Station (ISS), this mission highlights the importance of working together globally, advancing technology and the increasing involvement of private companies in space activities. Interestingly, this mission will include a crew of four astronauts, Peggy Whitson (Axiom Space), Shubhanshu Shukla (ISRO), Sławosz Uznański (POLSA/ESA) and Tibor Kapu (HUNOR) from Hungary. It also has a backup crew which includes Michael López-Alegría (Axiom Space), Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair (ISRO) and Gyula Cserényi (HUNOR) from Hungary.

Axiom Space, established in 2016 by Michael T. Suffredini and Kam Ghaffarian, is a major provider of human spaceflight services and builder of human-rated space infrastructure. Located in Houston, Texas, the company plans to create the first-ever commercial space station, known as Axiom Station. Axiom Space conducts complete missions to the ISS while working on developing its replacement, the Axiom Station. Additionally, the company is designing next-generation spacesuits for use in low-Earth orbit (LEO) on the Moon and beyond.

The Axiom-4 (Ax-4) is a private spaceflight heading to the ISS and is set to launch in October 2024. This mission will last around 14 days and will be managed by Axiom Space using a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft. The mission will launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, utilizing a Falcon 9 rocket. The astronauts will go through extensive training that includes scientific research, technology demonstrations and space outreach activities.

“NASA will provide essential to the Axiom-4 mission, including key services, through a Special Order and a reimbursable Space Act Agreement. These services include supplying the crew, delivering cargo, offering storage and providing daily resources while in orbit. The astronauts, including those from India, will undergo training at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. This training is crucial to prepare them for the mission and ensure their safety and effectiveness in space. The agreement with NASA also includes up to seven extra days on the ISS in case of unexpected issues, allowing the mission to adapt as needed,” explained space expert Girish Linganna.

He explained that there is also a special order and space act agreement which includes a detailed plan that describes the services NASA will provide for the Axiom-4 mission. “Providing food, clothes and other necessary items for the astronauts. Transporting and storing the equipment and supplies needed for the mission and making sure that astronauts have access to such essentials as power, water and air while on the ISS. Allowing up to seven extra days on the ISS in case of delays or emergencies,” added Linganna.

Under the reimbursable Space Act Agreement is a financial deal where Axiom Space pays NASA for the services they provide including training using NASA’s facilities and knowledge to train the astronauts, access to NASA’s training centres and other buildings and help and support for the launch and return of the mission.

There would also be scientific experiments on Axiom-4. Under this, ISRO has planned five experiments for Axiom-4. These experiments, created in India, will explore different scientific and technological areas. Some experiments will be done with other space agencies, adding more scientific value to the mission. Besides this, NASA will help carry out these experiments by providing the necessary resources and expertise. This includes setting up and operating scientific equipment on the ISS. Broadly the experiments will focus on materials science, biology and Earth observation, using the unique microgravity environment of space to make new discoveries.

“One of the unique technical features of this mission is the integration of advanced life support systems and autonomous docking capabilities in the Crew Dragon spacecraft. These systems are designed to provide a safer and more efficient environment for the crew, reducing the need for manual intervention and allowing astronauts to focus on their scientific and operational tasks. Additionally, the spacecraft is equipped with state-of-the-art communication systems that enable real-time data transmission and high-definition video streaming back to Earth, enhancing mission control and public engagement,” said Srimathy Kesan, founder and CEO of Space Kidz India, which is into design, fabrication and launch of small satellites, spacecraft and ground systems.

She added that the mission will also involve the deployment of cutting-edge scientific instruments and experiments. For instance, the crew will conduct research on the effects of microgravity on human physiology, which is crucial for long-duration space missions. They will also test new materials and technologies that could be used in future space habitats and vehicles. These experiments are designed to push the boundaries of our current knowledge and pave the way for future innovations in space exploration.

“A particularly exciting aspect of this mission is the zero-gravity experience it offers. This environment allows for unique scientific experiments that cannot be conducted on Earth. For example, the behavior of fluids, combustion, and biological processes in microgravity can provide insights that are impossible to obtain under normal gravitational conditions. This experience is not only scientifically valuable but also crucial for preparing astronauts for long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars,” remarked Kesan.

By partnering with Axiom Space, ISRO leverages private sector expertise and resources, significantly reducing costs compared to traditional government-led missions. This approach aligns with the global trend of commercial space ventures, making space exploration more economically sustainable. This partnership exemplifies the growing role of commercial entities in space exploration. Unlike traditional partnerships that are often government-to-government, this collaboration involves a private company, highlighting a shift towards more diverse and inclusive space missions.

The mission is a critical step in India's human spaceflight program, particularly in the context of the upcoming Gaganyaan mission. The experience and insights gained will be invaluable for ISRO as it prepares for its ambitious goal of sending Indian astronauts to space independently. The mission supports a variety of scientific experiments and technological tests in the unique microgravity environment of space. This focus on diverse scientific objectives underscores the mission's critical role in advancing our understanding of space and its applications.

ISRO's collaboration with Axiom Space is a landmark event that combines technical innovation, economic feasibility, and international cooperation. It sets a new standard for future space missions and highlights the evolving landscape of global space exploration

There have been previous Axiom Missions which include Axiom Mission 1 (Ax-1) that was launched on April 8, 2022. This mission was the first fully privately funded and managed mission to send a crew of four astronauts to the ISS. During their 17-day stay, they carried out various scientific experiments and technology demonstrations. Besides this, there was the Axiom Mission 2 (Ax-2) which was a private space mission operated by Axiom Space. It launched on May 21, 2023, using a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The mission successfully docked with the ISS on May 22. After spending eight days on the ISS, the Dragon crew capsule, named Freedom, undocked and returned to Earth 12 hours later. This mission, which lasted 10 days, emphasised scientific research and educational outreach activities.

The Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) was also a privately funded space mission to the ISS, launched on January 18, 2024. The mission lasted 21 days and concluded with a successful splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean. The goal of this mission was further scientific research and promoting international collaboration in space.

gaming-industry-a-major-contributor-to-indias-growth-story

Mon Aug 05 15:02:57 IST 2024

The online gaming industry in India has been on a transformational journey with a promising growth trajectory, despite regulatory ambiguities and a high tax rate. Not only has it been a major contributor to the broader media & entertainment space but has also become an integral component of the Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming & Comics (AVGC) sector in India, drawing significant government support, with many states crafting their own AVGC policies to give a boost to the sector.

With over 1,400 homegrown online gaming companies, India’s online gaming sector is uniquely positioned to support the goals of our country's economic growth ambitions, attract large foreign investments, generate sizeable employment, and spur innovation. Consequently, it has the potential and the necessary elements to become a global supplier and establish itself to become India’s soft power on the global front.

India hosts the second-largest community of gamers globally and has become a popular choice in the entertainment sector, which clearly reflects a transformative shift in the entertainment consumption pattern. With this being said, the online gaming industry goes beyond the premises of entertainment; it opens up opportunities in various other allied industries such as UI/UX design, data engineering, development, programming, testing, sales, branding & marketing, etc. It also fuels innovation in emerging sectors like AI/ML, cybersecurity & cloud, and fintech.

Currently, this sector alone provides over 1 lakh jobs to the skilled workforce of the country and is expected to add 1.5 lakh more by 2025. Further, with only 31% of the rural population using the internet compared to 67% of urban residents, as per the India Inequality Report 2022, there is a significant economic opportunity to increase internet access and digital inclusion in rural areas.

A recent report by the EGROW foundation and Primus Partners states that there has been a 20-fold increase in the workforce between 2018-2023, with a 97.56% compounding annual growth rate. In terms of workforce participation, the industry has significant male participation and was mostly viewed as a male-dominant industry for the longest time. But what truly stands out is the evolving gender dynamics in this space, with female workforce participation far outpacing male workforce participation, achieving a massive 103.15% CAGR in the same period.

Moreover, there has been a steady increase in female participation in gaming. As of 2022, about 43% of women engaged in online gaming daily, with most female participation from non-metro cities. Furthermore, the sector not only recognizes the contribution that women bring to the creative and business processes but also fosters a more inclusive environment for them to thrive. This is evident in the surge in female gaming content creators and streamers in the country.

The findings of the report also highlight the sector’s contribution to the AVGC industry, which is projected to rise 68% by 2026. The government has provided much-needed impetus to the industry by charting out a forward-looking path, constituting a task force, and setting up the first National Centre of Excellence solely dedicated to the AVGC industry.

However, for the industry to thrive and enter the next phase of growth, the government must come out with a national AVGC policy that has been in the works for some time.

Despite the tremendous growth seen by the industry, certain concerns pertaining to excessive screen time, addiction and financial fraud remain. This becomes even more critical in the context of teenagers and young adults who need to be made aware of responsible gaming practices. In this regard, the recent installation of 'Beware of Smartphone Zombies' signboards in Bengaluru is a stark reminder of the growing epidemic of digital distraction. While some of these concerns are being addressed by the industry, more can be done to safeguard vulnerable consumers. For instance, to limit exposure to screen time and mitigate financial risk for the consumer, features such as time limits, monetary limitations and exclusions have been introduced by several gaming platforms with the aid of technology.

Further online gaming platforms often require personal information such as name, age, contact details, and in case of real money gaming, also financial information. With this comes the risk of data breaches and related concerns such as identity theft leading to financial fraud. In this context, Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures play a critical role in helping protect both consumers as well as businesses from fraud. Further, online gaming intermediaries are required to process and store digital personal and non-personal data in compliance with the applicable data protection laws of India. However, until the Digital Personal Data Protection Act comes into force, this remains a voluntary effort.

Last but not the least, a sector which holds substantial economic promise deserves regulatory backing and clarity. For much of its existence, the industry has operated self-sufficiently, wherein the collective efforts of the industry have led the way for a more robust, responsible, and accountable ecosystem. However, regulatory ambiguities and uncertainties have time and again created roadblocks for Indian gaming startups, and therefore, it is necessary that regulatory clarity be provided, and as a first step, the amended IT rules be implemented.

With an encouraging regulatory environment, the online gaming industry, which has seen a 27.45% CAGR between 2019 to 2022, in its contribution towards the country’s GDP, can further enhance India's growth story and solidify its position as a disrupter in the global gaming landscape.

(The author is a Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, and former Minister of State for GAD, Education, Health, Maharashtra).

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK.

india-should-read-nanotechnology-road-map-for-achieving-net-zero-commitment-by-2070

Fri Aug 02 21:58:02 IST 2024

India should come out with a road map for nanotechnology usage in order to achieve net zero commitment by 2070. More R&D programmes should be carried out in academic institutions and industries.

Nanotechnology offers novel approaches to capturing and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and industrial processes. Nanomaterials and Nanotubes can selectively absorb carbon dioxide from gas mixtures, making the capture process more efficient. Nanotechnology can also improve the storage and conversion of captured carbon dioxide and can fasten the conversion of Carbon dioxide into useful chemicals and fuels helping in the reduction of greenhouse gas concentration.

These observations were made by Rajeevan Madhavan Nair, former secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences and Vice Chancellor of Atria University. He was speaking about the 'Use of Nanotechnology for Mitigation of Climate Change' on the sidelines of the 13th edition of the Bengaluru India NANO Summit.

Nair cited research to say that avoiding a climate disaster will require 10 billion tons of CO2 emissions to be eliminated from the atmosphere each year by 2050 through decarbonisation and capture. “Novel nanomaterials and other nanotechnology-enabled innovations can help accelerate the current timeline and decrease the cost associated with many of the technologies being used and developed. Nanotechnology can act as a catalyst for innovation in key areas and industries that could help accelerate progress towards climate change mitigation and sustainable goals in the short term,” remarked Nair.

The Bengaluru INDIA NANO Summit is being organised by the Department of Science & Technology, Government of Karnataka, Karnataka Science and Technology Promotion Society (KSTePS), and Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR). It was inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Karnataka Siddaramaiah in the presence of the Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka D.K. Shivakumar. This year's theme has been Nanotechnology for Sustainability: Climate, Energy, and Healthcare.

Bharat Ratna Prof. C.N.R. Rao was felicitated during the inauguration. “I urge our scientists and engineers to innovate solutions in nanotechnology for critical areas such as food and energy security, water purification, healthcare, and waste management. Addressing the challenges posed by urbanization and environmental hazards requires robust international collaboration and a strong link between academia, industry, and research to advance this promising technology for the benefit of humanity,” said Siddaramaiah while inaugurating the summit.

This years conference included a one-day pre-conference tutorial which is being followed by two days of a multi-track conference. The pre-conference tutorials covered topics including Nano Fabrication, Nano Characterisation, and Nano Biology. During the opening plenary session featured Prof. Pulickel Ajayan, Chair of the Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering at Rice University, USA, who explored the transformative impact of nano-engineered materials on technology.

The Global Innovation Alliance Partner Countries of Karnataka including the USA, Netherlands and Germany also conducted sessions in the conference. The Poster Showcase, a highlight of Bengaluru India Nano, featured research from over 200 young researchers across academic and research institutions like various IITs, BITS Pilani, University of Mysore, SASTRA Deemed University, CSIR National Physical Laboratory, IISER, JNCASR, IISc- Bangalore, JAIN University, NIT Rourkela, REVA University, Bangalore University, Institute of Chemical Technology- Mumbai, TamilNadu Agriculture University- Coimbatore, Vellore Institute of Technology, Indian Institute of Space Science & Technology etc.

The event also has an exhibition that showcases the latest innovations, products, and technologies in nanotechnology. Around 50 companies, research institutions, and startups are presenting their nanotech products and services in the exhibition.

group-captain-shubhanshu-shukla-to-lead-indo-us-mission-to-the-international-space-station

Fri Aug 02 21:54:38 IST 2024

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Friday announced that Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is chosen to fly on the upcoming Indo-US mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Shukla is designated as the prime astronaut to fly on the mission, while Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair will be the backup astronaut.

In an official release, the ISRO said its Human Space Flight Centre has entered into a space flight agreement with US' Axiom Space Inc. For the mission, the National Mission Assignment Board has recommended two ‘gaganyatris’.

The Board has "recommended two 'gaganyatris' (space travellers) --Group Captain Shukla (prime) and Group Captain Nair (backup),” read the statement.

"The assigned crew members will be finally approved to fly to the International Space Station by the Multilateral Crew Operations Panel (MCOP). The recommended gaganyatris will commence their training for the mission from the first week of August 2024," said ISRO.

The 'gaganyatris' will be undertaking selected scientific research and technology demonstration experiments on board the ISS and engage in space outreach activities, it added.

"The experiences gained during this mission will be beneficial for the Indian Human Space Programme and it will also strengthen human space flight cooperation between ISRO and NASA," the Indian space agency said.

A joint statement issued by ISRO and NASA IN June last year had envisioned a joint ISRO-NASA mission to the space station. The decision was announced after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official state visit to the US.

Who is Group Shubhanshu Shukla?

Born in Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow in 1985, Shukla is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy. He was commissioned on June 17, 2006 in the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force (IAF).

He is a Fighter Combat Leader and a test pilot with approximately 2,000 hours of flying experience. He has flown a variety of aircraft including Sukhoi-30MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, and An-32, among others.

Who is Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair?

Born in Kerala's Thiruvazhiyad on August 26, 1976, he is also an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and a recipient of the Sword of Honour at the Air Force Academy. He was commissioned on December 19, 1998 in the fighter stream of the IAF.

Group Captain Nair is a Category-A flying Instructor - the highest that a pilot can achieve, and a test pilot with approximately 3,000 hours of flying experience. He has also flown several aircraft including Sukhoi-30MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Hawk, Dornier and An-32.

