NSIL gets first booking
NEWSPACE INDIA Limited (NSIL), the newly created second commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation, has bagged its first contract. A private US space services provider has booked ISRO’s Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), which is yet to be tested, for launching a spacecraft.
Read More: http://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants/21208-nsil-gets-first-booking
#NSIL #SSLV #ISRO #Spaceflight #LEO #PSLV #DoS

US-Taliban talks end without a deal
Talks on a pact that would allow the United States to end its longest war and withdraw troops from Afghanistan ended on 12 August 2019 without agreement and both sides would consult their leaders on the next steps, the Taliban said.
Read More: http://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants/21207-us-taliban-talks-end-without-a-deal
#US #DonaldTrump #Pakistan #Taliban #ZabihullahMujahid

World's largest water pump
Lakshmipur pump house in Hyderabad, a key component of Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP) and claimed to be the world's largest pump house, has successfully commenced operations in Telangana, it was announced on 12 August 2019.
Read More: http://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants/21206-world-s-largest-water-pump
#LUPS #KLIP #MEIL #GodavariRiver #Hyderabad #TMC #Kaleshwaram

Scheme for study of parliamentary institutions
The Rajya Sabha on 12 August 2019 launched a scheme to promote research and study of the functioning of parliamentary institutions, impact of legislations on socio-economic transformation and efficacy of various parliamentary devices, such as committees.
Read More: http://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants/21205-scheme-for-study-of-parliamentary-institutions
#RajyaSabha #MVenkaiahNaidu #SRadhakrishnan #parliamentary

Creamy layer’s exclusion from SC/ST quota
The Union government on 2 December 2019 asked the Supreme Court to refer to a seven-judge Bench the question whether the creamy layer should apply or not to the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe people while providing them reservation in government promotions.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/study-material/news-for-aspirants/22252-creamy-layer-s-exclusion-from-sc-st-quota.html
#Creamylayer #ST #MNagaraj #Articles341 #SC #judgment

Promotion of endangered languages
The government has launched a scheme for the promotion of endangered languages in central and state universities, Union HRD minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank said in the Lok Sabha on 2 December 2019.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/study-material/news-for-aspirants/22251-promotion-of-endangered-languages.html
#Promotion #HRD #RameshPokhriyalNishank #UGC #LokSabha

India to get its second spaceport
The work on the country’s second spaceport has started in Tamil Nadu as Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) is gearing up for increased launch activities in coming years.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/study-material/news-for-aspirants/22250-india-to-get-its-second-spaceport.html
#India #Isro #TamilNadu #PSLV #GSLV #SSLV #Kulasekarapattinam

Russia-China gas pipeline
Russia and China on 2 December 2019 launched a giant gas pipeline linking the countries for the first time, one of three major projects aimed at cementing Moscow's role as the world's top gas exporter.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/study-material/news-for-aspirants/22249-russia-china-gas-pipeline.html
#Russia #CEO #VladimirPutin #XiJinping #GasPipeline

Cybersecurity policy upgraded
India is ready to update its cybersecurity policy, and as a first step towards formulating the new document “National Cybersecurity Strategy 2020, the government is inviting suggestions from the citizens.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/study-material/news-for-aspirants/22248-cybersecurity-policy-upgraded.html
#Cybersecurity #NCSS2020 #space #RajeshPant #India

ISRO launched RISAT-2BR1
India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) successfully completed its 50th spaceflight on 11 December 2019, placing country's advanced radar-imaging satellite RISAT-2B1 into space from Sriharikota.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/study-material/news-for-aspirants/22317-isro-launched-risat-2br1.html
#ISRO #RISAT #2BR1 #PSLV #AAI #IRNSS #GSO #SatishDhawan

ILP extended to Manipur
The inner line permit (ILP) regime was extended to Manipur on 11 December 2019 with President Ram Nath Kovind signing the order in this effect.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/study-material/news-for-aspirants/22316-ilp-extended-to-manipur.html
#ILP #LokSabha #RamNathKovind #AmitShah #Manipur

Recycling of Ships Bill
Parliament passed a landmark “The Recycling of Ships Bill 2019’’ for Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships in India.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/study-material/news-for-aspirants/22315-recycling-of-ships-bill.html
#ShipsBill #GDP #revised #SOC #Gujarat #HKC

World’s newest nation
The South Pacific region of Bougainville voted overwhelmingly to become the world’s newest nation by gaining independence from Papua New Guinea, results showed on December 11.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/study-material/news-for-aspirants/22314-world-s-newest-nation.html
#ABG #Bougainville #BertieAhern #BCL #Worldsnewestnation

