MrunalSpaceISRONASArelatedcurrentaffairs201213
Mrunalhttp://mrunal.org
[SpaceTech]CurrentAffairsCompilation201213forSSCCGL,UPSCCSAT
PostedByMrunalOn02/04/2013@8:07pmInScience|125Comments
1. Prologue
2. TheBasics
1. Basic:WhatdoesISROdo?
2. Basics:ISS
3. Basics:TiangongandShenzhou
4. Basics:AtlantisSpaceshuttle
5. Basics:Soyuzspacecraft
6. Basics:spacewalking
7. Basics:Dragoncapsule
8. Basics:Antisatellitemissiles
3. Spaceprograms:India
1. IndiasLaunchVehicles:PSLVvsGSLV
2. IndiasSatellites:IRSvsINSAT
3. ISROs100thmission
4. IndiasownGPS:IRNSS
5. GAGAN
6. SpaceVisionIndia2025
7. CryogenicEngine
8. Chandrayaan1
9. MarsMission
4. Spaceprograms:USA(NASA)
1. USA:MARSrelated
2. Curiosity
3. GaleCrater
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4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
BlackBeauty
NASA:Moonrelated
EbbandFlow,SallyRide
GRAIL
LCROSS
MoonKAMs
NASA:Misc.Missions
SpacePrograms:Russia
SpacePrograms:China
1. Beidou
2. HXMT
3. Shenzhous10
4. Shenzhous9
SpacePrograms:Othercountries
Telescopes
1. Groundtelescopes
2. SquareKilometreArray(SKA)
3. Solartelescope
4. Spacetelescopes
5. Herschel
6. HXMT
7. Kepler
8. NuSTAR
PIN:PersonsinNews(Space)
MockQuestions
Prologue
PreviousIreleasedtwoCurrentAffairscompilations(201213)
1. Personsinnews,books,sports,Misc.GK=clickme
2. Defense,missilesetc=clickme.
Nowmovingtothethirdarticleontheseries:Spacetech.
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Forcompetitiveexams,theSpacetechisfurtherdividedintotwoparts:
Part
1. Theory
/static
What?
Source
Basicinfoonplanets,stars,supernova,bigbang
theory,blackholesetc.
NCERTsciencetextbooks/GS
Manual/GKbooks.
2. Current Variousspaceprograms,satellitestelescopes,
affairs
astronautsinnews.
Newspaper,magazine,internet.
WhenitcomestoMCQs(spacetech):
BoththeoryandcurrentaffairsareimportantforForSSCCGL(Tier1),UPSCCSAT,CDS,NDA,
CAPF,StatePSCprelimsexams.
However,forIBPS,SBI,LICtypeexams,theyusuallydontgointotheory.Iftheywanttoaskspace
relatedquestions,theygenerallyaskitfromthecurrentaffairsportion.
WhenitcomestoDescriptivepaper(Mains)ofUPSC/StatePSC
Forspacetechrelatedquestions,onlycurrentaffairsisimportant(mostly2marker,5marker
questions.)Thetheoryportiondoesntcomeintopicture,inthedescriptivepapers.
Thebestwaytoprepare^this(formains)=maintainnotesoutofnewspapersandmagazines
throughouttheyear,andreviseitoften.
Mainlytherearetwotypesofplayersincompetitiveexam(basedontheirapproachforSpaceTech):
1. Thosewhodonotpreparespacetechatall,thinkingThikhaifor23marks,whybotheratall!?
2. Thosewhopreparetoomuchspaceteche.g.OnApril18,2001,at04.22PM,GSLV1was
launched.Itsweightwas1540kgandheightwas49m.
Eitherapproachisdangerous.Keepthemiddlepath.
TheBasics
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beforedwellingintoreadyrevisionofSpaceTechcurrentaffairs,Imgoingtowriteaboutafew
basicconcepts.
Pleasenote:followingbasicsarenotnecessarilytechnicallycorrect.Theyrejustmeanttohelpyou
visualizeandrememberthings.
Basic:WhatdoesISROdo?
1. Whensomethingissenttospace,itcanbeManned(withastronauts)orUnmanned(without
astronauts).
2. Theunmannedmissionshavetwothings:
Examples
OneLaunchVehicle
PSLV,GSLV
OneorMoreSatellite(s) INSAT,RISAT,CARTOSAT.
sometimes,insteadofsatellites,itcanberovers,spacetelescopes.