He is an alumnus of the United States Staff College and a Directing Staff at the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and the Flying Instructors School, Tambaram.

mbu-launches-balloon-satellite-in-partnership-with-narl

Tue Jul 30 19:43:31 IST 2024

Mohan Babu University (MBU), in association with the National Atmospheric Research Laboratory, has launched a ‘High-Altitude Balloon Satellite’. The MBUSAT-1 project, which was launched in November last year, gives students and faculty real-world experience in space technology and atmospheric science.

The project also aims to ignite a passion for science and space exploration in young minds through community outreach programs, shaping the next generation of scientists and engineers. MBUSAT-1 will enable young innovators to pursue a career in the growing space industry as well.

According to university officials, a key goal of the project is collecting vital atmospheric data to enhance weather forecasting and disaster management, with the potential to save lives. MBU has selected as many as 25 students from various engineering disciplines to lead this ambitious effort. Specialised teams under faculty guidance will also formed under the project.

The project, partnering with NARL, boasts impressive cost-effectiveness, with a total investment of only Rs 1.5 lakh, making it an economical and efficient endeavour.

“The launch of MBUSAT-1 underscores MBU's dedication to advancing space research and educational excellence,” said pro-chancellor Vishnu Manchu.

NARL, a leading research institution, provides technical skills and experience in satellite design, testing, and launch operations. The collaborative venture between MBU and NARL marks a significant advancement in India’s space research efforts.

indian-space-tech-sector-secures-record-funding-of-dollar126-million

Tue Jul 30 16:54:24 IST 2024

The Indian Space Tech startup ecosystem witnessed record funding of $126 million, a 7 per cent increase from the $118 million raised in 2022 and a 235 per cent increase from $37.6 million in 2021. India is home to more than 100 space tech startups, the majority of them being founded in the last past 5 years.

Bengaluru leads the list of top-funded cities in India's space tech sector, followed by Hyderabad and Chennai. The top investors in this sector are Speciale Invest, Anicut Capital, and GrowX Ventures, highlighted the recent Space Tech Geo Report 2024 by Tracxn (a data intelligence platform for private market research). The report gives an overview of the Space Tech sector in India, focusing on recent trends, funding dynamics, and key developments.

As per the report, Skyroot Aerospace was the highest-funded, with overall funding of $99.8 million, followed by Pixxel at $71.7 million and Agnikul at $61.5 million. The recent Union Budget has allocated Rs 1,000 crore to support space technology startups, aimed at boosting the sector’s development and attracting further investment. This initiative, along with the establishment of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) in 2022, is expected to drive substantial innovation and growth.

The report finds that in 2024, the year-to-date funding stands at $10.8 million. Despite a global slowdown in funding, the Indian space tech sector has been experiencing an upward trend, driven by substantial government support and significant innovations. The report highlights that India has emerged as a formidable player in the global space technology arena. Currently, India boasts 55 active space assets, including communication, meteorological, and earth observation satellites.

Interestingly, the Indian space tech sector's funding landscape is predominantly driven by early-stage investments. In 2023, early-stage rounds attracted $120 million of the total $126 million raised, reflecting a notable growth from $114 million in 2022, which represents a 5 per cent increase.

In 2024, early-stage funding has reached $8.5 million to date. Seed-stage funding has also seen a significant rise, growing from $4.3 million in 2022 to $5.3 million in 2023, marking a 24 per cent increase. However, despite this growth in early-stage and seed-stage funding, the nascent ecosystem for private sector participation in Indian space tech startups has not yet experienced any late-stage funding.

The top funded business models in this space include Small Satellite Launch Vehicles, Satellite Imaging Services, and Satellite Communication Services. Notably, the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle segment has attracted $168 million to date, with Skyroot raising the highest funding in this category.

Despite the vibrant funding landscape, no acquisitions have been observed in 2024 YTD. The only acquisition to date is the 2022 purchase of Prakshep, a satellite imagery provider for the agricultural industry, by Arya. Additionally, the sector is yet to witness the emergence of unicorns. MTAR and Ananth Technologies are the only public companies in this space.

“India’s space tech sector is growing rapidly, thanks to strong government support and a dynamic startup scene. The significant funding and strategic investments we're seeing now are setting the stage for India to become a major player in the global space industry,” said Neha Singh, Co-Founder of Tracxn.

“Looking ahead, we expect the sector to attract even more investment, sparking more innovation. The combination of solid early-stage funding and supportive government policies will be key to driving this growth and establishing India as a leading centre for space exploration and technology,” she added.

The privatisation of the space sector has catalysed a multi-fold increase in activity. The International Astronautical Federation awarded India the prestigious World Space Award for its successful launch of Chandrayaan 3, which made history in 2023 as the first mission to achieve a soft landing on the moon's south pole. This landmark achievement has set a global standard for India’s potential and cost-effective engineering in the space tech industry.

An interesting highlight of the report is that space tech startups based in Bengaluru have contributed to more than 55 per cent of the total funding in this space, and it is also the city with the highest number of space tech startups. The evolution of the space industry highlights a global shift from government control to private-sector collaboration.

The report observes that the United States, a pioneer in privatising its space industry with the 1984 Commercial Space Launch Act, has significantly benefited from private company contributions through NASA's Artemis program. Federal funding for NASA has consistently increased, with $24.8 billion allocated in the 2024 budget.

In terms of geographic funding, the US remains a leader in space tech startup funding, although it has seen a decline from $5.5 billion in 2021 to $660 million in 2024. Europe, on the other hand, has seen increased funding in its space tech sector, with $407 million raised in 2024 to date, following a record $512 million in 2023.

The UK, while experiencing fluctuations in funding, shows signs of recovery with $135 million raised in 2024 to date. Similarly, the UK has invested €50 million in its Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) sector since 2017, employing a hybrid model that leverages private technologies for space missions.

The report further points out that in recent years, the European Space Agency (ESA) has shifted to a competition-based model, inviting more private players to develop and launch space missions. This strategic shift, driven by a series of delays and failures in rocket launches, aims to attract private investment and boost entrepreneurship in the region.

Despite the existence of the ESA, countries like Germany, Italy, and France maintain their space research agencies, working in collaboration with the ESA. The ESA's budget for 2024 is $8.3 billion, a 10 per cent increase from the previous year, with significant contributions from Germany, France, and Italy. A major portion of this budget is allocated to Earth Observation operations (30 per cent), followed by space transportation and navigation.

India's space tech sector is also growing rapidly, fueled by government support and a dynamic startup ecosystem. Significant funding and strategic investments are positioning India to become a major player in the global space industry, with expectations of attracting more investment and sparking further innovation.

hp-launches-ai-pcs-elitebook-ultra-and-hp-omnibook-x

Mon Jul 29 20:55:04 IST 2024

HP is strongly vouching for AI PCs and has unveiled two new laptops targeted at large enterprises, startups, and retail consumers. The newly launched laptops include the HP EliteBook Ultra and HP OmniBook X, being HP’s first Copilot plus PCs.

Both laptops are designed and engineered around the Snapdragon X Elite processor and its Neural Processing Unit (NPU)6, which have the capability of 45 trillion operations per second (TOPS) that can run language models and generative AI locally on the device.

Representatives at HP say that the innovations in their new offerings are designed to enhance work efficiency, boost security, and offer personalized experiences for hybrid work styles.

“We are unveling our AI PCs in India with the HP EliteBook Ultra and HP OmniBook X. These AI PCs are designed to create more personalized and meaningful user experiences. By integrating advanced AI capabilities, we are making technology smarter, more intuitive, and more responsive to individual needs,” remarked Vineet Gehani, Senior Director Personal Systems, HP India.

The EliteBook Ultra has AI capabilities and has one of the thinnest designs in its class. This model also has enterprise-grade endpoint security to safeguard data, in order to safeguard against sophsiticated cyberattacks. On the other hand, the HP OmniBook X is designed specifically for retail customers including creators and freelancers and has advanced AI features, which has the capability to improve video quality and collaboration experiences. It is very well suited for tasks such as video editing, graphic design, and remote meetings.

Interestingly, the new HP AI laptops come with built in HP AI Companion, a personal AI-assistant for enhancing productivity and creativity. With this, the users will be able to experience a personalized approach using generative AI to analyze and assess personal files to get more refined, focus responses or outputs. These models also have Copilot+ which will help in creating a more personalised and powerful computing experience.

Besides these the Poly Camera Pro in these laptops will enhance virtual interactions across all collaboration and streaming apps across multiple cameras. Poly Camera Pro uses the NPU to power AI enhancements like Spotlight, Background Blur and Replace, Auto Framing, and more, allowing the CPU to maintain performance more efficiently while preserving battery life.

Both the HP EliteBook Ultra and HP OmniBook X weigh 1.3 kgs and offer up to 26 hours of battery life. The HP Elitebook Ultra is available in HP World Stores and HP Online stores at a starting price of Rs 1,69,934 in Atmospheric blue colour and the HP OmniBook X is available in HP World Stores and HP Online stores at a starting price of Rs. 1,39,999 in Meteor Silver colour.

it-is-very-important-to-defend-the-earth-from-asteroids-isro-chairman-somanath

Wed Jul 03 21:15:55 IST 2024

“It is very important to defend the Earth from asteroids and we need to prepare ourselves with a little bit of defence from the asteroids though they are not going to come and attack us like missiles, guns or laser beams but will simply come and hit us and can be dangerous,” remarked ISRO Chairman S Somanath while speaking on a Workshop on Planetary Defence on the sidelines of the International of International Asteroid Day 2024. He said that no one nation can defend the earth against the Asteroids alone and a joint effort of different nations in the world is needed to serve the purpose.

S Somanath added that India as a space-faring nation is very keen to work on this. Debate and discussions are required to save the Earth from any such kind of catastrophe.

Speaking at length on asteroids, Somanath said that there were lakhs of asteroids mainly between Mars and Jupiter. “Asteroids are small in size compared to the celestial bodies such as the Sun, the Moon and the planets but have huge energy. Some of them are as big as 1000 kilometers. They move at tremendous speeds and it is very important to understand them. Many missions have gone to asteroids and collected samples.

"It is more challenging to go to Asteroids when compared to other planetary objects such as the Moon as the Moon has a definite path around the Earth. Landing on an Asteroid is much more trickier because of their shape. However many many nations have done this which is remarkable,” said Somanath.

The ISRO chairman also recalled the Hollywood movie “Armageddon' that focused on a large asteroid en route to Earth with the possibility to destroy life. He also recalled the June 30t incident in 1908 wherein a huge blast from an asteroid had flattened about 2200 square kilometre of forest destroying nearly 80 million trees in Tunguska a remote location in Siberia, Russia.

In accordance with the UN resolution in 2016, International Asteroid Day is celebrated to “observe each year at the international level the anniversary of the Tunguska impact over Siberia Russian Federation, on 30t June 1908 and to raise public awareness about the asteroid impact hazard”.

The workshop on planetary defence was the first of its kind in the country and aimed to raise awareness on the impact threats of asteroids, the importance of asteroids research for a better understanding of our universe and also inspire participants to find innovative solutions for planetary defence.

Planetary defence involves early detection of hazardous asteroids, their continual observation for better characterization and risk assessment and devising an appropriate risk mitigation strategy. Several scientific missions for asteroid exploration and sample return have improved the understanding of the asteroids and the recent successful demonstrations of kinetic impactor technology for asteroid deflection by DART mission has further spurred global interest in this field. Due to this, ISRO has also initiated focused activities towards planetary defence.

13th-edition-of-bengaluru-india-nano-event-all-you-need-to-know

Tue Jul 02 17:56:40 IST 2024

The 13th edition of ‘Bengaluru INDIA NANO’, the country's flagship event in the Nanotech sector, will have the theme Nanotechnology for Sustainability: Climate, Energy, and Healthcare. The three-day event which will take place from August 1st – 3rd, 2024 in Bengaluru is expected to attract 25 sessions, more than 75 speakers, over 700 delegates and 3,500 attendees. The event is being organised by the Department of Science & Technology, Government of Karnataka, Karnataka Science and Technology Promotion Society (KSTePS) and Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR).

“Sustainability is now an impending necessity. The impacts of climate change are increasingly visible, manifesting in rising temperatures, natural calamities, and widespread displacement. Simultaneously, the world is grappling with severe economic and environmental consequences of energy crises. While industries are striving to develop green and clean energy solutions, these efforts alone may not be sufficient to achieve true sustainability. Health challenges, highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic, have exposed critical vulnerabilities in healthcare systems globally. This pandemic was neither the first nor will it be the last; thus, our preparedness and resilience are of utmost importance,” observed N. S. Boseraju, Minister of Minor Irrigation and Science & Technology, Government of Karnataka.

Nanotechnology has the promise to deliver small-sized but high-impact solutions, which can potentially revolutionise our approach to these global issues, he added.

The event will have speeches and engaging panel discussions by eminent experts from around the globe and the conference will address cutting-edge developments in nanotechnology and its applications in climate, energy, healthcare, electronics and semiconductors.

Professor Pulickel Ajayan - Chair, Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering, Rice University, Balajee Sowrirajan - Managing Director, SSIR; Professor Neetu Singh - Professor & Head, Center of Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi; Professor Dhirendra Katti - Director, Indian Institute of Technology Goa; Professor Nitash Balsara - The Charles W. Tobias professor in Electrochemistry, University of California, Berkeley besides others will be the main speakers at the conference.

Pre-conference Tutorials will offer in-depth knowledge and hands-on experience in various aspects of nanotechnology, catering to both beginners and seasoned professionals. The Pre-conference Tutorial will delve into topics such as Nano Fabrication and Nano Characterisation, The Poster Showcase at the event is expected to give an opportunity to more than 175 young researchers from academia and research institutions to display their research posters. The exhibition at the event will showcase the latest innovations, products, and technologies from leading companies, research institutions and startups in the field of nanotechnology. More than 50 organisations will also be showcasing their Nanotech products & services.

It was announced that the event will also witness the bestowing of the ‘Prof. C.N.R. Rao Bengaluru INDIA NANO Science Award’ for making meaningful contributions to Nanoscience. Additionally the ‘Bengaluru INDIA NANO Innovation Award’ will be presented for Innovative and Disruptive Technology Development in Nanotech. There will also be other awards such as the Nano Excellence Award- to the best researchers in the realm of Nanoscience; Best Poster- The Best Students for revolutionary research; and Exhibitor Awards- For the best showcase across various categories during the event.

There would also be the National Nanotech Quiz which will feature participation of students from across the country. The first 2 rounds of the Quiz will be held digitally while the final showdown will take place in person at the event for the first time. The event will also host an array of programmes such as NanoSparX- a startup pitching initiative, as well as B2B partnering meetings.

explained-sunita-williams-and-butch-wilmores-unforeseen-extended-stay-in-space

Thu Jun 27 15:03:27 IST 2024

Off late there have been talks about Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, two accomplished NASA astronauts, who are currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and awaiting their return to earth. Originally scheduled to depart on June 13, their mission has been indefinitely postponed due to technical issues with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft that transported them to the ISS.

The delay is attributed to a series of helium leaks and thruster problems detected on the Starliner. NASA and Boeing engineers are diligently working to resolve these challenges and ensure the safe return of the astronauts. While the mission has faced setbacks, NASA has emphasised that Williams and Wilmore are not 'stranded' and can undock from the ISS and return to Earth whenever necessary.

But only time will tell as to when and how both the astronauts return to Earth. NASA is taking a cautious approach, allowing mission teams ample time to thoroughly review the spacecraft's propulsion system data before authorising the return. This decision reflects the agency's commitment to prioritising the safety and well-being of the astronauts.