UN Global Climate Action Award
IT services major Infosys Ltd was presented with the United Nations Global Climate Action Award in the ‘Climate Neutral Now’ category at the UN Climate Change Conference in Madrid, Spain.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/study-material/news-for-aspirants/22313-un-global-climate-action-award.html
#UN #GlobalClimate #ActionAward #UNGCAA #IT

WTO's appellate body becomes dysfunctional
WTO's dispute settlement mechanism will be impaired with the departure of two of the three judges on its appellate body following completion of their term on 10 December 2019.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/study-material/news-for-aspirants/22312-wto-s-appellate-body-becomes-dysfunctional.html
#WTO #ASEAN #India #RohanShah #dysfunctional #GRA

UK's Brexit election
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on 13 December 2019 won the historic UK General Election as his Conservative Party crossed the 326-mark required for a majority in Parliament, marking a victory for his "Get Brexit Done" message and setting the UK on course to leave the European Union (EU) in the New Year.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/study-material/news-for-aspirants/22333-uk-s-brexit-election.html
#UK #Brexit #BorisJohnson #election #British

Antenna of RISAT-2BR1
Scientists at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on 12 December 2019 undertook an operation to unfurl the antenna that was inside the radar imaging earth observation satelliteRISAT-2BR1, a day after it was launched from Sriharikota.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/study-material/news-for-aspirants/22332-antenna-of-risat-2br1.html
#Antenna #RISAT #2BR1 #ISRO #PSLV #MOM #satellites

Renewable energy generating state
Tamil Nadu has overtaken Karnataka to become India's top renewable power generating state in FY20 (till October). Of the total renewable power generation in the country, nearly 17.2 per cent was from Tamil Nadu.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/study-material/news-for-aspirants/22331-renewable-energy-generating-state.html
#TamilNadu #FY20 #CEA #India #megawatt #SolarPolicy

E-Pharmacy rules
E-pharmacies, in recent years, have been able to fulfil unmet medical needs of the large Indian population by enabling access to affordable medicines to people in remote areas.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/study-material/news-for-aspirants/22330-e-pharmacy-rules.html
#EPharmacy #DTAB #FDI #AIOCD #DISHA #PDPBill #DCC

FM in the world's most powerful women list
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, HCL Corporation CEO and Executive Director Roshni Nadar Malhotra and Biocon Founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw have been named among the world’s 100 most powerful women by Forbes.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/study-material/news-for-aspirants/22329-fm-in-the-world-s-most-powerful-women-list.html
#FM #CEO #NirmalaSitharaman #HCL #PowerfulWomen #India

Niti begins work to improve data quality
Niti Aayog, India’s key policy think tank, has begun work on a roadmap that will suggest steps to swiftly tackle quality issues confronting official data.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/study-material/news-for-aspirants/22356-niti-begins-work-to-improve-data-quality.html
#NitiAayog #India #MoSPI #GDP #RajivKumar #HCE

PSLV turns money-spinner
Indian Space Research Organisation’s PSLV has turned into a money-spinner for the space agency as forex brought by the country’s mainstay rocket increased by Rs 90 crore from Rs 232.56 crore in 2017-18 to Rs 324 crore in 2018-19 fiscal year.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/study-material/news-for-aspirants/22355-pslv-turns-money-spinner.html
#PSLV #SSLV #RISAT #SatishDhawan #SDSC #Isro

Dharmadhikari panel winds up exercise
Justice D.M. Dharmadhikari one-man committee appointed by the Supreme Court to resolve the issue over allocation of the State-cadre employees between the power utilities of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana concluded its exercise without making any headway, with one of the two sides unwilling to budge its stance even by an inch.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/study-material/news-for-aspirants/22354-dharmadhikari-panel-winds-up-exercise.html
#Dharmadhikari #AndhraPradesh #SupremeCourt #AP #Telangana

Weakest outcome ever
The longest-ever climate conference delivered probably the weakest outcome ever. The two-week Madrid climate conference could produce an agreement only after removing everything that any country objected to from the final text, and postponing all decisions on the only major agenda item it had to finalise.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/study-material/news-for-aspirants/22353-weakest-outcome-ever.html
#Weakest #COP25 #IPCC #Madrid2019 #UN #ClimateChangeConference

'Kalpana' can foresee brain disorders
It is now possible to detect brain disorders well before time. Indian scientists at National Brain Research Center (NBRC) have developed a technology that uses the brain’s stress levels and pH to identify brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/study-material/news-for-aspirants/22352-kalpana-can-foresee-brain-disorders.html
#Kalpana #NBRC #GABA #Tesla #MRI #MRS #WHO #NINS