TheLaunchVehicle(e.g.PSLV,GSLV)sendsthesatellite(s)intothespace.
Aftercoveringaparticulardistance,thesatellite(e.g.INSAT,GISAT)getsdetachedfromthe
LaunchVehicle.
ThenSatelliteopensupitswingslikeabutterflyfromcocoon.Thosewingshavesolarpanels,they
provideelectricitytothesatellite.
Satelliterotatesaroundtheearthandsendssignalstoandfrothusithelpsintelecommunication,
TVsignalbroadcasting,disaster/weathermonitoring,seanavigationetc.
Ifweputthesatellite@35800kmintheequatorialplane,itllappearfixedfromanypointonearth,
andwellcallitaGeostationarysatellite.
AndtheLaunchvehiclethenreturnsbacktoEarth,usuallyfallingintheoceanoruninhibitedland.
Thescientistscollectthelaunchvehicleandreuseitspartsfornextmission.
Basics:ISS
ISS=Internationalspacestation.
ISSislikeahostelinthespace.Astronautsgothere,stayforsomeweeks/monthsdosome
observation,research,repairworkandcomebackhome.
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US,Japan,Russia,CanadaandmanyothercountrieshaveinvestedinthisISSspacestation.
ButChinaisnotapartnerinISSproject.ChinawantstobuilditsownSpacestation.Thatswere
Shenzhous9andTiangong1comeintopicture.
Basics:TiangongandShenzhou
Tiangong1=meansheavenlypalace.
ThisisChinasexperimentalspacestation.SothisisthehostelforChineseastronautsinspace.
OkbuthowwillyousendChineseastronautstothisheavenlypalace?Ans.ViaShenzhou
spacecraft.
ShenzhoumeansDivinevessel.
In2012,Chinausedthisdivinevessel(Shenzhou9)tosenditsfirstfemaleastronautLiuYangto
thatHeavenlypalace(Tiangong1)
In2013,ChinawillsendmoreastronautstothatHeavenlypalace(Tiangong1),usingShenzhou
10.
Basics:AtlantisSpaceshuttle
Okrecapagain,tosendsatellitesinthespace,youneedalaunchvehicle(e.g.PSLV,GSLV).
Similarlytosendpeopleintospace,youneedaspacecraft/rockete.g.ChinasShenzhou.
AmericasAtlantisandRussiasSoyuzalsodothesamething.
TheAtlantisisaspaceshuttleofNASA.Itlookslikeanairplane.
Atlantiscanbeusedforlaunchingspacetelescopes,satellitesaswellaspeopleintothespace,as
perthemissionrequirements.
AndAtlantiscancomebackandlandonearthlikearegularairplane(exceptthatduringthe
landing,Atlantiswillopenparachutetoreduceitsspeed).
Ithadcarried33missionsfrom1985to2011
Atlantiswasretiredin2012.
ColumbiaisanotherexampleofNASAsSpaceShuttle.Butin2003,itcrashedduringreentering
intoEarthsatmosphere.
IndiabornfemaleastronautKalpanaChawladiedinthisaccident.WenamedourWeathersatellite
afterher(KALPANA1).
Basics:Soyuzspacecraft
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JustlikeChinausesdivinevessel(Shenzhou)tosendpeopleintospace,similarlyRussiauses
Soyuztosendpeopleintospace.
In2012,threeastronauts(includingSunitaWilliams)weresenttoInternationalspacestation(ISS)
usingSoyuz.
Basics:spacewalking
Therearetwotypesofmissions/probes:Mannedandunmanned.
Manned=sendingpeopleintospace.
Butwhatdopeopledointhespace?
Theygotomoon,hoisttheflagoftheirnations,E.g.NeilArmstrong.
Theyspendafewmonthsontheinternationalspacestation(ISS)orHeavenlyPalace
(Tiangong)orsimilarhostel(spacestation.E.g.IndiasfirstastronautRakeshSharmaspent
8daysinaRussianspacestation.
Butoftentheoutsidebodyaspacecraft/hostel(spacestation)requiressomerepairing,maintenance
orupgrades.
So,whenastronautgoesoutofthespacecraft,wearingthatwhitesuitandballonshapedhelmet
anddoessomewalking/repairingwork,thatisknownasspacewalk.
CurrentlySunitaWilliamsholdsthelongestspacewalkrecordforfemales.(50+hours).Formales,it
isAnatolySolovyev(77+hours).