“The challenges faced by the Starliner are not unprecedented in the history of space exploration. Previous missions, such as the Apollo 13 incident in 1970, have also encountered unexpected obstacles, requiring astronauts and ground crews to demonstrate resilience and ingenuity. The Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) Gaganyaan mission has also faced delays due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite the current setbacks, NASA and Boeing remain dedicated to the successful completion of the Starliner's inaugural crewed mission. This mission is a crucial step in the agency's Commercial Crew Program, which aims to establish reliable and cost-effective access to the ISS for American astronauts,” remarked Srimathy Kesan, founder and CEO of Space Kidz India, which is into design, fabrication and launch of small satellites, spacecraft and ground systems.

However, there is no denying the fact that Boeing’s first manned flight of its Starliner spacecraft did not go as planned. Despite claiming they were prepared after years of testing, the spacecraft encountered problems and had to remain docked to the International Space Station (ISS). The issues include helium leaks and malfunctioning thrusters in the propulsion system. Consequently, the spacecraft’s return to Earth has been postponed indefinitely while the team works on fixing the glitches.

“Ensuring the safe return of NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry ‘Butch’ Wilmore is NASA’s main priority. However, the recent technical delays faced by Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft raise concerns about the future of the programme and the company’s involvement in space missions. Boeing’s prime concern is to prove it can safely transport mission crew and overcome the technical snags afflicting both the spacecraft and the company’s commercial aviation division,” pointed out space expert Girish Linganna.

After the mission is over, NASA and Boeing will need to go through a thorough certification process in order to use the Starliner spacecraft for regular crew rotation missions. This will involve flying a full crew of four astronauts for extended stays on the ISS. Once certified, the Starliner will join SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft as a transportation system for NASA.

“NASA is keen on having two reliable systems for transporting astronauts to the space station, as it provides a backup in case one system encounters any issues. This is all part of a $4.2-billion contract that NASA awarded to Boeing 10 years ago and they are eager to see the Starliner fulfil its role in space exploration. Boeing has faced numerous challenges, including an expensive failed test flight in 2019. Currently, the company is focused on launching the Starliner for regular crewed missions that are vital for Boeing to recover from significant financial losses and begin generating revenue,” added Linganna.

As per media reports, Wayne Hale, a former director of NASA’s space shuttle program, has observed that Boeing was carefully evaluating the situation and would not risk astronaut safety. Securing post-certification missions is critical for both Boeing and SpaceX, as these missions are essential for their financial recovery and profitability. The success of the Starliner programme is crucial for determining Boeing’s financial future.

The Starliner spacecraft has encountered multiple challenges related to small helium leaks, which have caused significant delays in its launch and return. Initially, NASA and Boeing attributed the leaks to a faulty seal. But later, they admitted to being unsure about the exact cause. The teams are also investigating the sudden failure of five of the spacecraft’s thrusters during its approach to the space station on June 6. This unexpected event compelled NASA to request Boeing to manoeuvre the vehicle backward and reactivate the thrusters to bring them back online.

“The situation is more complicated because the helium and thruster issues are in Starliner’s service module. This part of the spacecraft provides most of its engine power. Before the spacecraft returns to the Earth, the service module is detached and burns up in the atmosphere. Engineers want to figure out the problems while they still have access to the hardware,” explained Linganna.

Originally, the Starliner was scheduled to return home on June 18, but NASA moved that date to June 26. However, on June 21, NASA delayed the return once again to some time in July. They have cited the need for more time to address issues with the spacecraft’s propulsion system.

NASA has stated that there is no urgency to bring the astronauts back home and that the helium leaks do not pose a risk to their return. Despite some propulsion system problems, four of the five thrusters are now functioning normally out of the 28 on board, providing enough failover options. The spacecraft has the ability to stay docked in space for up to 45 days, giving the crew enough time to troubleshoot the issues. Both NASA and Boeing have held out the assurance that the Starliner will remain in good condition and can be used in case of an emergency on the space station to safely transport the astronauts back to Earth.

Steve Stich, who manages NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, has told the media that they were proceeding carefully and adhering to their standard procedures and has said the team was prioritising data-driven decisions when addressing the issues with the small helium system leaks and thruster performance observed during the rendezvous and docking process. Resolution of these problems is crucial for ensuring successful certification, according to officials. According to Stich, the whole team is trying to figure out what is going on with this vehicle for the crewed flight test and planning its return. Later on NASA is planning to review all the tasks that lie ahead once this vehicle returns with the crew.

Boeing and NASA are gathering a lot of data on their systems to prepare for their work. They have already tested the thrusters while the spacecraft was attached to the space station. Now, they are using simulators on the ground to explore different scenarios. This helps them find and fix issues to make sure the spacecraft is safe. Safety is the top priority, especially with the memory of the space shuttle Columbia disaster in 2003, where astronaut Kalpana Chawla and her crew lost their lives when the shuttle broke apart during re-entry.

As the space community closely follows this unfolding saga, it serves as a testament to the perseverance and innovation that define the pursuit of human spaceflight. Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore's extended stay on the ISS is a testament to their expertise and the resilience of the space program, as they patiently await their safe return to Earth. At the same time it has been reported that Williams and Wilmore are also eager to stay in orbit. Williams last went to space in 2012 and Wilmore in 2015.

why-is-constant-success-in-reusable-launch-vehicle-technology-significant-for-isro

Mon Jun 24 17:39:49 IST 2024

A couple of days back the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced that it had successfully completed its third reusable launch vehicle (RLV) landing experiment (LEX) at the Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) in Chitradurga, Karnataka. This time, it showed that the launch vehicle could land on its own, even in tougher conditions. This mission tested the approach and landing conditions for a vehicle returning from space at high speeds. It confirmed that ISRO had the necessary skills to develop an RLV. Earlier ISRO’s LEX-01 mission on April 2, 2023, and LEX-02 mission on March 22, 2024, had also been executed flawlessly.

Following these successful missions, ISRO announced that the RLV LEX-03 mission had, once again, demonstrated the vehicle’s ability to land autonomously. This time, it performed under tougher conditions, including a wider release range of 500 metres compared to LEX-02’s 150 metres and more challenging wind conditions. The 21-foot-long winged vehicle, called ‘Pushpak’, was dropped from an Indian Air Force Chinook helicopter at a height of 4.5 km, and a similar distance away from the runway. Pushpak then automatically adjusted its course, approached the runway and made a precise horizontal landing right at the centre of the runway.

“As this vehicle has a low lift-to-drag ratio, it had to land at a speed of over 320 km/h. In comparison, commercial planes usually land at around 260 km/h and fighter jets typically land at about 280 km/h. A low lift-to-drag ratio means an aircraft or object generates a relatively smaller lift compared to the drag it experiences, resulting in less efficient flight performance and increased fuel consumption. Drag is the force that resists an object’s motion through air or fluid, slowing it down and requiring energy to overcome,” explained space expert Girish Linganna.

ISRO noted that this mission tested and confirmed an advanced guidance algorithm that corrects errors in both forward and sideways directions. This system is crucial for future missions where vehicles re-enter Earth’s atmosphere from orbit.

“The RLV-LEX uses a combination of sensors, including an inertial sensor, radar altimeter, flush air data system, pseudolite system and NavIC. The space agency highlighted that the RLV-LEX-03 mission reused the winged body and flight systems from the previous LEX-02 mission without any changes. This shows ISRO’s strong ability to design flight systems that can be reused for multiple missions,” added Linganna.

After the success of the LEX programme, ISRO’s ‘Reusable Launch Vehicle-Technology Demonstrator’ (RLV-TD) project is set to advance by testing an unmanned Orbital Re-entry Vehicle (ORV). This new vehicle will be about 1.6 times larger than Pushpak. It will be launched into a 400-km orbit within the next two years using a modified geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle (GSLV).

The ORV mission will carry out several experiments in space. These tests are designed to evaluate a heat shield that protects against high temperatures during re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere, as well as a foldable landing gear system.

Over 50 years ago, the idea of reusable launch vehicles emerged. However, it was SpaceX that transformed this concept into reality. In December 2015, SpaceX achieved a historic milestone by successfully landing the first stage of a Falcon 9 rocket vertically on a landing pad at Cape Canaveral. Since then, the restoration of Falcon 9 boosters has become routine, and SpaceX continues to push the boundaries with innovations like the reusable nose cone and the Starship rocket—a fully reusable space vehicle currently in testing.

“An RLV is a vertical (retrograde) multistage launch system that allows for the reuse of some or all of its component stages. Unlike science fiction depictions, we haven't yet created an all-encompassing reusable launch engine that operates both in the air and space. However, progress is underway, with projects like the Sabre engine in development. Reusing the first stage and nose fairing can slash overall launch costs by 30–40 percent. SpaceX's RLV can compete across multiple payload classes (medium, heavy, and transitional) by adjusting boosters and choosing between reusable and disposable options,” said Srimathy Kesan, founder and CEO of Space Kidz India, which is into design, fabrication and launch of small satellites, spacecraft and ground systems.

“Vehicle-Technol India's space agency, ISRO, has been developing the RLV-TD—a scaled-down prototype to test technologies for future reusable launch vehicles. The RLV-TD has undergone successful hypersonic flight experiments, demonstrating crucial aspects like aerodynamic manoeuvring and autonomous landing,” she added.

This expert says that achieving vertical reusability demands intricate engineering and precise landing capabilities. “Other reusable technologies, such as horizontal (winged) launch systems, exist. These use jet aircraft as accelerators, simplifying launch requirements but sacrificing payload mass. SpaceX's success has inspired other players. As the industry evolves, RLVs will continue to shape the future of space exploration, making access to space more sustainable and economically viable,” said Kesan.

Besides India several countries have pursued, or are pursuing, programmes similar to ISRO’s RLV-TD. For instance, in the United States, the Space Shuttle is one of the most famous reusable spacecraft programmes, that operated from 1981 to 2011 and X-37B is an unmanned, reusable space plane operated by the US Air Force. Similarly in the US SpaceX Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy were partially reusable launch vehicles with landing boosters and Blue Origin’s New Shepard a reusable suborbital launch vehicle.

In Russia, too Buran which was similar to the US Space Shuttle, only flew once in 1988 and the Federation spacecraft (in development) is a planned partially reusable crewed spacecraft. Also in Europe Space Rider (in development phase) is an unscrewed, reusable space plane by the European Space Agency. China too has a reusable experimental spacecraft which was tested in 2020 but details are limited.

When one compares ISRO’s RLV-TD with other global peers it is a small-scale technology demonstrator, while some other programmes (such as Space Shuttle) were full-scale operational systems. “ RLV-TD is primarily focused on demonstrating technologies for future reusable vehicles, while some other programmes are or were operational launch systems. In design terms also RLV-TD uses a winged body design similar to the Space Shuttle and X-37B, but different from vertical landing systems, such as SpaceX’s Falcon 9. RLV-TD is still in the early testing phases, while some other programmes are operational, or in advanced stages of development. Also like the X-37B, RLV-TD is designed for autonomous operation, unlike crewed systems, such as the Space Shuttle,” pointed out Linganna.

While ISRO’s RLV-TD programme is not as advanced as some other countries’ reusable spacecraft programmes, it represents a significant step for India in developing this technology. The programme aims to reduce launch costs and increase access to space, which aligns with global trends in the space industry.

coral-bleaching-what-you-need-to-know-about-global-threat-to-oceans-impacting-reefs

Thu Jun 20 12:51:12 IST 2024

Coral bleaching has been gaining notoriety as one of the most severe threats to oceans globally. Experts worry 2024 could be the worst year yet with the fourth global coral bleaching event on record impacting reefs in at least 62 countries and territories worldwide.

These warm water anomalies, driven by climate change, threaten the survival of these vital marine ecosystems. Unless significant efforts are made the walk into the future will be slippery.

The coral reefs play a very important role as far as fisheries and tourism are concerned. They safeguard the coast and keep the coastline in check. The coral reefs form the foundation of the marine ecosystem and have their own ecosystem as well. So, if they are bleached then the economy of regions relying on such practices will degrade.

What is coral bleaching?

Corals are invertebrate animals that harbor algae cells called ‘zooxanthellae’ in their tissues. They share a symbiotic relationship and give corals their color. Coral bleaching is a defense mechanism for corals from external stressors.

“Most of the reefs in the Andamans are dying. 2024 might be the worst year in history for the marine ecosystem. The last time coral bleaching was seen as a huge threat was in 2010,” Diksha Dikshit, a marine biologist from the Andamans, told THE WEEK.

When the corals try to conserve their energy there is an expulsion of algae. When these algae are absent from the corals, they lose their color and appear white, this phenomenon is termed as coral bleaching.

A bleached coral is not necessarily dead, if conditions improve the algae will come back into the limestone structure and give back its color. Also, if water temperatures are regulated with enough sunlight to perform photosynthesis, the algae can survive.

A devastating chain reaction

A warming planet means a warming ocean. Coral bleaching impacts people’s livelihoods and food security. Coral reefs and natural barriers keep the coastal communities safe by absorbing the force of waves and storm surges. Without them, manmade seawalls will have to be made which damage the environment and are not cost-efficient.

Coral reefs are home to reef fish that hide in corals from predators or depend on corals for food and predatory fish come to the reef to hunt. Bleached corals alter the food web, breaking links between the food chain. Reef tourism is a major source of revenue and supports thousands of jobs. Bleached coral reefs, devoid of magnificent marine species, jeopardize it all.

Beyond temperature: A multifaceted problem

Corals can also bleach for other reasons like extremely low tides, pollution and lack of sunlight. Increases in intensity of cyclones, ocean acidification, extreme weather events, water pollution, overfishing and coastal development are also taking a toll on coral reefs.

Carbon pollution threatens reefs worldwide and remains their biggest threat. This has led to mass coral bleaching on The Great Barrier Reef and coral reefs globally. Even Chemicals in sunscreens have been proven to be harmful to corals.

“If we continue burning fossil fuels at the current rate then severe bleaching events are likely to hit reefs annually by the middle of the century,” says the Australian Marine Conservation Society.

Beyond the reef: global impacts

There is a significant boom in the diving industry and tourism. Since profitability is considered more important than a degrading environment. Employing individuals who are not trained or educated about the marine ecosystem while hoping to cut costs will cause more harm than good in the long run.

“Divers directly and indirectly have a role to play in bleached corals. Touching or kicking it during dives or equipment being mishandled by people who are not trained professionally can stress the algae on corals,” says Sahil a scuba diving instructor at DIVEIndia since 2012.

The power of change: sustainable practices in tourism and fishing

If we want to find a balance between coral reefs and economic development, we must bring back age-old practices and create a sustainable practice.

Although the profits generated might not be as much as using machinery, they will be healthier and more sustainable for the ecosystem. The fishing practices used currently are not species specific leading to overexploitation.

Exploring artificial reefs as a solution

Human greed must be put to an end if conservation methods must be effective. "Assisted evolution, wherein more resistant corals are created and genetically modified makes corals adaptable to changing environmental conditions, making artificially modified corals more efficient" says Diksha Dikshit. According to her, although this might be effective, its implementation is not feasible. Considering how it cannot be executed everywhere.

“We thoroughly cleaned paint, oil and other hazardous pollutants from an old scooter and sunk it to the bottom of the ocean in the Andaman Islands. This artificial reef enabled the growth of corals,” Sahil told THE WEEK.

DIVEIndia is India's largest dive center, with operations in the Andamans and training centers in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore. Andamans marine biodiversity and warm water make it the perfect dive destination They offer dive trips to some of the leading dive destinations across the world.

They work similarly to ships sunken due to shipwrecks. Corals can settle on these ships and other artificially planted objects and serve as homes to fish and other species.

On June 18, 2011, Thailand’s Department of Marine and Coastal Resources sank the ship off the coast of Koh Tao with the idea of forming a new artificial reef.