India's space journey
The year 2019 was a year of several new beginnings for India's space sector that is now on Mission 2.0 mode.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/study-material/news-for-aspirants/22386-india-s-space-journey.html
#spacejourney #PSLV #ISRO #Indiasspace #Mission2.0


India's appetite for petroleum products
India expects its oil consumption to expand at the slowest pace in six years as the economy sputters.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/study-material/news-for-aspirants/22385-india-s-appetite-for-petroleum-products.html
#petroleumproducts #AnalysisCell #OECD #IEA


UN extending Syria cross-border aid vetoed
Russia and China used their vetoes on 20 December 2019 to block a UN Security Council resolution that would have extended for a year cross-border humanitarian aid to four million Syrians.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/study-material/news-for-aspirants/22384-un-extending-syria-cross-border-aid-vetoed.html
#borderaidvetoed #Syria #BasharalAssad #UN #VassilyNebenzia

KSG Podcast - Space diplomacy | Short Crisp Concise and Exam Oriented Edited Editorial #Podcast
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbrwND5I2Bc
#UPSCOnlineClasses #OnlineClassses #IASOnlineclasses

KSG Podcast - Space diplomacy | Short Crisp Concise and Exam Oriented Edited Editorial #Podcast
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbrwND5I2Bc&list=PLCUwtp5IghZmJBi1h7xiAhsORKmmumVsR&index=1
#UPSCOnlineClasses #OnlineClassses #IASOnlineclasses

Watch: KSG DYK - UPSC CSE Prelims Previous years' question | Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle #SHORTS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNurR50g6VQ

Watch: India’s first Space Mission in 2022, Here's everything you need to know #isro
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8R2oFEdIEQ

KSG Podcast - Space diplomacy | Short Crisp Concise and Exam Oriented Edited Editorial #Podcast
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbrwND5I2Bc&list=PLCUwtp5IghZmJBi1h7xiAhsORKmmumVsR&index=55
#UPSCOnlineClasses #OnlineClassses #IASOnlineclasses

Watch: India’s first Space Mission in 2022, Here's everything you need to know #isro
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8R2oFEdIEQ&list=PLCUwtp5IghZlGtWhDAkuXVFs8MLdVey75&index=52
#UPSCOnlineClasses #OnlineClassses #IASOnlineclasses

Today's Headlines - 31 July 2023
ISRO PSLV-C56 mission successful
GS Paper - 3 (Space Technology)

India space agency, ISRO, on 30 July 2023 successfully launched its proven PSLV rocket carrying seven Singaporean satellites from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. After lift-off, the primary satellite got separated and it was followed by six other co-passenger satellites, which were deployed into the intended orbits sequentially.

The primary payload

The primary payload carried by ISRO's trusted workhorse Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle is the DS-SAR Radar Imaging Earth Observation satellite, which has been developed under a partnership between DSTA (representing the Government of Singapore) and ST Engineering, Singapore.
The 360-kg satellite, upon deployment at an altitude of 535 km into a Near-equatorial Orbit (NEO), would be used to support the satellite imagery requirements of various agencies within the Government of Singapore.
ST Engineering would use the satellite for multi-modal and higher responsiveness imagery and geospatial services for their commercial customers.
The satellite carries a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) payload developed by Israel Aerospace Industries.
The payload allows DS-SAR to provide for all-weather day-and-night coverage and it is capable of imaging at 1-metre resolution.

The co-passenger satellites are:

VELOX-AM, a 23 kg technology demonstration microsatellite
ARCADE Atmospheric Coupling and Dynamics Explorer (ARCADE), an experimental satellite
SCOOB-II, a 3U nanosatellite flying a technology demonstrator payload
NULloN by NuSpace, an advanced 3U nanosatellite enabling seamless Internet of Things connectivity in both urban and remote locations
Galassia-2, a 3U nanosatellite that would be orbiting at low earth orbit
ORB-12 STRIDER, a satellite developed under an international collaboration.

About Launch Vehicle

This mission is the 58th flight of PSLV and using the 17th vehicle with Core Alone Configuration.
A Core Alone version of the rocket means the vehicle would not use solid strap-on motors on its sides in the first stage as compared to other variants like PSLV-XL, QL, and DL which use six, four, or two boosters, respectively.
PSLV has earned its title as the 'Workhorse of ISRO' through consistently delivering various satellites into low earth orbits.
This is the second campaign to be undertaken by ISRO after the much-awaited Chandrayaan-3 mission which was launched on 14 July 2023 from the second launch pad, at Satish Dhawan Space Centre.