Bytheway,SunitaWilliamsalsoholdstherecordforthelongestsinglespaceflightbyawoman.
(195days).
Basics:Dragoncapsule
Oksofarweknowtherearehostelsinthespace(e.g.ISS,Tiangong).Peoplegothere,spenda
fewweeks/months.Butifitisahostel,itdrequirefoodandsupplies.
Aprivatecompany(SpaceX)hasdesignedtheDragoncapsuletodeliverthefoodandsuppliesto
spacestations.
ItsuccessfullydeliveredcargotoISSspacestationin2012.
Basics:Antisatellitemissiles
Wehavelearnedtheimportanceoflaunchvehicles,satellitesandspacestations.
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Butifanenemyshootsdownoursatellitesthenourbankingandsharemarketsystemwillcollapse,
Ourarmy,navyandairforcewillnotbeabletoattackbackeffectively,andmoreimportantlyjuntaa
willnotbeabletowatchIPLmatchesandsaasbahuserialsorlogintofacebookandorkut.
Backin2007,ChinesemilitaryusedanAntiSatellitemissiletodestroyitsownweathersatellite.
ThismadeAmericans(andIndians)verynervous.
ButwehaveAgniVmissile.Ithasrangeof5000kms.Ifwemakesomemodificationsinit,wecan
alsouseittodestroyenemysatellites.SonowChinaisalsonervous.
Basicspartisover.nowletsgettobusiness:SpaceTechrelatedcurrentaffairs(201213)forrapid
revision.FirstwelllookatthespaceprogramsofIndia,US,Russia,Chinaandothercountries.Then
welllookattelescopesandPersonsinNews(Space)
Spaceprograms:India
CarriedoutbyIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)
Chairman=Dr.K.Radhakrishnan.HehadreplacedGMadhavanNair.(FirstChairmanofISROwas
VikramSarabhai.)
HQ
SatishDhawanSpace
centre
Physicsresearchlab
Antrix
Banglore
Shriharikota,Andhra.Weusuallylaunchsatellitesfromhere.(orfromFrench
GuianainS.America).
Ahmedabad
Banglore
IndiasLaunchVehicles:PSLVvsGSLV
PSLV
Polarsatellitelaunchvehicle
Cancarryupto1600kgsatellite
UsedforlaunchingIndianremotesensingsatellites(IRS)such
asCARTOSAT,RISAT,OCEANSAT,RESOURCESAT
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GSLV
Geosynchronoussatellitelaunch
vehicle
2500kg
ForlaunchingIndianNational
satellites(INSAT)suchasINSAT2E,
3A.,GSAT2,8,12.
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LatestversionisPSLVXL.Cancarryupto1750kg.Itwasused NextversionisGSLVMKIII,can
tolaunchChandrayaan,RISAT.Andinfuture,itllbeusedfor
carryupto4000kg
Marsmissionaswell.
IndiasSatellites:IRSvsINSAT
IRS
INSAT
Indianremotesensingsatellites
Monitoringnaturalresources,crops,
minerals,forestcoveretc.
LaunchedusingPSLV.
ExamplesofIRS=CARTOSAT,RISAT,
OCEANSAT,RESOURCESAT
IndianNationalsatellites(INSAT)
Telecom,TVbroadcast,DTH,weatherforecasting,
telemedicine,teleeducation,searchandrescueetc.
UsingGSLV.
ExamplesofINSAT=INSAT2E,3A,.AndGSAT2,8,12.
Nowletstakealookatthesatellitesthathavebeeninnewsrecently(ormentionedinYearbook)
Aditya1
ForstudyingSolarCoronas.
Astrosate1
Forastronomy.
CARTOSAT
3
ISROisbuildingthisremotesensingsatellite.
Itcantakeimagesofearthwithresolutionof0.25meters.
Itllbeusedforcartographyandhighresolutionmapping.
GISAT
GeoImagingSatellite.
Itllbepositioned36,000kmsabovetheearth.
Itllbeusedfordisastermanagement,bordersecurity.
ThisisIndiasheaviestsatellitesofar.
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GSAT10
ItwasISROs101stmission.
ItwaslaunchedFrenchGuiana.
ItalsocarriedsecondpayloadofGAGAN.(FirstpayloadofGAGANwas
sentviaGSAT8).
GSAT7
ItllincreaseIndiastelecommunicationsignals.
IndianNavywillalsouseitforcommunication.