“The science behind genetically engineered drought-resistant crops serves as a blueprint for enhancing heat resistant coral reefs,” says a report by storymaps.com”

A beacon of hope: Success stories in coral conservation

A beach in Andaman, home to the Dugongs or sea cows were debated on being open to water sports. Diksha Dikshit was able to gather enough support to ensure that human intervention did not destroy another region in these Islands. Currently without funds or permits conservation efforts in real time are difficult. Wenzel, a marine researcher at the Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF) has been following a pattern on the archipelago by conducting research on corals through photography in Lakshadweep. The reef ecosystems are photographed and studied in depth through the images.

Although monsoon showers are a temporary solution, they decrease the water temperature which in turn prevents the corals from bleaching.

“10 days ago, in the Andamans, we experienced a heavy storm. The rain has cooled the water temperature down which has enabled bleached corals to slowly recover. Nature is doing its part, why aren’t we?” A question that leaves Sahil pondering.

a-game-changer-for-indias-space-ambitions-why-lvm3-is-crucial-for-isro

Wed Jun 19 16:44:17 IST 2024

Recently, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully de-orbited the cryogenic upper stage of the Launch Vehicle Mark-III (LVM3), India’s heaviest rocket. This was the second time that ISRO achieved this feat, showcasing its commitment to sustainable space operations. The upper stage, which played a crucial role in launching the OneWeb-2 mission, made a planned re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere on June 14. This step is part of ISRO’s ongoing efforts to ensure responsible space exploration.

The LVM3 is a game-changer for India's space ambitions. With a payload capacity exceeding 4 metric tons to geostationary transfer orbit, the LVM3 can shoulder the weight of far heavier satellites and even more ambitious missions. It plays a critical role in several endeavors.

After successfully placing 36 OneWeb satellites into orbit on March 26, 2023, the nearly 3-ton rocket body was left at an altitude of 450 kilometres. Identified by NORAD as object 56082, it has now been safely de-orbited and removed from space. Following standard procedures, the upper stage was made safe by using any leftover fuel to reduce the risk of accidental explosions.

“The re-entry happened as scheduled, with most of the stage burning up over the Indian Ocean. Only a few parts, such as gas bottles, nozzles and tanks, made of materials that can withstand very high temperatures, were expected to survive the intense heat of re-entry. The LVM3 rocket has three stages and includes two solid rocket boosters (S200), a liquid core stage (L110) and a powerful cryogenic upper stage (C25). The S200 boosters are among the largest in the world, each containing 204 tons of solid fuel. The L110 stage is equipped with two liquid engines and carries 115 tons of liquid fuel. The C25 cryogenic upper stage features a high-thrust cryogenic engine (CE20) and has 28 tons of fuel,” explained space expert Girish Linganna.

ISRO had announced that the cryogenic upper stage of the LVM3 M4 rocket, which launched the Chandrayaan-3 moon mission, re-entered Earth’s atmosphere uncontrollably on November 15 at about 2.42 pm. This stage, identified by NORAD as 57321, was part of the rocket that successfully placed Chandrayaan-3 into its intended orbit on July 14, 2023. The re-entry took place 124 days after launch, in compliance with the ‘25-year rule’ for low-Earth orbit (LEO) objects set by the United Nations and Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC). This guideline requires that objects in LEO re-enter Earth’s atmosphere and burn up within 25 years of the end of their mission to minimize space debris.

As per ISRO after placing Chandrayaan-3 into orbit, the upper stage underwent a process to eliminate any remaining fuel and energy sources, called ‘passivation’, which means making the rocket’s upper stage safe by draining all remaining fuel and disabling energy sources, reducing the risk of explosions or other hazards in space after its mission ends.

Earlier this month, ISRO chief S. Somanath opened new facilities at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s (HAL’s) Aerospace Division in Bengaluru. These facilities will produce fuel tanks and precise components for the LVM3 rocket. C.B. Ananthakrishnan, chairman and managing director of HAL, stated that the partnership between ISRO and HAL would speed up India’s human spaceflight missions and the creation of next-generation launch vehicles. He also mentioned that it would not be long before space became a significant part of HAL’s operations.

HAL is expanding its manufacturing facilities to produce large parts for the three-stage, 640-ton LVM3 rocket. India uses this rocket to launch 4-ton communication satellites and commercial missions that include many small satellites in large constellations.

Thanks to HAL’s expansion, ISRO will soon be able to triple the number of launches of its largest rocket, the LVM3. “Instead of only two LVM3 launches a year, ISRO will be able to carry out up to six. This is important because ISRO currently performs only about 10 launches per year with its current fleet of four different kinds of rockets,” added Linganna.

The new factory will make important fuel and oxidizer tanks for the LVM3 launch vehicle, which can be up to 4 metres wide and 15 metres long, according to a statement from HAL. It is equipped with advanced CNC machines capable of precisely creating 4.5-metre rings and tank domes for the LVM3.

Interestingly, LVM3 has played a critical role in several endeavors as Gaganyaan. India's historic human spaceflight mission hinges on the LVM3's ability to propel the crew capsule into orbit. The LVM3 can carry heavier probes and rovers, opening doors to lunar and interplanetary missions that quench humanity's thirst for knowledge about the universe. At the same time, LVM3's prowess can generate significant revenue for the Indian space program by offering reliable and cost-effective launch services to international clients.

Currently, ISRO produces around two LVM3s annually but the new facilities at HAL have the potential to significantly increase production, reaching a staggering six rockets per year. “This ramp-up translates to several advantages such as a higher production rate, allowing ISRO to meet tight deadlines for critical missions and capitalize on fleeting launch windows. Besides, India can become more self-sufficient in launching its own satellites, reducing dependence on foreign launch providers. India can also capture a significant share of the growing global demand for launch services, generating revenue for further space exploration and technological advancements,” pointed out Srimathy Kesan, founder and CEO of Space Kidz India, which is into design, fabrication and launch of small satellites, spacecraft and ground systems.

ISRO is now opening LVM3 production to the private sector, mirroring NASA's strategy following the Space Shuttle program's retirement. This move can propel India's space programme to even greater heights. Collaborating with private companies can facilitate the transfer of valuable expertise in building complex launch vehicles, fostering innovation and strengthening India's space ecosystem.

Competition in the production sector can drive down costs, making LVM3 launches more attractive to clients, both domestic and international. Besides, private companies can bring fresh perspectives and innovative approaches, accelerating the development of the LVM3 platform and its capabilities.

The global medium and heavy-lift launch vehicle market is projected to reach $9.75 billion by 2032. India, with its increased LVM3 production and potential private sector involvement, is well-positioned to grab a significant share of this lucrative market. By offering reliable, cost-effective launches, India can become a major player in the global space industry, leading to fruitful international collaborations on scientific endeavors that push the boundaries of human knowledge and understanding of the cosmos.

“The road ahead is not without challenges, such as ensuring smooth technology transfer to private players and maintaining quality control standards. However, the future looks bright for India's space ambitions, and the LVM3 production boost, coupled with potential private sector participation, presents a golden opportunity for the nation to fulfill its space-faring dreams and emerge as a leading force in the global space race,” explained Kesan.

The LVM3, India's most powerful launch vehicle, has a payload capacity of 4 metric tons to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO), which is significantly lower than that of SpaceX's Falcon 9. The Falcon 9 can carry payloads of up to 8.3 tonnes to GTO and 22 tonnes to low-earth orbit (LEO).

In terms of launch frequency, ISRO currently produces around two LVM3s annually. However, the new facilities at HAL have the potential to significantly increase production, reaching a staggering six rockets per year. In comparison, SpaceX's Falcon 9 has a higher production rate, with multiple launches per month. This is partly due to the company's reusable launch technology, which allows for faster turnaround times and increased efficiency.

“The Falcon 9 has significantly higher payload capacity than the LVM3, making it more suitable for larger and heavier satellites. While both vehicles have the potential for increased production, the Falcon 9's reusable technology allows for a higher launch frequency. The cost of launching a payload on the Falcon 9 is generally higher than that of the LVM3, although the exact cost per launch is not publicly disclosed for the LVM3,” added Kesan.

earth-s-inner-core--unambiguously--slowing-down--could-change-da

Fri Jun 14 16:49:18 IST 2024

A new study has provided "unambiguous evidence" that the Earth's inner core began to slow down its rotation in 2010, compared to the planet's surface.

Researchers said that the slowing down could change the length of one day on the Earth by fractions of a second.

The Earth's inner core, a solid sphere made of iron and nickel, is suspended within the liquid outer core (made of molten metals) and anchored in its place by gravity. Together, the inner and the outer core, form one of the planet's three layers -- the other two being mantle and crust.

Being physically inaccessible, researchers usually study the core by analysing the recordings of waves sent out by earthquakes -- seismograms.

"When I first saw the seismograms that hinted at this change, I was stumped," said John Vidale, a professor of Earth Sciences at the University of Southern California, US.

"But when we found two dozen more observations signalling the same pattern, the result was inescapable. The inner core had slowed down for the first time in many decades," said Vidale, also the corresponding author of the study published in the journal Nature.

The slowing down of the inner core is hotly debated in the scientific community, with some studies even suggesting that it rotates faster than the Earth's surface.

It is known that the spin of the inner core is influenced by the magnetic field generated in the outer core and the gravitational effects within Earth's mantle.

However, it is considered that the inner core is reversing and backtracking relative to the surface, because of rotating slower than the mantle for the first time in about 40 years.

"Other scientists have recently argued for similar and different models, but our latest study provides the most convincing resolution," Vidale said.

A study published earlier this year, in the journal Nature, had found that climate change-driven melting of ice in Greenland and Antarctica was affecting global timekeeping by slowing down Earth's rotation.

The author, Duncan Agnew, a geophysicist at the University of California San Diego, showed that the Earth's liquid core was slowing down in its rotation. To counter the effects of this, the solid Earth was rotating faster, said Agnew.

However, this has resulted in fewer 'leap seconds' being needed to be added to the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) in recent decades, according to Agnew.

Since 1972, once every few years, a 'leap second' has been required to be added, owing to irregularities in the UTC arising out of the fact that the Earth doesn't always rotate at the same speed.

For the latest study, the researchers looked at seismic data recorded from 121 repeating earthquakes - multiple quakes occurring in the same location - between 1991 and 2023 in the South Sandwich Islands, a remote archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean. The islands are prone to violent earthquakes.

Data from twin Soviet nuclear tests between 1971 and 1974, along with multiple French and American nuclear tests from other studies of the inner core, were also included in the analysis.

why-mission-trishna-has-an-edge-over-other-similar-missions--

Thu Jun 13 19:05:26 IST 2024

At a time when climate change and managing water resources are major global concerns, the importance of advanced technology for monitoring and data collection is greater than ever. One notable effort in this field is the partnership between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the French space agency, Centre National d'Études Spatiales (CNES). Together, they have developed an innovative thermal imaging satellite called TRISHNA. The satellite, weighing approximately 770 kg, is expected to orbit at an altitude of 761 km in a sun-synchronous orbit, with a local crossing time (descending node) of 1 p.m., ensuring consistent lighting conditions for its observations. The mission is set to last for five years, with a launch date targeted for 2025.

This joint mission aims to deliver high-quality thermal images to help us better understand and tackle environmental issues, especially those connected to climate change and water management. TRISHNA, short for Thermal infra Red Imaging Satellite for High-resolution Natural resource Assessment, is built to provide exceptional details about the Earth's land and water temperatures. These measurements are crucial for various uses, such as farming strategies, tracking urban heat, and managing disasters.

“The satellite’s advanced technology also addresses food security challenges by focusing on the impacts of human-induced climate change and improving water resource management through evapotranspiration monitoring. TRISHNA aims to enhance our understanding significantly and offer more accurate data for scientists, policymakers, and environmentalists around the world,” explained space expert Girish Linganna.

Evapotranspiration is the process by which water is transferred from the land to the atmosphere through two main mechanisms: evaporation from soil and water surfaces, and transpiration from plants. It's a crucial part of the water cycle and helps in understanding water use and availability, especially in agriculture and climate studies.

The TRISHNA satellite comes with two main payloads—Thermal Infra-Red (TIR) Payload provided by CNES which features a four-channel long-wave infrared imaging sensor capable of high-resolution surface temperature and emissivity mapping. Then the second payload Visible - Near Infra-Red - Short Wave Infra-Red (VNIR-SWIR) Payload developed by ISRO which includes seven spectral bands designed for detailed mapping of surface reflectance in VSWIR bands (Visible, Short-Wave Infrared) and will help generate important biophysical and radiation budget variables.

The satellite will orbit the Earth in a sun-synchronous path at an altitude of 761 km, crossing the equator at 12:30 PM local time. This orbit allows the satellite to capture images with a spatial resolution of 57 meters for land and coastal areas, and 1 km for ocean and polar regions. The mission is planned to last for 5 years.

“Thermal imaging satellites are essential for monitoring Earth's climate, water resources, and environmental changes. They use thermal sensors to detect heat variations on the Earth's surface, aiding studies on urban heat islands, agricultural health, and forest fire detection,” added Linganna.

There have been other similar programs such as the USA's Landsat, Europe's Sentinel-3, and China's Gaofen series. The Landsat program, overseen by NASA and USGS, has been providing continuous Earth observation data since 1972. This program is essential for monitoring environmental changes, land use, and natural resources with high-quality satellite images. The latest data from the Landsat program, featuring Landsat 9, is freely accessible to the public. Launched on September 27, 2021, Lands at 9 continues the work of previous satellites by offering detailed images of Earth. This data is vital for tracking land resources and understanding environmental changes. One can find this data on platforms like EarthExplorer, LandsatLook, and GloVis.

On the other hand Sentinel-3(Europe) is a key part of the Copernicus Programme, which helps monitor our oceans and land. There are two satellites, Sentinel-3A and Sentinel-3B, that provide detailed images and measurements. These satellites are useful for studying the oceans, water bodies, and land, and they play an important role in climate change research and protecting the environment. Recently, there have been some issues with the quality of Sea and Land Surface Temperature Radiometer (SLSTR)products due to satellite maneuvers, and the security system has been upgraded.

On the other hand China's Gaofen series is part of the China High-resolution Earth Observation System (CHEOS). The most recent satellite, Gaofen 12 (03), was launched in 2022. It orbits close to the poles and uses microwave remote sensing technology. This satellite helps improve land surveys, urban planning, and disaster relief efforts. Each of these programs contributes unique capabilities and data sets, advancing scientific understanding and practical applications in agriculture, water management, and disaster response.

The TRISHNA satellite, a collaboration between ISRO and CNES, represents a significant advancement in thermal imaging for climate and water monitoring. Compared to other prominent satellites, Trishna's cutting-edge technology captures high-resolution thermal data with exceptional precision. Landsat's historical data is invaluable, but TRISHNA offers higher resolution and sensitivity. Sentinel-3 excels in marine and coastal monitoring, while TRISHNA is tailored for terrestrial applications. Gaofen-5 provides detailed data on air pollution and water quality, yet TRISHNA’s focus on climate and water monitoring offers more targeted thermal data. TRISHNA’s frequent revisits and high temporal resolution enable near real-time monitoring of climatic and hydrological phenomena, enhancing our ability to track local and global climate patterns,” explained Linganna.

The ISRO-CNES collaboration on TRISHNA highlights the potential of international cooperation in addressing global challenges like climate change and water resource management. TRISHNA, with its advanced thermal imaging technology, complements existing systems by providing higher resolution data and more frequent revisit times, enhancing global environmental monitoring. Its high spatial resolution and superior thermal sensitivity place it at the forefront of thermal imaging satellites. TRISHNA's data will support applications such as agricultural planning, urban heat island analysis, and climate change studies, playing a critical role in informing policy decisions and fostering sustainable development.