#upsc #news #todayheadline #ISRO #PSLV #mission #space #technology #india #agency #launched #singaporean #satellite #satishdhawan #sriharikota #singapore #NEO #geospatial #SAR #aerospace #industries #israel #VELOXAM #ARCADE #SCOOB #NULION #GALSSSIA2 #ORB12 #chandrayaan3

Today's Headlines - 03 August 2023
ISRO rocket debris on Australian shore
GS Paper - 3 (Space Technology)

A large object found on the shores of western Australia a couple of weeks ago has been confirmed to be the debris of an Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) rocket, the Australian Space Agency said. ISRO has agreed with the assessment, saying the debris could be from one of its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rockets. The ISRO said the agency was still to decide on the future course of action.

Are such incidents normal?

Junk from space objects falling to the earth are not unheard of. Most such incidents involve relatively small fragments from rockets that survive the friction of the atmosphere.
These usually do not make big news, also most of the time the space junk falls into oceans thus posing little danger to human populations.
But there have been a few highly publicised falls as well. In recent times, a large chunk of a 25-tonne Chinese rocket fell into the Indian Ocean in May 2021.
The most famous such case remains that of the Skylab space station, a predecessor to the currently operational International Space Station, which disintegrated in 1979.
Large chunks from this disintegration fell into the Indian Ocean, some of them falling on land in Western Australia.

Isn’t it dangerous?

The threat to life and property from falling space junk is not negligible. Even when falling into the oceans, which is more likely since 70 per cent of the earth’s surface is ocean, large objects can be a threat to marine life, and a source of pollution.
However, there are no recorded incidents of these falling objects causing any appreciable damage anywhere on the earth. When they have dropped over land, so far, it has been over uninhabited areas.

What happens if these objects cause damage?

There are international regulations governing space debris, which include junk falling back on the earth.
Most space-faring countries are signatories to the Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects.
This convention is one of the several international agreements that complement the Outer Space Treaty, the overarching framework guiding the behaviour of countries in space.
The Liability Convention deals mainly with damage caused by space objects to other space assets, but it also applies to damage caused by falling objects on earth.
The Convention makes the launching country “absolutely liable” to pay compensation for any damage caused by its space object on the earth or to a flight in air. The country where the junk falls can stake a claim for compensation if it has been damaged by the falling object.
In the current case, if the PSLV junk had caused any damage in Australia, India could have been liable to pay compensation, even if the object fell into the ocean and was then swept to the shores.
The amount of compensation is to be decided “in accordance with international law and the principles of justice and equity”.
This provision of the Convention has resulted in compensation payment only once so far — when Canada sought damages from the then Soviet Union, for a satellite with radioactive substance that fell into an uninhabited region in its northern territory in 1978. The Soviet Union is reported to have paid 3 million Canadian dollars.

#upsc #news #headline #ISRO #rocket #australian #space #technology #PSLV #satelite #launch #Vehicle #atmosphere #Indian #ocean #western #marine #earth #damage #countries #liability #canada #soviet #canadian #dollars #territory #shores #satellite

Today's Headlines - 07 August 2023
Satellite bus technology transfer to private firm
GS Paper- 3 (Space Technology)

ISRO said it has transferred the IMS-1 Satellite Bus Technology to Alpha Design Technologies Pvt. Ltd in a step towards enhancing private industry participation in the country's space sector. NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of ISRO, facilitated the technology transfer through an agreement signed during an event held at the NSIL headquarters 2, the space agency said.

More about the News

The technology transfer documents were formally handed over by D Radhakrishnan, Chairman and Managing Director of NSIL to Col. H S Shankar (Retd.), Chairman and Managing Director of ADTL.
ADTL is one of the two private players identified to receive the transfer of this technology through Interest Exploratory Note (IEN) published by NSIL.
This transfer marks the beginning of satellite bus technologies developed by ISRO being transferred to private industries. Further, the PSLV is under productionisation by a consortium of industries.
ISRO has been enabling private players to develop space technologies by facilitating and extending the expertise thus ensuring both out-bound and in-bound approaches.
By transferring the IMS-1 technology to the private sector, ISRO/DoS (Department of Space) aims to bolster India's industrial growth in the space sector and foster technological self-reliance, it further said, adding the development opens up new avenues for private players to contribute to space research and exploration, in line with India's vision to expand its presence in the global space market.