INSAT2E
afterservingfor13years,thissatellitecompleteditsmissionlifein2012.
INSAT3D
Weathersatellite(meteorology),searchandrescueoperations.
AtpresentIndiasmeterologicalobservationisdonebytwosatellites
Kalpana1andINSET3A.ThisINSAT3Dismorepowerfulandadvanced.
RISAT1
RISAT1isIndiasfirstradarimagingsatellite
Itcanscantheearthsurfaceduringbothdayandnight,evenincloudy
conditions.Soitisanallweathersatellite.
Use=paddymonitoringandmanagementofnaturaldisasterlikefloodand
cyclone.
ItwaslaunchedusingPSLVXLlaunchvehicle.
SARAL
IndoFrenchsatellite
SARAL=SatellitewithARgosandALtiKa.
ItwaslaunchedFromSriharikota,Andhra.
Itllbeusedformarinemeteorology,oceanographyclimatemonitoringetc.
ISROsfirstmissionwastosendaryabhattaSatelliteintospace.Butatthattimewedidnothave
ourownlaunchvehicle,soweusedaRussianlaunchvehicle.
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TodayISROhasbothSatellite+Launchvehicle.Andwenotonlysendourownsatellites,wealso
helpothercountriessendtheirsatellitesintospace,usingourlaunchvehicles.(ofcourseaftertaking
cashforprovidingtheTaxi/courierservice.)
Forthesetypeofcommercialactivities,ISROtakeshelpofAntarix.
AntarixisaGovernmentownedcompany,itworksasthemarketingandcommercialarmofISRO.
ISROs100thmission
ISROs100thmissionwaslaunchedfromSatishDhawanSpaceCentre,Sriarikota,Andhra
Pradesh.
Here,ISROlaunchedtwoforeignsatellitesusingPSLVlaunchvehicle.Thenameofsatellitesare:
1. SPOT6:Frenchsatellite
2. Proiteres:Japanesemicrosatellite
Bytheway,recallthatISROs101stmissionwasGSAT10.AndGSAT10istheheaviestsatellite
ISROhaslaunchedsofar.(because100thmissionisextremelyclichdandblownoutofproportion,
soifUPSCwantstoapplyitsBackbreakingTMmove,itdratheraskabout99thor101stmission
hahaha).
IndiasownGPS:IRNSS
Atpresentonlythreecountrieshavetheirownglobalnavigationsystems
USA
GPS
Russia GLONASS.Morediscussedinearlierarticleclickme
China Beidou
Todeployaglobalnavigationsystem,youneedtosetuplotsofsatelliteshoveringaroundtheworld,
sotheycanscanandsentpinpointlocationofanywheretoanywhere.
DuringtheIraqwar,theAmericanssentwrongGPSnavigationsignalstotheIraqijetsandmissiles,
thereforeIraqiscouldnotattackAmericansforcesinaccuratemanner.
Moralofthestory=Dontrelyonotherpeoplesnavigationsystem.
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Fortheshortterm,We(India)aredesigningourmissilesandfighterjetsinsuchwaythattheycan
usebothGPS(American)andGLONASS(Russian)signalsfornavigation.(soifwewanttoattack
Americaoritsally,wecanrelyonGLONASSandviceversa.)
Butforlongterm,wewillneedourownGPSlikesystem.Therefore,ISROisdevelopingIRNSS.
IRNSS=Indianregionalnavigationalsatellitesystem.
Nowifyouconnectthedots:weneedourownGPS(IRNSS)sowecanaccuratelyattackenemies.
AndwewillneedourownAntisatellitemissile,toshootdownsatellitesofenemiessotheirGPS
cannotworkaccurately.
GAGAN
GPSaidedgeoaugmentednavigation(gagan)
ItisajointeffortbytheISROandtheAirportsAuthorityOfIndia(AAI).
ItsmainuseistohelpAirtrafficcontrolandhelpspilotsfly/landaircraftsinbadweather.
ButasthenamesuggestsGPSaidedmeaningitisnotaseparateindependentnavigation
system.ItdependsonGPS(Americannavigationsystem).ThereforeweneedIRNSS.
SpaceVisionIndia2025
ThisiswhatISROplanstoforfuture:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Usesatellitesforruralconnectivity,securityandmobileservices
Increaseimagingcapabilityfornaturalresourcemanagement,weatherandclimatechangestudies
Getbetterunderstandingofsolarsystemanduniverse
exploreplanets.