“TRISHNA's technical prowess lies in its advanced payloads. The Thermal Infra-Red (TIR) payload, provided by CNES, features a four-channel long-wave infrared imaging sensor capable of high-resolution surface temperature and emissivity mapping. The Visible - Near Infra-Red - Short Wave Infra-Red (VNIR-SWIR) payload, developed by ISRO, includes seven spectral bands designed for detailed mapping of surface reflectance of VSWIR bands to generate important biophysical and radiation budget variables,” said Srimathy Kesan, founder and CEO of Space Kidz India, which is into design, fabrication and launch of small satellites, spacecraft and ground systems.

This expert further says that when compared to other thermal imaging satellites globally, TRISHNA stands out for its high spatial and temporal resolution. “If one compares it with the British company SatVu's HOTSAT-1 satellite, which also focuses on high-resolution thermal imaging, captures thermal images from space revealing the planet’s surface temperature in great detail. However, HOTSAT-1's resolution is down to 33 feet, which, while impressive, does not match TRISHNA's ambition to achieve a resolution better than 100 meters with frequent revisits several times a week,” added Kesan.

neuroscience-can-explain-why-voting-is-so-often-driven-by-emotio

Sat Jun 08 14:20:56 IST 2024

The British electorate has been more volatile than ever in recent years. The elections of 2015 and 2017 saw the highest number of voters switching parties in modern history. And current polling suggests we're about to see more of the same.

Understanding what's happening in people's brains when they are making decisions helps us understand why certain political messages appeal to them and why they might decide to switch parties.

Political scientists talk about Pedersen volatility, named after the distinguished Danish scholar Mogens N. Pedersen. There is a forbidding mathematical equation for this, but it all amounts to the net change within the electoral party system resulting from individual vote transfers.

In plain English, volatility is simply the number of people who change party in an election. In late 1960s Britain, the Pedersen index stood at just over 10%, now it is closer to 40%.

There has been much talk about the increased use of social media and its influence on election outcomes. A recent study by Professor Hanspeter Kreisi, a Swiss election expert, reported that a steady stream of argument and voting cues [are] allowing voters to make enlightened choices that are in line with their preferences.

This might well be true, but a recent study found that while politicians post more on social media during election campaigns, overall the number of posts with policy content is lower not higher.

The voting brain

One of the more interesting developments in electoral studies is that we are now able to use social neuroscience methods to understand voting behaviour.

In the past decade, neuroscience has enabled us to identify the parts of the brain that get activated when you watch political adverts. What these results show is that most people are driven by fear and emotion rather than by rational argument in election campaigns.

In practice, this means that voters are more susceptible to messages that stress the negative rather then the positive. Researchers found that negative images and statements about products led to heightened activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, which is also associated with decision making.

For example, negative information about a brand of cola made subjects more likely to buy the competing brand. However, when this experiments was repeated with political parties rather than soft drinks, the negative effect was three times higher. Negative political advertising works, and we now have the fMRI scans to prove it.

Politics is a bare-knuckle fight, and our brains reflect that. Evolution has conditioned us to be driven by fear when we are under threat. We want to survive above all.

By playing on our fear and anger, those who devise election slogans are producing perhaps deliberately messaging that triggers parts of the brain associated with revenge and pent up rage, including the so-called anterior cingulate cortex (or ACC), deep in the front part of the fissure that separates the two brain-hemispheres. So, if I am furious that Rishi Sunak has not brought NHS waiting lists down, it is likely that the ACC has gone into overdrive.

Older people who tend to vote in higher numbers are particularly interesting here. This is because as we age, we become more prone to activating the so-called dorsolateral prefrontal cortex an area of the brain associated with caution.

It is unlikely that Rishi Sunak has delved into the finer points of neuropolitics but his strategy is consistent with what we know from social neuroscience. His emphasis on need to stick to the plan and not gamble on the opposition appeals to those with oversensitive dorsolateral prefrontal cortices namely the older voter cohort he most needs to convince.

But more broadly, people of all ages have a strong tendency to activate the amygdala a part of the brain associated with fear. Only rarely do we activate the parts of the brain associated with ethical evaluation such as the so-called ventromedial prefrontal cortex.

No wonder the two main parties in the British election are focusing on fear and caution. Maybe Machiavelli got it right when he observed that voters are avoiders of danger?

Appealing to this fear, we see Rishi Sunak repeatedly warning in a very unspecified way that the world is more dangerous than ever.

And clearly realising that voters respond to promises of security, the two parties are labelling policies as a triple lock, be it on pensions or the nuclear deterrent.

The age of economic voting

The other rich seam of academic research on why voters change their minds relates to the knowledge that since the 1970s or so, voters have been more prone to base their decisions on macroeconomic performance. Thus, political parties that have presided over significant financial downturns get blamed.

This explains why the Conservatives lost in 1992 and Labour lost in 1979. Voters even change their minds based on recent economic performance even if the economic downturn is beyond the control of the government, as was the case for former Conservative prime minister Edward Heath, who lost power after the 1973 oil crisis (precipitated by a war in the Middle East).

Once a government has been associated with economic ills increases in mortgage rates, cost of living and the like they get blamed even if the economy is in recovery.

The current government's slogan that the plan is working might be economically correct, but history suggests it will not prevent voters from changing parties.

(The Conversation: By Matt Qvortrup, Coventry University)

isro-completes-its-reusable-launch-vehicle-technology-demonstrations-through-lex-trio

Sun Jun 23 10:46:28 IST 2024

Space agency ISRO on Sunday said it has achieved a third consecutive success in the Reusable Launch Vehicle Landing Experiment by demonstrating the autonomous landing capability of the launch vehicle under more challenging conditions.

This mission simulated the approach and landing interface and high-speed landing conditions for a vehicle returning from space, reaffirming the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) expertise in acquiring the most critical technologies required for the development of a Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV), the space agency said.

The third and final test in the series of Landing Experiment (LEX-03) was conducted at 07:10 1ST at the Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) in Chitradurga, Karnataka.

Following the success of the RLV LEX-01 and LEX-02 missions, ISRO in a release said, RLV LEX-03 re-demonstrated the autonomous landing capability of the RLV under more challenging release conditions (cross range of 500 m against 150 m for LEX-02) and more severe wind conditions.

The winged vehicle, named 'Pushpak', was released from an Indian Air Force Chinook Helicopter at an altitude of 4.5 km "from a release point 4.5 km away from the runway. Pushpak autonomously executed cross-range correction manoeuvres, approached the runway and performed a precise horizontal landing at the runway centreline," it said.

Due to this vehicle's low lift-to-drag ratio aerodynamic configuration, the landing velocity exceeded 320 kmph, compared to 260 kmph for a commercial aircraft and 280 kmph for a typical fighter aircraft, it added.

ISRO said, after touchdown, the vehicle velocity was reduced to nearly 100 kmph using its brake parachute, after which the landing gear brakes were employed for deceleration and stop on the runway.

During this ground roll phase, Pushpak utilises its rudder and nose wheel steering system to autonomously maintain a stable and precise ground roll along the runway, it said.

According to the space agency, this mission simulated the approach and landing interface and high-speed landing conditions for a vehicle returning from space, reaffirming ISRO's expertise in acquiring the most critical technologies required for the development of a Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV).

Through this mission, the advanced guidance algorithm catering to longitudinal and lateral plane error corrections, which is essential for the future Orbital Re-entry Mission has been validated, the space agency noted.

The RLV-LEX uses multi-sensor fusion including sensors like Inertial sensor, Radar altimeter, Flush air data system, Pseudolite system and NavIC, it said, adding "Notably, the RLV-LEX-03 mission reused the winged body and flight systems as such without any modification, from the LEX-02 mission, demonstrating the robustness of ISRO's capability of design to reuse flight systems for multiple missions."

The mission, led by Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), was a collaborative effort involving multiple ISRO centres -- Space Applications Centre (SAC), ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) and Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota.

The mission received significant support from the Indian Air Force, Aeronautical Development Establishment, Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment, Regional Centre for Military Airworthiness under Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification, National Aerospace Laboratories, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, Indian aerospace industrial partners, Indian Oil Corporation of India and Airport Authority of India.

S Somanath, Chairman, ISRO/Secretary, Department of Space, congratulated the team for their efforts in maintaining the success streak in such complex missions.

Dr S Unnikrishnan Nair, Director of VSSC, emphasised that this consistent success boosts ISRO's confidence in the critical technologies essential for future orbital re-entry missions.

J Muthupandian is the Mission Director and B Karthik is the Vehicle Director for this successful mission.

avoiding-communication-backfires--strategies-for-effective-messa

Wed Jun 05 16:28:57 IST 2024

The best graduation speeches dispense wisdom you find yourself returning to long after the graduation tassels are turned. Take the feel-good life advice in Baz Luhrmann's song to a class that graduated 25 years ago. Only on a recent relisten did I realize it also captures one of the research-based strategies I teach for avoiding communication that backfires.

The tip is hiding in plain sight in the song's title, Everybody's Free (to Wear Sunscreen). Communication aimed at promoting a certain behavior can have the opposite effect when the message is perceived as a threat to individual autonomy.

Health campaigns frequently use strongly worded messages that end up backfiring. For example, strongly worded messages promoting dental flossing made people angry and more likely to resist flossing their teeth. Coercive alcohol prevention messages, with language like any reasonable person must acknowledge these conclusions, instead increased alcohol consumption. In contrast, the wording of the title Everybody's Free (to Wear Sunscreen) is less likely to backfire by emphasizing liberty of choice.

Research reveals lots of reasons why well-meaning attempts to inform, persuade or correct misinformation go awry. Despite the ubiquity of backfires, formal instruction about why they happen and how to avoid them is rare. The omission inspired my new book, Beyond the Sage on the Stage: Communicating Science and Contemporary Issues Effectively, which translates scholarship from across disciplines into practical strategies that anyone can use to improve communication.

When new info challenges your identity

Backfires are often a response to communication of unwelcome information.

In addition to threats to autonomy, information can be unwelcome because it appears to conflict with how you think about yourself. Consider a study that asked people to read a message about genetically modified foods. Participants for whom purity, health and conscientiousness of their diet was an important part of how they defined themselves had more negative attitudes after reading a message intended to refute their views about GM food. Those who did not have a strong dietary self-concept did not react negatively to the message.

The same resistance can rise up when you're confronted with something counter to the beliefs of a group you feel a strong affiliation with. Emotional and identity attachment to a group such as a political party can cause people to subjugate their own values to align with the group, a phenomenon called cultural cognition. Reactions to messages about climate change often exemplify this phenomenon.

Against the backdrop of protests and an impending election, communication breakdowns are increasingly blamed on political polarization, with more than a hint of fatalism. But the current heavy focus on ideological differences serves only to fuel a vicious cycle that amplifies them. To halt the cycle, the focus needs to shift away from the differences. Divides are not always what they seem, and even when they are, there are often ways to bridge them.

Every person contains multitudes

Encouragingly, a study recently published by the Pew Research Center found that just 11% of Americans consider it very or extremely important that they get their news from journalists who share their political views. Less than 40% of Americans said that it was even somewhat important. The study is a reminder that we are all complex mixes of identities, and those distinct identities can offer fruitful starting points for a conversation.

As the various identities within people interact, the context can bring a particular identity to the fore. For example, a study that examined the importance of voters' identity as parents revealed that when thinking about their children, people were more willing to oppose the policies of their own political party. Animal lover is another example of an identity that researchers have time and again seen relegate party identity to the background.

Therefore, appealing to a shared identity is a strategy for bridging the divide.

Another strategy is to make it safe to go against the group without damaging an individual's connection to it. For example, people may act anonymously, which is what happened during the pandemic when some people reportedly chose to wear disguises when getting their COVID-19 vaccine.

Accidentally conveying what you don't mean

As in the case of threats to autonomy, the language you choose can minimize backfires caused by threats to group affiliations. People may agree that a proposed action is sound and consistent with their party's beliefs but still reject it if it contains even small polarizing cues. Triggers, such as words associated with the opposing party such as tax for a conservative or deregulation for a liberal, lead people to judge that their party would reject a policy. The fix is to remove both real and perceived threats to group identity by using party-neutral language.

Surprisingly, communication need not be threatening or unwelcome to backfire. It can happen when communication contains hidden unintended messages or when it inadvertently makes an undesired behavior seem normal. For example, messages from a utility about reducing energy use caused low-energy users to consume more energy when their consumption was compared with others, and anti-littering posters emphasizing the extent of the problem increased littering.

Another intuitive communication strategy that backfires is presenting information in a myth-versus-fact format. You've probably seen this format used in communications aimed at debunking myths about health, science, technology, culture and more. Yet, research demonstrates that the state-and-negate format makes it more likely people will remember myths as facts. A facts-only approach improves retention of the correct information.

Research finds where instincts lead you astray

Everybody's Free (to Wear Sunscreen), originally penned as a newspaper column by journalist Mary Schmich, doesn't tell graduates to trust their instincts, but that is commonly dispensed commencement advice.

The research demonstrates that when it comes to effective communication strategies, trusting your instincts can lead you astray. The same research provides insight into why you may instinctively react in certain ways to some messages.

So, if I were to offer this year's graduates just one tip for the future, I would encourage them to check their communication instincts against evidence-based recommendations. I would call my speech Everybody's Free (to Beat Backfire).

(The Conversation: By Sherry Seethaler, University of California, San Diego)

do-we-have-more-empathy-for-people-who-are-similar-to-us-

Wed Jun 05 12:19:05 IST 2024

How do people successfully interact with those who are completely different from them? And can these differences create social barriers? Social scientists are struggling with these questions because the mental processes underlying social interactions are not well understood.

One recent concept that has become increasingly popular is the double-empathy problem. This draws on research looking at people who are known to experience social difficulties, such as autistic people.

The theory proposes that people who have very different identities and communication styles from each other which is often the case for autistic and non-autistic people can find it harder to empathise with one another. This two-way difficulty is what they mean by the double-empathy problem.

This idea is getting a lot of attention. Research on the double-empathy problem has rapidly grown over the past decade. This is because it has the potential to explain why different people in society might struggle to empathise with one another, potentially leading to personal and societal problems; from poor mental health to inter-group tensions and systemic racism.

But is this idea accurate? Our recent paper suggests that things might be much more complicated than that.

Our analysis suggests that the double-empathy theory has many shortcomings. It highlights that there is widespread confusion surrounding the very fuzzy concept of double empathy.

The research has also narrowly focused on social difficulties in autism without considering other social identity factors that affect empathy between different groups, such as gender.

The theory also fails to incorporate the psychological neuroscience of empathy. Instead, it confuses the concept of empathy that is, psychologically feeling the emotions that other people are feeling with similar but different phenomena, such as mentalising (understanding what people are thinking from a different perspective).

Because the double-empathy theory is not well developed, most experiments testing it are muddled. Many researchers claim to be studying double empathy when they do not measure empathy. Meanwhile, other studies are being used as evidence of double empathy despite never having set out to test this theory.

Double-empathy research has also heavily relied on subjective reports of people's experiences (rather than evaluation by experts), which may not tell the whole story.

Altogether, the analysis of existing research indicates that the central claim of the double-empathy theory is not well supported. That is, being similar in identity to other people does not necessarily mean that you have more empathy for them.

This is an important issue that needs urgent attention. There are already signs that the double-empathy theory is being put into practice, despite lacking evidence.

Certain researchers and doctors have started claiming that, because there is a double-empathy problem, healthcare professionals are generally unable to understand their patients with social difficulties. But there is no reliable evidence for this.

Looking ahead, there is a need for more neuroscientific research on social interaction.

We expect that brain imaging technologies, such as hyperscanning scanning multiple human brains at the same time will help shed light on how different people's brains interact with each other. For example, this technique can be used to test how similarity between people who interact may influence their brain activity.

To make breakthroughs in this area, this technique could be used alongside artificial intelligence. Exploring whether machines can truly empathise with humans by seeing if they accurately interpret our brain waves will be of great interest.