About Satellite bus

The satellite bus, developed by ISRO's U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), is a versatile and efficient small satellite platform designed to facilitate low-cost access to space.
The bus serves as a dedicated vehicle for various payloads, enabling earth imaging, ocean and atmospheric studies, microwave remote sensing, and space science missions while ensuring a quick turnaround time for satellite launches.
The IMS-1 bus, weighing about 100 kg, accommodates a 30kg payload. Solar arrays generate 330W power with a raw bus voltage of 30-42 V, ISRO said, adding it offers a 3-axis stabilised with four reaction wheels with a 1 Newton thruster that provides +/- 0.1 degree pointing accuracy.
It is a forerunner for IMS-2 bus technology, capable of improved features, and IMS-1 bus is utilised in previous ISRO missions like IMS-1, Youthsat and Microsat-2D.

About ADTL

Alpha Design Technologies Pvt. Ltd (ADTL) is an aerospace and defence company, with expertise in engineering, manufacturing, and system integration.
It has been a key player in various projects related to defence, space and homeland security, contributing significantly to India's technological progress in these domains.

#upsc #news #headline #satellite #technology #ISRO #Alpha #NSIL #DrRadhkrishnan #IEN #documents #PSLV #space #global #URSC #earth #launches #solar #accuracy #IMS #engineering #aerospace #ADTL #defence

Today's Headlines - 16 August 2023
Isro’s space probe to study the Sun
GS Paper - 3 (Space Technology)

The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) released images of the Aditya-L1 mission — the space agency’s first attempt to study the Sun. The satellite has reached the Satish Dhawan Space Center (SDSC) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, for its integration with the launch vehicle, PSLV.

What is the Aditya-L1 mission?

The Aditya-L1 will observe the Sun from a close distance, and try to obtain information about its atmosphere and magnetic field.
It’s equipped with seven payloads (instruments) on board to study the Sun’s corona, solar emissions, solar winds and flares, and Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), and will carry out round-the-clock imaging of the Sun.

Why is studying the Sun important?

Every planet, including Earth and the exoplanets beyond the Solar System, evolves — and this evolution is governed by its parent star.
The solar weather and environment affect the weather of the entire system. Variations in this weather can change the orbits of satellites or shorten their lives, interfere with or damage onboard electronics, and cause power blackouts and other disturbances on Earth. Knowledge of solar events is key to understanding space weather.
To learn about and track Earth-directed storms, and to predict their impact, continuous solar observations are needed.
Every storm that emerges from the Sun and heads towards Earth passes through L1, and a satellite placed in the halo orbit around L1 of the Sun-Earth system has the major advantage of continuously viewing the Sun without any occultation/eclipses.
L1 refers to Lagrangian/Lagrange Point 1, one of five points in the orbital plane of the Earth-Sun system. Lagrange Points, named after Italian-French mathematician Josephy-Louis Lagrange, are positions in space where the gravitational forces of a two-body system (like the Sun and the Earth) produce enhanced regions of attraction and repulsion.
These can be used by spacecraft to reduce fuel consumption needed to remain in position. The L1 point is home to the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory Satellite (SOHO), an international collaboration project of NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA).
The L1 point is about 1.5 million km from Earth, or about one-hundredth of the way to the Sun. Aditya L1 will perform continuous observations looking directly at the Sun.
NASA’s Parker Solar Probe, launched in 2018, has already gone far closer — but it will be looking away from the Sun.
The earlier Helios 2 solar probe, a joint venture between NASA and the space agency of erstwhile West Germany, went within 43 million km of the Sun’s surface in 1976.

#upsc #news #headline #ISRO #study #sun #space #technology #india #space #research #technology #aditya #mission #SDSC #satishdhawanspacecenter #srihorikota #andhrapradesh #PSLV #distance #magnetic #corona #solar #planet #weather #earth #repulsion #gravitational #forces #fuel #SOHO #NASA #germany #surface

The points can be used as ‘parking spots’ for spacecraft in space to remain in a fixed position with minimal fuel consumption.
They have been named after Italian-French mathematician Joseph-Louis Lagrange (1736-1813), who was the first one to find the positions. So, between the Earth and the Sun, a satellite can occupy any of five Lagrangian points. “Of the five Lagrange points, three are unstable and two are stable. The unstable Lagrange points – labelled L1, L2, and L3 – lie along the line connecting the two large masses. The stable Lagrange points – labelled L4 and L5 – form the apex of two equilateral triangles. The L4 and L5 are also called Trojan points and celestial bodies like asteroids are found here.

#upsc #news #headline #india #first #sun #observatory #launched #space #technology #ISRO #AdityaL1 #firstspace #mission #SatishDhawan #spacecentre #Sriharikota #softland #spacecraft #nearmoon #southpole #polar #satellite #launch #PSLV #workhouse #rocket #chandrayaan #Mangalyaan #boosters #synchronous #orbit #lowerearth #haloorbit #chromosphere #corona #plasma #spectrometer #trojan #point #asteroids