DevelopHeavyliftlauncher
DevelopReusableLaunchVehicles.
SendHumanstospace.
CryogenicEngine
Cryogenicenginesworkatverylowtemperature.
ISROisdevelopingcryogenicengines
1. forGSLVlaunchvehicles.
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2. forChandrayaan2moonmission
earlierISROhadtriedthisin2010butitwasan#EPICFAIL.
Chandrayaan1
ItwasIndiasfirstunmannedmoonmission.
ItfoundevidenceofwateronMoon.Italsodidthesurvedthetopography,craters,polarregions
andenvironmentofMoon.
Thishappenedin2008hencetoooldandtooclichdtobeaskedforMCQs.
ISROisnowworkingonChandrayaan2jointprogrammewiththeRussianFederalSpaceAgency,
ButRussianssufferedasetbackduetotheirPhobosgruntmission.
MarsMission
IndiaplanningaMarsmissionsimilartoCuriositymissionofNASA.(probablyinOctober/November
2013.)
MohanmadeofficialannouncementaboutthisduringIndependencedayspeech.
MarsmissionwillbelaunchedusingPSLVXL.
PSLVXListhemostpowerfulversionofPSLVlaunchvehicle.EarlieritwasusedforChandrayaan
Mission,RISATandGSAT12.
ThisleadstoEssay/groupdiscussion/interviewtopicthatwhenmillionsofIndiansaresufferingfrom
povertyandmalnutrition,whatspointofspendingcroresofrupeesonMoonandMarsmission?Butthis
articleiswrittenforMCQs,soletsnotdwellintothatforthemoment.
Spaceprograms:USA(NASA)
NASA=NationalAeronauticsandSpaceAdministration.
ThereisnoendtoNASAmissionseither,butfromthecurrentaffairspointofview,Iwouldclassify
themintothree:1)Marsrelated2)Moonrelated3)Misc.
USA:MARSrelated
Curiosity
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ThisisMahaclichdtopicforMCQsbutanyways
NameofthemissionisMSL:MarsSciencelaboratory.
UnderthisMSLmission,NASAlaunchedCuriosityrovertoMarsin2011.
In2012,CuriosityroversuccessfullylandedonMarssurface.
Thismissionhasfollowingaims
1. DidlifeeverexistonMars?
2. Findpresenceofwater,andotherlifesupportingelements.
3. Collectdatarelatedtogeology,radiationlevelsetc.forplanningnextmannedmissiontoMars.
Deviceon
Curiosity
Function
ChemistryandMineralogyinstrument
ItisusedforsoilanalysisonMars.
CheMinfoundthatmineralsontheRedPlanetaresimilartothosefoundin
volcanicsoilsinHawaii
CHEMIN
TunableLaserSpectrometer(TLS)
Presenceofmethaneinaplanetsatmosphereindicatesthatlifemayhave
existedinthepast.
TLSanalysedasmallsampleofMartianairanddetectedverysmallamountof
methane.
TLS
GaleCrater
LocatedonMarsplanet.
Curiosityroverlandedhereandfoundsignsthatwatermayhaveflowedinthepastthroughthis
GaleCrater.
BlackBeauty
Itisa320gramspacerockfromMars.
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DiscoveredinMoroccosSaharaDesertin2011
ItcontainsmorewaterthananyotherMartianmeteoritepreviouslyfound.
couldunlockvitalcluestotheevolutionofMars.
NASA:Moonrelated
EbbandFlow,
SallyRide
TwoNASAspacecraftEbbandFlow,equippedwithMoonKAMs.
TheywereorbitingaroundMoonsince2011underGRAILmission.
Buttheydidnothavesufficientaltitudeorfueltocontinuescience
operations.
HenceNASAteamcrashlandedthemonMooninDec2012.
TheplacewheretheycrashlandedisnamedafterSallyK.Ride,
Americasfirstwomanastronaut.
GRAIL
GravityRecoveryandInteriorLaboratory(GRAIL)
TostudythegravityfieldandgeologicalstructureoftheMoon.
LCROSS
NASAsLunarCraterObservationandSensingsatellite,
Ithasdetectedpresenceofwaterlockedinsidethesoilofmoon.
MoonKAMs
MoonKAM=MoonKnowledgeAcquiredbyMiddleSchoolStudents.