The benefits of diversity

It is thought that people living in more socially diverse places, such as large cities, tend to be more tolerant of those who are different from them than people who live in socially homogeneous places.

They ultimately perceive themselves and others as belonging to the same local community despite ethnic and cultural differences and appear to be better at considering the perspective of others.

This suggests that spending time with people who are different to us can perhaps boost our empathy something that the double-empathy theory does not predict.

Ultimately, empathy is not just down to our ability to understand someone through their similarity. Spending time with those from other social and cultural backgrounds may make us place less emphasis on differences and discover common ground in other areas.

Human experience is vast and complex. Just because two people come from different cultures or have different communication styles does not mean they cannot be very similar in other ways.

Perhaps their values align or they have similar interests. This insight could have the potential to remove some barriers that may otherwise make it difficult to understand and empathise with others.

And, sometimes, people from similar backgrounds struggle to understand each other, yet can have great empathy for people who are completely different from them (for example, refugees fleeing war-torn countries).

Why? The double-empathy theory may not be the best way to make progress, but it might serve as a springboard for future research to answer this and other questions.

We could really harness the social science of empathy to understand these incredibly complex social issues. This might ultimately reduce societal conflict and improve social cohesion but we must get research on the right track to achieve this potential.

(The Conversation: By Luca Hargitai & Punit Shah, University of Bath; Lucy Anne Livingston, King's College London)

explained-the-tech-behind-3d-printed-rocket-and-how-agnikul-cosmos-capitalised-it

Sat Jun 01 18:21:54 IST 2024

A couple of days back Agnikul Cosmos, the IIT Madras-incubated start-up, launched the world’s first rocket with a single-piece 3D printed engine from ISRO’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre Sriharikota. This remarkable feat has been achieved entirely through indigenous design and development. This Chennai-based space startup successfully conducted a sub-orbital test flight of its 3D-printed semi-cryogenic rocket, Agnibaan.

Why is it that the launch of this 3D rocket is being hailed by space scientists and the space ecosystem? A 3D-printed rocket is a spaceship that incorporates components produced through the process of additive manufacturing utilising 3D-printing technology. When compared to conventional rockets, 3D-printed rockets demonstrate superior fuel efficiency, reduced weight, and significantly faster construction time.

“3D-printed rockets can be manufactured with integrated engines and airframes, eliminating the necessity for any connections, seams, or welds. Additive manufacturing technology streamlines production pipelines by minimising the reliance on tooling and decreasing the quantity of necessary parts. This enables aircraft firms to participate in rapid prototyping,” explained space expert Girish Linganna.

3D-printed rockets are primarily designed as satellite launch vehicles, used to move satellites and position them into precise, low-earth orbits. With further advancement, these technologies could potentially be employed for manned space travel and expeditions to Mars.

Currently, there is a wide range of objects that can be produced using 3D printing technology, and it is expected that even more items will be printable in the future. The main difficulty lies in deciding which objects should be printed and finding the most effective way to include these printed components into the larger system of the launch vehicle.

When it comes to 3D printing in the space race, startups are equally competitive, each devising their own unique technique along the way. There are a total of seven forms of additive manufacturing, but two of them are particularly prominent: powder bed fusion, specifically selective laser sintering, and directed energy deposition.

“Selective laser sintering (SLS) and selective laser melting (SLM) are 3D printing techniques that use a laser to fuse powdered metal layer by layer, creating a solid object from a digital design. In SLS, the laser heats the powder enough to solidify and bond it without fully melting, resulting in a porous structure. SLM, on the other hand, fully melts the powder, producing dense, solid parts,” said Linganna.

Directed energy deposition (DED) is a 3D printing method that builds objects by precisely depositing and melting materials layer by layer, added Linganna. “It's like a high-tech hot glue gun, but instead of glue, it uses a focused energy source like a laser or electron beam to melt metal powder or wire, creating complex three-dimensional shapes directly from a digital design. This method allows digital designs to be transformed into real, usable parts. The only size limitations are the base and the chamber where the part is created,” he said.

Some parts of a rocket, such as oxidizer tanks, propellant tanks, engine nozzle bells, outer rocket bodies, and certain pipes, are suitable for 3D printing. The list also includes combustion chambers, injectors, pumps, and valves. Parts that don't need to be extremely precise or strong can also be replaced with 3D-printed versions. However, items that need to withstand specific chemical, thermal, or strength conditions, or those that don't fit well size-wise, should be made using traditional methods. This is also true for parts requiring precision beyond what 3D printers can achieve without a lot of finishing work.

Agnikul's co-founder and CEO, Srinath Ravichandran, has said that it usually takes 72 to 75 hours to 3D print one of these engines in raw form. The startup can complete two fully finished engines in a week. He further added they can produce two fully finished engines in a week. This process includes 3D printing, de-powdering, and heat treatment. In contrast, the traditional method takes 10 to 12 weeks to create a rocket engine of a similar size.

Ravichandran has also said that their core engine is 3D printed as a single piece, including the fuel inlet, exhaust outlet, and everything in between, along with the igniter. This engine is then connected to the necessary plumbing, such as fuel pipes, pressure and temperature sensors, and valves.

The history of 3D printing technology is inseparable from the contributions of Chuck Hull, the father of 3D printing. In 1983, Hull invented stereolithography, a method that forms solid objects by successively "printing" thin layers of an ultraviolet-curable material. His invention laid the groundwork for the development of 3D printing technologies that are now integral to various industries, including aerospace.

The technical prowess of 3D printing lies in its ability to create complex geometries that are often impossible to achieve with traditional manufacturing methods. Aerospace engineers leverage this technology to fabricate lightweight, high-strength structures, optimizing the balance between performance and fuel efficiency. The process involves layer-by-layer construction, allowing for intricate designs with internal channels and cavities that enhance the engine's efficiency and thrust-to-weight ratio.

Agnikul Cosmos has utilised this technology to produce the Agnilet engine, a marvel of engineering that is printed as a single piece. This eliminates the need for assembling multiple small parts, thereby reducing potential points of failure and significantly cutting down production time and costs. The engine is designed to be powered by kerosene, a choice that strikes a balance between cost-efficiency and performance,” remarked Srimathy Kesan, founder and CEO of Space Kidz India, which is into design, fabrication and launch of small satellites, spacecraft and ground systems.

ROSCOSMOS, the Russian space agency, has embraced 3D printing for its ambitious lunar program. Plans include 3D printing lunar shelters from Moondust, which aligns with the global trend of using in-situ resources for space construction. This innovative approach is expected to support long-term lunar missions and pave the way for further space exploration.

The advancements in 3D printing for aerospace are not limited to engine design. NASA's exploration into Rotating Detonation Rocket Engines (RDRE) showcases the potential of 3D printing in creating propulsion systems that could one-day power spacecraft to Mars. The RDRE's design allows for continuous detonations within the engine, leading to more efficient fuel consumption and higher thrust compared to conventional engines.

Selective SLS and electron beam melting (EBM) are among the techniques used to 3D print rocket engine components. These processes involve fusing metal powder into a solid structure using lasers or electron beams, respectively. The precision and flexibility afforded by these methods have led to the production of parts such as the thrust chamber, injector, turbopumps, and main propellant valves with unprecedented levels of detail and strength.

“The economic implications of 3D printing in aerospace are profound. By reducing the number of components and simplifying the assembly process, the technology offers significant cost savings. Moreover, the ability to print on demand reduces inventory costs and waste, contributing to more sustainable manufacturing practices. The integration of 3D printing technology in aerospace engineering is a testament to human ingenuity and the relentless pursuit of innovation. As companies like Agnikul Cosmos and space agencies like NASA and ROSCOSMOS continue to push the boundaries of what is possible, we can expect to see more efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly solutions in the aerospace sector,” added Kesan.

how-engineered-proteins-are-broadcasting-cell-behaviour

Sat Jun 01 16:05:45 IST 2024

Waves are ubiquitous in nature and technology. Whether it's the rise and fall of ocean tides or the swinging of a clock's pendulum, the predictable rhythms of waves create a signal that is easy to track and distinguish from other types of signals.

Electronic devices use radio waves to send and receive data, like your laptop and Wi-Fi router or cellphone and cell tower. Similarly, scientists can use a different type of wave to transmit a different type of data: signals from the invisible processes and dynamics underlying how cells make decisions.

I am a synthetic biologist, and my research group developed a technology that sends a wave of engineered proteins travelling through a human cell to provide a window into the hidden activities that power cells when they're healthy and harm cells when they go haywire.

Waves are a powerful engineering tool

The oscillating behaviour of waves is one reason they're powerful patterns in engineering.

For example, controlled and predictable changes to wave oscillations can be used to encode data, such as voice or video information. In the case of radio, each station is assigned a unique electromagnetic wave that oscillates at its own frequency.

Scientists can extend this strategy to living cells. My team used waves of proteins to turn a cell into a microscopic radio station, broadcasting data about its activity in real time to study its behaviour.

Turning cells into radio stations

Studying the inside of cells requires a kind of wave that can specifically connect to and interact with the machinery and components of a cell.

While electronic devices are built from wires and transistors, cells are built from and controlled by a diverse collection of chemical building blocks called proteins. Proteins perform an array of functions within the cell, from extracting energy from sugar to deciding whether the cell should grow.

Protein waves are generally rare in nature, but some bacteria naturally generate waves of two proteins called MinD and MinE typically referred to together as MinDE to help them divide. My team discovered that putting MinDE into human cells causes the proteins to reorganize themselves into a stunning array of waves and patterns.

On their own, MinDE protein waves do not interact with other proteins in human cells. However, we found that MinDE could be readily engineered to react to the activity of specific human proteins responsible for making decisions about whether to grow, send signals to neighboring cells, move around and divide.

The protein dynamics driving these cellular functions are typically difficult to detect and study in living cells because the activity of proteins is generally invisible to even high-power microscopes. The disruption of these protein patterns is at the core of many cancers and developmental disorders.

We engineered connections between MinDE protein waves and the activity of proteins responsible for key cellular processes. Now, the activity of these proteins trigger changes in the frequency or amplitude of the protein wave, just like an AM/FM radio. Using microscopes, we can detect and record the unique signals individual cells are broadcasting and then decode them to recover the dynamics of these cellular processes.

We have only begun to scratch the surface of how scientists can use protein waves to study cells. If the history of waves in technology is any indicator, their potential is vast.

(The Conversation: By Scott Coyle, University of Wisconsin-Madison)

what-are-nootropics-and-do-they-really-boost-your-brain--

Thu May 30 11:45:47 IST 2024

Humans have long been searching for a magic elixir to make us smarter, and improve our focus and memory. This includes traditional Chinese medicine used thousands of years ago to improve cognitive function.

Now we have nootropics, also known as smart drugs, brain boosters or cognitive enhancers.

You can buy these gummies, chewing gums, pills and skin patches online, or from supermarkets, pharmacies or petrol stations. You don't need a prescription or to consult a health professional.

But do nootropics actually boost your brain? Here's what the science says.

What are nootropics and how do they work?

Romanian psychologist and chemist Cornelius E. Giurgea coined the term nootropics in the early 1970s to describe compounds that may boost memory and learning. The term comes from the Greek words n?os (thinking) and tropein (guide).

Nootropics may work in the brain by improving transmission of signals between nerve cells, maintaining the health of nerve cells, and helping in energy production. Some nootropics have antioxidant properties and may reduce damage to nerve cells in the brain caused by the accumulation of free radicals.

But how safe and effective are they? Let's look at four of the most widely used nootropics.

1. Caffeine

You might be surprised to know caffeine is a nootropic. No wonder so many of us start our day with a coffee. It stimulates our nervous system.

Caffeine is rapidly absorbed into the blood and distributed in nearly all human tissues. This includes the brain where it increases our alertness, reaction time and mood, and we feel as if we have more energy.

For caffeine to have these effects, you need to consume 32-300 milligrams in a single dose. That's equivalent to around two espressos (for the 300mg dose). So, why the wide range? Genetic variations in a particular gene (the CYP1A2 gene) can affect how fast you metabolise caffeine. So this can explain why some people need more caffeine than others to recognise any neurostimulant effect.

Unfortunately too much caffeine can lead to anxiety-like symptoms and panic attacks, sleep disturbances, hallucinations, gut disturbances and heart problems.

So it's recommended adults drink no more than 400mg caffeine a day, the equivalent of up to three espressos.

2. L-theanine

L-theanine comes as a supplement, chewing gum or in a beverage. It's also the most common amino acid in green tea.

Consuming L-theanine as a supplement may increase production of alpha waves in the brain. These are associated with increased alertness and perception of calmness.

However, it's effect on cognitive functioning is still unclear. Various studies including those comparing a single dose with a daily dose for several weeks, and in different populations, show different outcomes.

But taking L-theanine with caffeine as a supplement improved cognitive performance and alertness in one study. Young adults who consumed L-theanine (97mg) plus caffeine (40mg) could more accurately switch between tasks after a single dose, and said they were more alert.

Another study of people who took L-theanine with caffeine at similar doses to the study above found improvements in several cognitive outcomes, including being less susceptible to distraction.

Although pure L-theanine is well tolerated, there are still relatively few human trials to show it works or is safe over a prolonged period of time. Larger and longer studies examining the optimal dose are also needed.

3. Ashwaghanda

Ashwaghanda is a plant extract commonly used in Indian Ayurvedic medicine for improving memory and cognitive function.

In one study, 225-400mg daily for 30 days improved cognitive performance in healthy males. There were significant improvements in cognitive flexibility (the ability to switch tasks), visual memory (recalling an image), reaction time (response to a stimulus) and executive functioning (recognising rules and categories, and managing rapid decision making).

There are similar effects in older adults with mild cognitive impairment.

But we should be cautious about results from studies using Ashwaghanda supplements; the studies are relatively small and only treated participants for a short time.

4. Creatine

Creatine is an organic compound involved in how the body generates energy and is used as a sports supplement. But it also has cognitive effects.

In a review of available evidence, healthy adults aged 66-76 who took creatine supplements had improved short-term memory.

Long-term supplementation may also have benefits. In another study, people with fatigue after COVID took 4g a day of creatine for six months and reported they were better able to concentrate, and were less fatigued. Creatine may reduce brain inflammation and oxidative stress, to improve cognitive performance and reduce fatigue.

Side effects of creatine supplements in studies are rarely reported. But they include weight gain, gastrointestinal upset and changes in the liver and kidneys.

Where to now?

There is good evidence for brain boosting effects of caffeine and creatine. But the jury is still out on the efficacy, optimal dose and safety of most other nootropics.

So until we have more evidence, consult your health professional before taking a nootropic.

But drinking your daily coffee isn't likely to do much harm. Thank goodness, because for some of us, it is a magic elixir.

(The Conversation: By Nenad Naumovski, Amanda Bulman and Andrew McKune, University of Canberra)

global-trends-point-to-dire-future-for-older-adults-in-the-face-

Tue May 28 15:42:07 IST 2024

A deadly heat wave gripped large regions of Asia for weeks in April and May 2024. As temperatures climbed past 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43.3 Celsius) in India on May 7, campaigning politicians, local news announcers and voters waiting in long lines passed out from the oppressive heat.

From as far north as Japan to as far south as the Philippines, the relentless heat wreaked havoc on everyday life. Students and teachers in Cambodia were sent home from school, as their hand-held fans provided little protection against the stifling heat and humidity in their poorly ventilated classrooms.

Farmers in Thailand saw their crops wither and mourned the loss of livestock that perished under the punishing sun. Hundreds of people died from the heat.

Most of the planet has suffered the dire effects of extreme heat in recent years.

A weekslong heat wave in the southwestern United States in 2023 was described as hell on earth in Phoenix, where temperatures hit 110 F (43.3 C) or higher for 31 straight days.