TheMoonKamscapturesimagesofthemoonssurfaceandsends
themtothestudentsforstudy.
NASA:Misc.Missions
Cassini
ItfoundevidenceofwateronTitan.
TitanisthelargestmoonofSaturnplanet.
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Dragon
SpaceX
DragoncapsulewasdesignedbyaprivatecompanyspaceX.(andnotby
NASA)
Itdeliveredfood,suppliesandcargotoInternationalspacestation.
ItwaslaunchedusingFlacon9rocket.
FireFly
Cubesat
ItisasmallsatellitedesignedbyNASAaimedtocapturethedetailsofthe
lighteningthathappensindeepspace.
Thiswillhelpsolvingthemysteryofterrestrialgammarays,orTGFs.
Kepler
telescope
ItisaspaceobservatoryofNASA.
Itisusedfordiscoveringearthlikeplants.
Mercury
Messenger
MercuryistheinnermostplanetintheSolarSystem.
NASAsMESSENGERspacecrafthasreportedpresenceofwatericeon
Mercury.
NuSTAR
NuSTAR(theNuclearSpectroscopicTelescopeArray)
ItisaspacebasedXraytelescope.
NASAlaunchedthisunderPegasusmission.
NuSTARtelescopewillusehighpowerXraystolocateblackholes,collapsed
starsandsupernovaremnants.
PREDICCS
webbasedtoolforpredictingandforecastingtheradiationenvironmentin
nearEarth,lunarandMartianspace.
Itwillprovidecriticalinformationaspreparationsaremadeforpotentialfuture
mannedmissionstotheMoonandMars.
SpacePrograms:Russia
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Luna
Glob
RoboticLunarMissionin2015.
JointexperimentsconductedbyEU,Russia,Chinaforsendinghumanmissionson
Mars500 Mars.
Phobos
Grunt
Marshastwomoons.Phobosisthelargestofthem.RussiansentPhobosgrunt
missiontostudyit.ButthespacecraftfailedandcrashedintoPacificocean.
Rus
NameofthetwoseaterspaceshipdevelopedbyRussia
Soyuz
rocket
LaunchedfromKazakhstan,carriedthreeastronautstoInternationalspacestation
(ISS),includingSunitaWilliamsin2012.
SpacePrograms:China
Beidou
BeforeBeidou,onlytwocountrieshadNavigationsystems:USA=GPSand
Russia=GLONASS.
BeidouisChinasownversionofglobalnavigationsystem.
Projectwillbefullyoperationalby2020.
HXMT
Hardxraymodulationtelescope
Chinasfirstspacetelescope.
forstudyingblackholes.(recallthatAmericasNuSTARisalsomeantfor
studyingblackholes).
Shenzhous
10
Chinasnextmannedspacemission.
ItwillalsocarryChineseastronautstoTiangong1.
ItmeansdivineVessel.
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Shenzhous
9
MannedspacemissionofChina.
ItcarriedChinasfirstwomanastronautLiuYangtoanorbitingmodule
Tiangong1.
Tiangong1meansHeavenlypalaceitisChinasprototypeforfuture
spacestationsimilartoISS.
Yaogan
Forcropassessmentanddisastermanagement.
Chinasat
Itischinasnewmilitarycommunicationsatellite.
SpacePrograms:Othercountries
Korea
KoreaSpaceLaunchVehicle1(KSLV1)
SouthKoreawilllaunchthissatelliteandgainentrytoaneliteglobalspaceclub
thatincludesAsianpowersChina,IndiaandJapan.
EarlierUSAdidnotletS.Koreadevelopedlaunchvehiclesforthefearofarmsrace
betweenNorthandSouthKorea.
Iran
Pishgam=nameofMonkeythatwasrecentlysenttospaceandreturnedback,
underIranianspacemission.InFarsi,Pishgam=Pioneer.
Telescopes
Therearetwotypesoftelescopes:
1. Thoseontheground(e.g.SKA,SolartelescopeinLadakh)and
2. Thoseinthespace.(Kepler,NuSTAR,HXMTandHerschel.)
^thislistisnotexhaustive,butthesetelescopeswereinnewsrecently.
Groundtelescopes
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SquareKilometre
Array(SKA)
worldslargestandmostsensitiveradiotelescope
willbecompletedin2024
WillbesetupinSouthAfricaandAustralia.