At the same time, Europe saw unprecedented high temperatures that killed hundreds and contributed to devastating wildfires in Greece.

Regardless of where or when a heat wave strikes, one pattern is a constant: Older adults are the most likely to die from extreme heat, and this crisis will worsen in the coming years.

We study climate change and population aging. Our research documents two global trends that together portend a dire future.

More older adults will be at risk of heat stress

First, temperatures are hotter than ever. The nine-year period from 2015 and 2023 had the highest average temperatures since global records began in 1880.

Second, the population is aging worldwide. By 2050, the number of people ages 60 and older will double to nearly 2.1 billion, making up 21 per cent of the global population. That proportion is 13 per cent today.

These combined forces mean that ever-rising numbers of vulnerable older adults will be exposed to intensifying heat.

To understand the risks ahead, we developed population projections for different age groups and combined them with climate change scenarios for the coming decades. Our analyses show that by 2050, more than 23 per cent of the world population ages 69 and older will be living in regions where peak temperatures routinely surpass 99.5 degrees F (37.5 degrees C), compared with just 14 per cent today.

That means that as many as 250 million additional older adults will be exposed to dangerously high temperatures.

Mapping the data shows that most of these older adults live in lower- and middle-income countries with insufficient services and limited access to electricity, cooling appliances and safe water.

In historically cooler regions in the Global North, including North America and Europe, rising temperatures will be the main force driving older adults' heat exposure. In historically hotter regions in the Global South such as Asia, Africa and South America, population growth and increases in longevity mean that steeply rising numbers of older adults will be exposed to intensifying heat-related risks.

Policymakers, communities, families and older residents themselves need to understand these risks and be prepared because of older adults' special vulnerabilities to heat.

Extreme heat is especially harmful to older adults

High temperatures are oppressive for everyone, but for older adults they can be deadly.

Extreme heat worsens common age-related health conditions such as heart, lung and kidney disease and can cause delirium. Older people don't sweat as much as younger people, which makes it harder for their bodies to cool down when temperatures spike. These problems are intensified by common prescription medications, such as anticholinergics, which further reduce the capacity to sweat.

Spending time outdoors in hot humid weather can cause dehydration, a problem worsened by the side effects of prescription medications such as diuretics and beta-blockers. Dehydration can make older adults weak and dizzy, increasing their risk of falls and injury.

These threats are even worse in regions lacking access to safe and affordable drinking water.

Poor air quality makes it difficult to breath, especially for those who already have lung problems such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD.

For older adults with physical health problems, temperatures as low as 80 F (26.7 C) can pose significant danger. And when humidity is as high as 90 per cent, even 78 F (25.6 C) can be hazardous to older adults.

Nighttime heat is especially harmful for older adults whose homes lack air conditioning or who can't afford to run their air conditioners for long periods.

The ideal temperature for older adults' restful sleep is between 68 and 77 F (20 and 25 C), and sleep quality diminishes as temperatures rise. A night of restless sleep can make an older adult more depressed and confused during their waking hours.

Medications also can lose their effectiveness if stored in places much warmer than 77 F (25 C).

Older adults also may suffer emotionally during stifling heat waves

Being stuck indoors when temperatures are unbearable can make older adults bored, depressed and isolated. People with cognitive impairments may underestimate the dangers of extreme heat or may not understand the heat advisories.

Those who have physical mobility limitations or lack access to transportation can't easily travel to public cooling centers if there is one nearby or find relief in nearby green and blue areas, such as parks and lakes.

These threats are especially dire in low- and middle-income nations, where older adults are more likely to live in substandard housing and lack access to high-quality health care or ways to cool down in the heat.

We talk about this as systemic cooling poverty.

What can be done?

Policymakers can work to cut greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels in vehicles, power plants and factories, which drive global warming, and develop effective plans to protect older people from heat risk. Older adults and their caregivers also can take steps to adapt.

But efforts to help need to be tailored to each region and population.

Wealthy municipalities can increase public investments in early warning systems and ride services to cooling centers and hospitals. They can use geographic information systems to identify neighborhoods with high concentrations of older adults and expand power grids to manage increasing demand for air conditioning.

In regions with substandard housing, limited access to clean water and few public supports such as cooling centers, much larger changes are necessary. Providing better health care, water and housing and reducing air pollution that can mitigate health problems during heat waves require significant changes and investments many countries struggle to afford.

The World Health Organization and Pan American Health Organization warn that this decade will be critical for preparing communities to handle rising heat and the risk to aging populations.

Across all regions, researchers, practitioners and policymakers could save lives by heeding their call.

(The Conversation: By Deborah Carr and Ian Sue Wing (Boston University) and Enrica De Cian and Giacomo Falchetta (University of Venice)

china-lands-spacecraft-on-moons-unexplored-far-side-south-pole-aitken-basin

Sun Jun 02 14:39:14 IST 2024

The China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced on Sunday that its spacecraft successfully landed on the unexplored far side of the Moon, the South Pole-Aitken Basin.

The Chang'e-6 landed at the designated landing area at 6:23 am (Beijing Time) in the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) Basin, from where it will now collect samples from the lunar surface. This is also the second time a mission has managed to reach the far side, the first too was by China in 2019 with its Chang’e-4 probe.

Chang'e-6 consists of an orbiter, a returner, a lander and an ascender.

In what China called a historic moment, the Chang'e-6 was launched from Wenchang Space Launch Center on May 3 and has been orbiting the moon for about 20 days, waiting to land. The lander component of the mission then separated from the orbiter to touch down on the far side, a side of the moon which faces permanently away from Earth.

The landing itself was a risky process, considering how it is difficult to communicate with spacecraft once they reach the far side of the Moon.

According to the state-run Xinhua agency, the probe used an autonomous visual obstacle avoidance system during the descent, which allowed it to detect obstacles. This helped choose a comparatively safe landing area based on the brightness and darkness of the lunar surface. "The lander hovered about 100m (328ft) above the safe landing area and used a laser 3D scanner before a slow vertical descent. The operation was supported by the Queqiao-2 relay satellite," the CNSA said.

The Probe touched down on an impact crater known as the Apollo Basin, located within the sprawling, roughly 2,500-kilometer-diameter South Pole-Aitken Basin. "The choice was made for the Apollo Basin's potential value of scientific exploration, as well as the conditions of the landing area, including communication and telemetry conditions and the flatness of the terrain," Huang Hao, a space expert from the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) was quoted by Xinhua.

The Chang'e-6 mission will now begin to collect and return samples from the Moon's far side. Over the next two days, the probe will gather samples using two methods; using a drill to collect subsurface samples and grabbing samples on the surface with a robotic arm.

The lander will then have to robotically pack the samples in an ascent vehicle that made the landing with it. The ascent vehicle will then return to lunar orbit, where it will dock with and transfer the samples to a re-entry capsule.

The re-entry capsule and orbiter will then travel back to Earth’s orbit and separate, allowing the re-entry capsule to make its expected return later this month to the Siziwang Banner Landing Site in China’s rural Inner Mongolia region.

India became the first country to land near the little-explored lunar south pole region last year when its Chandrayaan-3's lander, carrying the Pragyaan rover successfully landed there.

The CNSA announced that scientific instruments from France, Italy and the European Space Agency/Sweden will be on board the lander of the Chang'e-6 mission and a Pakistani payload on the orbiter. This is the first time China has included an orbiter from its all-weather ally Pakistan in its Moon mission.

China is reportedly planning to launch two more missions in the Chang-e series as it targets to send astronauts to the moon by 2030.

curious-kids--why-can-some-plastics-be-recycled-but-others-can-t

Mon May 27 16:43:09 IST 2024

Q. Why can some plastics be recycled but others can't? Jessica, age ten, Sydney

A. Great question Jessica! We use lots of plastic in Australia and it's frustrating to find out how little is recycled.

I work at a university with a team trying to find new ways for people to use less plastic, recycle more and not waste anything. So this is a question I think about a lot.

Basically, some plastics can be recycled because they are easy to melt down and make into other products. Others can't be, or they contain extra ingredients that make them hard to recycle, such as dyes or chemicals that stop them catching fire.

But even if you could recycle the plastic, then you have a whole new problem: you have to find someone who will buy the recycled material to make new products.

There are many different types of plastic

Have you ever wondered why the plastic used to make soft drink bottles looks and feels so different to the plastic used for other types of containers such as yoghurt tubs, lunch boxes or even plastic bags?

It turns out there's more than one type of plastic. We classify plastic into seven main types. But there are many more when you consider all the mixtures and new or unusual varieties.

The raw material is almost always fossil fuels (oil or gas). Although these days, people can also make plastic from plants such as corn.

Either way, plastic is synthetic, which means it's not natural. Long chains of molecules are stitched together to make polymers (from the Greek poly, meaning many, and mer, meaning parts). Different polymers make different types of plastic.

Some polymers are easier to recycle because they can be melted down and reshaped into new products. This includes number one on our list of seven main types: polyethylene terephthalate, found in soft drink bottles.

It also includes type number two, the high-density polyethylene in some milk bottles, and number five, polypropylene, which makes things like yoghurt containers.

Other plastics such as type number three, polyvinyl chloride, found in plumbing pipes, and number six, polystyrene such as Styrofoam, are much harder to recycle. That's mainly because they tend to contain lots of extra ingredients, which makes melting and recycling difficult.

These extra ingredients can include dyes to make the plastic brightly coloured, or chemicals to stop the plastic catching fire. But these extra ingredients can make it harder for the plastic to be recycled.

Did you know almost 300 billion plastic coffee cups have made their way to rubbish dumps around the world? These cups were not recycled, because they were made from a mixture of paper lined with plastic.

It's hard to separate the plastic from the other materials. This makes it difficult to recycle them. But we can choose to use reusable or compostable coffee cups instead.

Plastic can also be too dirty to recycle. That's why you should always rinse plastics before putting them in the recycling bin.

Here's a little tip. Check the label on plastic bottles, containers and packaging for the symbol that looks like a triangle made of arrows, with a number in the middle. Read the table below to see what the numbers mean and whether it's worth putting that plastic in your recycling bin or not.

Just because there's a logo on it doesn't mean it can be recycled. It depends on the recycling services that are available near where you live.

Look up your local council's website to see what facilities they have for plastic recycling. If it's not clear, you could ask your council to explain what they can and can't recycle.

Will anyone use the recycled plastic and will they pay for it?

But if no one wants to use recycled plastic, then it's hard to find someone willing to recycle it in the first place.

We need to make it easier for people to sell the plastic they have collected to someone who wants to buy it and turn it into something else.

To make this work, we need: people to put used plastic in the recycling bin properly; someone willing to collect it; a business that can recycle that type of plastic; and other businesses that will buy the recycled material.

In Australia, many people are willing to recycle their plastic and we have good recycling facilities, but there aren't enough people willing to buy stuff made from all the recycled plastic.

One idea is for governments to make businesses and local councils buy products made from recycled plastic. Then people who make products from recycled plastic will be able to sell them.

(The Conversation: By Sukhbir Sandhu, Associate Professor in Sustainability, University of South Australia)

what-makes-isros-astrosat-a-unique-satellite

Fri May 24 15:17:23 IST 2024

A few days ago, ISRO said in a tweet that scientists using the Indian space observatory, AstroSat, had made an intriguing discovery about a black hole system known as Swift J1727.8-1613. During an unusual burst of energy from this system, they noticed that the high-energy X-ray photons emitted were not following a regular, predictable pattern. Instead, the intensity of the X-rays was fluctuating in a chaotic, 'aperiodic’ manner. This finding could help scientists gain a deeper understanding of the complex processes occurring around black holes during such energetic events.

All these findings were possible by ISRO's unique satellite and India’s first space telescope, AstroSat. Experts say it is a unique observatory designed to study celestial objects by observing their light in various wavelengths, including X-rays, visible light, and ultraviolet light. This multi-wavelength approach helps scientists gain a more comprehensive understanding of what is happening in space.

After AstroSat was placed into orbit, the two solar panels that the observatory is fitted with were automatically deployed one after the other. The satellite is managed throughout its mission by the spacecraft control centre at the Mission Operations Complex (MOX) of ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC), in Bengaluru. The science data collected by the five instruments on AstroSat is sent back to the ground station at MOX. This data is then processed, archived and distributed by the Indian Space Science Data Centre (ISSDC) located in Byalalu, near Bengaluru. ISRO, in collaboration with the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune.

AstroSat, weighed 1,515 kg at launch, was sent into space on September 28, 2015. It was placed in a 650-kilometre high orbit, inclined at 6 degrees to the equator, by the PSLV-C30 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. The mission was expected to have a minimum useful lifespan of five years.

“AstroSat’s special feature is its ability to observe different wavelengths of light from various space objects all at once using a single satellite. It can detect light from ultraviolet (both near and far), some optical, and X-rays ranging from 0.3 kilo-electronvolts (keV) to 100 keV. AstroSat stands out among global satellites because it can observe multiple wavelengths at the same time. For example, NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope mainly looks at near ultraviolet, visible and near-infrared light, while the Chandra X-ray Observatory focuses on X-rays. In contrast, AstroSat can see from far ultraviolet light all the way to a wide range of X-rays using its different instruments. This versatility makes it a valuable tool for a variety of astronomical research,” pointed out space expert Girish Linganna.

He adds that the AstroSat has accomplished impressive things, such as studying high-energy activities in binary star systems, measuring the magnetic fields of neutron stars and exploring areas where stars are born and high-energy events occur beyond our galaxy. Additionally, it has detected new, short-lived X-ray sources in the sky and conducted a limited deep field survey of the universe in the ultraviolet spectrum.

“AstroSat has already exceeded its planned five-year mission and shows potential for continuing its successful operations for at least another five years. It has observed around 400 sources, including polarisation in gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and quasi-periodic oscillations. It has contributed to the search for X-ray counterparts of gravitational waves. Additionally, ISRO is considering the development of a next-generation astronomy satellite to build on AstroSat’s mission, which could enhance its current capabilities and provide even greater insights into the universe,” added Linganna.

3d-printed-semi-cryogenic-agnibaan-rocket-takes-indian-space-sector-to-new-heights

Thu May 30 13:16:19 IST 2024

Agnikul Cosmos, the IIT Madras-incubated start-up, launched the world’s first rocket with a single-piece 3D printed engine from Sriharikota at 7:15 am on Thursday. This remarkable feat has been achieved entirely through indigenous design and development.

This Chennai-based space startup successfully conducted a sub-orbital test flight of its 3D-printed semi-cryogenic rocket, Agnibaan. The launch took place from its launch pad at Sriharikota, making Agnikul Cosmos the second private company in India to achieve this. The private company that first accomplished this was Skyroot Aerospace, which launched the Vikram S in November 2022.

Interestingly this success came after multiple failed attempts. The test flight this morning was conducted without any live streaming and with fewer dignitaries present at the Sriharikota launch pad, which is located within ISRO’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre. ISRO announced in its post on X: "Congratulations to Agnikul Cosmos on the successful launch of the Agnibaan SubOrbital Technological Demonstrator (SoRTed-01) mission from their launch pad. This is a major achievement as it marks the first controlled flight of a semi-cryogenic liquid engine made using 3D printing".

"Sub-orbital means a flight path that goes into space but doesn't complete an orbit around Earth. The vehicle reaches space, typically above 100 kilometres, and then returns without circling the planet.

The single-stage rocket, powered by the semi-cryogenic Agnilet engine, serves as a precursor (or prototype) to the Agnibaan launch. Agnibaan is a two-stage launch vehicle designed to be highly customisable and capable of carrying a 300 kg payload to a 700 km orbit," explained Space expert Girish Linganna.

The Agnilet engine is the world's first semi-cryogenic rocket engine that uses sub-cooled liquid oxygen. Developed locally, it is made from a single piece using 3D printing to power a launch vehicle. This engine runs on sub-cooled Liquid Oxygen (LOX) and Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF). Additionally, the vehicle is equipped with four carbon composite fins that provide passive control.

"Single piece using 3D printing means that the entire part was made as one continuous piece using a 3D printer, rather than being assembled from multiple parts. 3D printing is a process where a machine creates objects layer by layer from a digital model, using materials like plastic or metal. This method can make the part stronger and more reliable," added Linganna.

A semi-cryogenic engine uses liquid oxygen (which is very cold) and regular fuel, like kerosene or ATF, while a cryogenic engine uses both liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen, both of which are extremely cold. The main difference is that semi-cryogenic engines use less cold fuel, making them simpler and cheaper to handle and store compared to cryogenic engines.

"Cryogenic engines are generally more powerful because liquid hydrogen provides a higher specific impulse, meaning more thrust per unit of fuel, making them more efficient for long-distance missions or heavier payloads. Semi-cryogenic engines are often used in the initial stages of a rocket for their cost-effectiveness and simpler handling, whereas cryogenic engines are used in the later stages for their higher efficiency and greater power needed to place satellites into higher orbits or for deep space missions. Semi-cryogenic engine technology has not yet been demonstrated by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in any of its rockets," remarked Linganna.

This startup has prepared the vehicle with the first-ever ethernet-based avionics system and autopilot software fully developed in-house in India. Ethernet technology refers to a common system used for connecting computers and devices in a network, allowing them to communicate with each other quickly and reliably. In the context of a vehicle, it means using this technology to connect and control various onboard systems.

“The Department of Space and ISRO congratulates Agnikul Cosmos on the successful launch of 'Agnibaan - SOrTeD'. The success involving many firsts including 3D-printed semi-cryogenic engine, flight control systems etc. demonstrates the prowess of indigenous design and innovation. It motivates ISRO to support the Space startups and Non-governmental entities for innovation and Atmanirbharata to create a vibrant space ecosystem in the country," remarked ISRO Chairman S Somanath.

Srinath Ravichandran, co-founder and CEO, Agnikul Cosmos, said that the successful launch was the culmination of 1000s of hours of reviews and hard work by the team. “We are blessed to have had the opportunity and the full support of IN-SPACe and ISRO to design and build original space-worthy hardware in India," remarked Ravichandran.

Pawan Goenka, chairman of IN-SPACe, lauded the efforts of Agnikul Cosmos. "It marks a significant moment for private players who are contributing to growing India's space sector. Today it is the power of young innovators and entrepreneurs who are leading from the front, innovating with cutting-edge technology such as the world's first 3D-printed semi-cryogenic engine, that is driving the transformation of India’s space sector. At IN-SPACe, we are committed to support these young pioneers as they help to propel India to a leadership position in the global space arena," remarked Goenka.

The Agnikul Cosmos team consists of over 200 engineers and is associated with NCCRD at IIT Madras. Additionally, the team is guided by 45 former scientists from ISRO who bring invaluable expertise to the endeavour of democratising access to space.

girls-in-single-sex-schools-do-slightly-better-in-exams-than-gir

Fri May 24 11:22:22 IST 2024

Students at all-girls' schools do slightly better in their exams than girls at co-educational schools, according to new research from the United Kingdom.

This goes against previous studies that suggest it does not matter if students attend single-sex or co-ed schools.

What is the study?

This research was done by FFT Education Datalab. This is an independent research team specialising in education policy and statistics.

Using the United Kingdom's National Pupil Database, the study looked at more than 580,000 students who attended more than 3,200 schools. All schools were government-funded (so were public schools in Australian termimology) and were either single sex or co-ed.

Students exam results were examined at the end of Year 11 and the study controlled for differences in schools and pupil characteristics, such as socioeconomic disadvantage or high levels of students who learned English as a second language.

What did the research find?

The research found girls who went to all-girls' schools recorded a small improvement in their exam results compared to their peers in co-educational schools.

This is after adjusting their results to account for factors such as disadvantage.

The gap is small around one month's progress for each of the students. But it is noticeable.

Yet for boys' schools, there wasn't any difference in results between single sex and co-ed schools.

Why is this important?

While the UK study was not peer-reviewed, this finding is important because it contradicts other recent large-scale research, which has found no statistically significant academic advantage to single-sex schooling.

For example, a 2022 analysis of Irish students found no significant performance gaps between co-educational and single-sex schools.

A 2014 meta-analysis (an overview of many studies) across 21 countries also found no high-quality evidence of benefits to single-sex schooling.

What about Australia?

This new research plays into the renewed debate over single sex schooling in Australia in recent months.

This follows some prestigious all boys' schools announcing moves to co-education (and some former students crying about the change). It also follows multiple examples of sexism and misogyny by male students at both all-boys and co-ed schools.

There is also a growing body of Australian research examining toxic behaviour of boys towards their female teachers and peers.

So the UK research could further entrench a perception girls are better off in single-sex schools.

This perception has a long history. Many girls schools were set up in the 1800s by pioneering headmistresses such as English educator Frances Buss, who believed in girls' equal rights to education and girls' schools were the best places to provide this.

Girls' schools today retain an image of feminist progressivism, promoting the idea that girls can achieve anything.

The perception is supported by some research evidence that girls in single-sex schools are more likely to feel confident in traditionally male-dominated subjects such as STEM.

What needs to be done?

This UK study raises many questions. Are girls indeed better off on their own? Are there aspects of single-sex education that could be applied in co-ed environments? How do we ensure that all schools are schools of choice for girls, including coeducational schools?

We can investigate these questions further by doing research with families to better understand their perceptions and experiences of single-sex schools today. We can also do more research into the impact of programs such as Respectful Relationships, which have been introduced to build positive gender cultures in schools.

(The Conversation: By Claire Charles, Deakin University and Lucinda McKnight, Deakin University)

study-reveals-early-brain-network-differences-in-six-week-infant

Fri May 24 10:34:47 IST 2024

Six-week old infants with high chances of developing autism showed distinct patterns in brain connections, which researchers said likely emerge much earlier than autism-related behaviours can be noticed.

The researchers focussed on the brain's salience network, a group of regions crucial to identifying information in the environment that is worthy of one's attention and enabling appropriate responses to them.

In babies with high chances of developing autism -- a disorder marked by repetitive behaviour and impaired social interaction -- the researchers found stronger connections between the salience network and brain regions processing sensory information and movement, or the sensorimotor regions.

The team, co-led by the researchers at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), US, further found that infants with stronger connections to sensorimotor regions in the brain had weaker connections with prefrontal ones, which are important for social interactions.

This suggested that paying more attention to basic sensory information comes at the cost of paying attention to socially relevant cues, thereby possibly playing a role in people with autism displaying an impaired social behaviour, the researchers said.

"An emerging theory in autism research is that differences in sensory processing may precede the more classic social and communication symptoms of autism, and this data supports that theory in showing that very early brain differences related to how attention is allocated may predict both sensory and social behaviours in toddlers," Shulamite Green, an assistant professor at UCLA, said.

"In other words, more attention to extraneous sensory stimuli in the environment could make it difficult to attend to social cues, and this difference in attention could really affect how the brain develops across the first year of life and beyond," Green, corresponding author of the study published in the journal Communications Biology, said.

The researchers also found that the brain patterns observed in six-week-old babies could predict their behaviour at age one.

Infants with stronger connections with sensory regions were found to show "over-responsivity" when they were a year old, a trait known to be characteristic of autism in which individuals show extreme responses to typical environmental sounds or sensations.

In contrast, the researchers found that babies having stronger connections with prefrontal regions in the brain showed a better ability to share attention with others at age one, an important stage preceding the development of social and communication skills that are often impaired in autism.

The observed patterns could help explain the reduced social attention and unusual sensory processing commonly seen in people with autism, the authors said.

For the study, the researchers analysed 53 infants, 24 of whom had a higher likelihood of developing autism because at least one older sibling had a diagnosis -- a factor known to enhance the risk of autism. The remaining 29 had no family history of autism or any other developmental disorder.

tata-communications-and-cisco-jointly-launch-cloud-based-webex-calling-solution

Wed May 22 18:40:50 IST 2024

Tata Communications, and Cisco have strengthened their partnership by launching Webex Calling with cloud Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) for enterprises doing business in India. Known as Webex Calling by Tata Communications, it is termed as one of the first of its kind services in India that will be offered by integrating Cisco’s Webex Calling with the cloud voice services of Tata Communications GlobalRapide platform.

Interestingly, Webex Calling is a business phone system that delivers enterprise-grade calling through a globally available cloud platform. It has more than 14 million users around the world and is expected to provide enterprises in the Indian market with an enhanced connectivity and collaboration experience. The solution is expected to enable enterprises to scale their communication infrastructure while complying with applicable laws in India, without upfront investments in server hardware.

Representatives of both Cisco and Tata Communications said that through this solution, users across the country will have access to additional collaboration workloads in the Webex Suite, including meetings, messaging, and webinars, AI-powered innovations such as audio intelligence, and a complete range of devices and more. The AI will help in HD voice and will have AI Call summaries. The solution will have components for enriched customer experiences such as multi line and virtual line support, attendant consoles and analytics, too. As part of this innovation, there will be new series of 9,800 series phones. In addition to that there will be support for third party device, too.

“Hybrid work has heightened the need for enterprises to deliver seamless, secure and reliable collaboration experiences. Webex Calling simplifies businesses cloud transition through flexible migration choices, reliability, and AI-driven collaboration tools and devices. We are confident that Webex Calling by Tata Communications will empower businesses to thrive with hybrid work and deliver an unparalleled experience for customers,” remarked Daisy Chittilapilly, President, Cisco India and SAARC.

It is expected that this solution will deliver enhanced employee experiences for business worldwide with Cisco. “We are thrilled to announce a dedicated capability hosted in India for national enterprises as well as global MNCs operating here,” said Arijit Bonnerjee, Senior Vice President and Head India, Tata Communications.

Tata Communications GlobalRapide platform has more than 5,00,000 global users and has 2,62,000 conferecing licences. In the cloud voice space, Tata Communications has 12 billion voice minutes managed per year and 1,600 service provider relationships. Around 300 of the Fortune 500 companies are Tata Communications customers and the company connects businesses to 80 per cent of the world’s cloud majors.

what-is-in-flight-turbulence--and-when-does-it-become-dangerous-

Wed May 22 15:57:58 IST 2024

The death of a British man and injuries impacting dozens of other people aboard a Singapore Airlines flight that hit severe turbulence on Tuesday highlighted the potential dangers of flying through unstable air.

The exact cause of the 73-year-old man's death is under investigation. Authorities said he may have suffered a heart attack, though that hasn't been confirmed. Based on witness accounts, the number of injuries and the airliner's sharp descent, experts point to the significant safety hazards that in-flight turbulence poses to airline passengers and crews.

While turbulence-related fatalities are quite rare, injuries have piled up over the years. Some meteorologists and aviation analysts note that reports of turbulence encounters also have been increasing and point to the potential impacts that climate change may have on flying conditions.

Most incidents of planes hitting bumpy air are minor, however, and airlines have made steady improvements to reduce accident rates from turbulence over time. Experts advise air travellers to stay vigilant, stressing the importance of wearing a seat belt whenever possible as a first line of protection.

WHAT IS TURBULENCE?

Turbulence is essentially unstable air that moves in a non-predictable fashion. Most people associate it with heavy storms. But the most dangerous type is clear-air turbulence, which often occurs with no visible warning in the sky ahead.

Clear-air turbulence happens most often in or near the high-altitude rivers of air called jet streams. The culprit is wind shear, which is when two huge air masses close to each other move at different speeds. If the difference in speed is big enough, the atmosphere can't handle the strain, and it breaks into turbulent patterns like eddies in water.

When you get strong wind shear near the jet stream, it can cause the air to overflow. And that creates these chaotic motions in the air, Thomas Guinn, chair of applied aviation sciences department at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, explained.

HOW COMMON ARE TURBULENCE-RELATED INJURIES?

Tracking the total number of turbulence-related injuries around the world is difficult. But some individual countries publish national data.

More than one-third of all airline incidents in the United States from 2009 through 2018 were related to turbulence, and most of them resulted in one or more serious injuries but no damage to the plane, the National Transportation Safety Board reported.

Between 2009 and 2022, 163 people were injured seriously enough during turbulence events to require hospital treatment for at least two days, according to NTSB figures. Most of them were flight attendants, who are particularly at risk since they are more likely to be out of their seats during a flight.

Investigations are underway into what happened during Tuesday's Singapore Airlines flight. The carrier said the Boeing 777-300ER descended 6,000 feet (around 1,800 metres) in about three minutes after hitting severe turbulence over the Indian Ocean.

Preliminary casualty figures from the airport and a hospital in Bangkok, where the plane headed from London to Singapore landed in stormy weather, indicated that in addition to the one death, six or seven passengers were severely injured. Dozens of other travellers and crew members were reported to have suffered moderate or less serious injuries.

It's not uncommon to have turbulence encounters that cause minor injuries up to, say, a broken bone, said Larry Cornman, a project scientist at the National Science Foundation's National Centre for Atmospheric Research who has long studied turbulence. But fatalities are very, very rare especially for large transport aircraft.

According to Stuart Fox, director of flight and technical operations at the International Air Transport Association, the last clear air turbulence-related death reported from a major carrier took place in 1997. A few fatalities on smaller planes have been reported since, including a death on a private jet last year, Fox said.

Now-standardised safety procedures have significantly helped prevent more cases of serious injuries over the years. Fox noted. They include reviewing weather forecasts, having pilots report when they encounter turbulence and suspending cabin service when planes hit rough air.

CAN PILOTS AVOID TURBULENCE?

Pilots use a variety of methods to avoid turbulence, including using a weather radar display. Sometimes they can simply see and fly around thunderstorms.

But clear-air turbulence is altogether another animal, according to Doug Moss, a former airline pilot and safety consultant. It can be devastating, he said, because the time before the incident can be very calm, and people are caught off-guard.

Air traffic controllers will warn pilots after another plane runs into clear-air turbulence, Moss said. Many pilots also look at the upper-level jet streams along their route for signs of wind shear, then plan to fly above, below or around those areas, he said.

Modern planes are strong enough to handle just about any turbulence. Cabin areas such as overhead bins may receive cosmetic damage, but these don't impact the structural integrity of the planes, Moss said.

IS CLIMATE CHANGE CAUSING TURBULENCE TO INCREASE?

Some scientists note that reports of turbulence encounters are on the rise. There are a number of possible explanations for that, but several researchers have pointed to potential climate impacts.

Guinn, of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, explains that some predict climate change could alter the jet stream and up the wind shear, which would consequently drive up turbulence in the air.

In a statement on Tuesday, Paul Williams, a professor of atmospheric science at the University of Reading in England, said there was strong evidence that turbulence is increasing because of climate change.

Williams said his research team recently discovered that severe clear-air turbulence in the North Atlantic has increased by 55 per cent since 1979, for example. The team's latest projections signal that severe turbulence in the jet streams could double or triple in the coming decades if global conditions continue as expected, he said.

Still, others say other factors could also be at play. Cornman notes that there could be a rise in overall air traffic which may increase turbulence encounters as the number of flight tracks, including those in areas of more turbulence, goes up.

HOW CAN TRAVELERS STAY SAFE?

In short, buckle up. Turbulence can be tricky to predict, but experts stress that the first line of defense in the air is keeping the seat belt fastened, whenever possible.

"Planes are generally built to withstand turbulence," Guinn said, noting that passengers not wearing their seat belts is a large source of injuries from in-flight turbulence. While no precaution is foolproof, wearing a seat belt greatly increases an individual's chances of avoiding serious injuries, he said.

Wear your seat belt," Guinn said. he stressed. That's just a really quick fix to prevent injury.

(AP)