Applications:signaltransport,signalprocessing,computing,
softwareanddataarchiving
Indiaisactivelyinvolvedinthisproject
Solartelescope
AlsoknownasNationalLargeSolarTelescope(NLST)
WillbebuiltintheLadakhregionofJammuandKashmirbyDeptof
ScienceandTechnology.
Thiswillbeworldslargestsolartelescope.
Canworkinbothdayandnight.
Willhelpinunderstandingsunspots:processoftheircreationand
decay.
Sunspotsandsolarwindsposeathreattothecommunication
systemonearthaswellasspacesatellites.
Spacetelescopes
Herschel
largestspacetelescopeeverlaunched(2009)
ItisnamedafterSirWilliamHerschelwhohaddiscoveredUranus
planet.
Thistelescopeisinnews,becausesoonitsonboardliquidhelium
supplywillbeexhaustedanditllstopworking.
HeliumisrequiredtocooltheinstrumentsonHerschelespace
telescope.
EU+US
Hardxraymodulationtelescope
HXMT
Chinasfirstspacetelescope.
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China
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forstudyingblackholes.(recallthatAmericasNuSTARisalsomeant
forstudyingblackholes).
Kepler
Launchedin2009.
Todiscoverearthlikeplanets.
KeplerwasaGermanastronomerwhogavelawstodescribethe
motionofplanetsaroundtheSun.
US
NuSTAR
NuSTAR(theNuclearSpectroscopicTelescopeArray)
ItisaspacebasedXraytelescope.
NASAlaunchedthisunderPegasusmission.
NuSTARtelescopewillusehighpowerXraystolocateblackholes,
collapsedstarsandsupernovaremnants.
US
PIN:PersonsinNews(Space)
LiuYang
NeilArmstrong
SallyRide
SunitaWilliams
Dr.K.
Radhakrishnan
firstChinesewomanastro.
Apollo11.1969.Firstmantolandonmoon.Dead.
FirstAmericanwomanastro.Dead.AMooncratenamedafterher.
Longestspacewalk(female).Tookcommandofinternationalspacestationin
Sep12.
ISROChairman.
Finallytwotopics:
1. CERN,Godparticle=http://mrunal.org/2012/08/sntcern.html
2. BlueMoon=http://mrunal.org/2012/08/sntbluemoon.html
OksothesewerethenotableSpacetechrelatedevents/termshappenedduringJan2012toMarch
2013.Ifyoufeelanyimportantthingwasmissed,orifthereisanycorrection,dowriteitinthecomments
below.
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MockQuestions
1. WhichofthefollowingcountryisnotassociatedwithInternationalspacestation?
a. Canada
b. Russia
c. Japan
d. China
2. CorrectStatements
a. Tiangong1istheexperimentalspacetelescopeofChina.
b. Shenzhou9isthenameofChinesespacestation
c. Both
d. None
3. LongestspacewalkrecordforFemaleAstronautsisheldby
a. KalpanaChawla
b. SallyJames
c. LiuYang
d. SunitaWilliams
4. Whichofthefollowingisnotatelescope?
a. Hubble
b. Kepler
c. NuStar
d. Beidou
5. IncorrectStatement
a. AntrixisaprivatelyownedcompanyofAirtel.
b. AntrixisthecommericalandMarketingarmofISRO
c. Both
d. None
6. FindIncorrectMatch
a. FrenchGuiana=inNorthAfrica
b. SatishDhawanSpacecentre=Banglore
c. PhysicsResearchlab=Pune
d. Allofabove
7. CorrectStatementsaboutDragonCapsule
a. ItwasdesignedbyNasa
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8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
b. ItwasusedfordeliveringcargotoInternationalspacestation.
c. Both
d. None
IncorrectStatements
a. IndianRemoteSensingsatellitesarelaunchedusingGSLV.
b. IndianNationalsatellitesarelaunchedusingPSLV.
c. Both
d. None
CorrectStatementsaboutPSLVXL
a. Itisalaunchvehicle,usedinChandrayaan.
b. ItllbeusedinIndiasMarsMission.
c. Both
d. None
IncorrectstatementsaboutIndianremotesensingsatellites
a. Theyareusedformoniteringnaturalresources.
b. TheyrelaunchedusingGSLV.
c. CARTOSATandRISATareexamplesofRemotesensingsatellites.
d. NoneofAbove.
IncorrectMatch
a. Aditya:SolarCoronas
b. Cartosat3:highresolutionmapping
c. GSAT10:Indiasheaviestsatellitesofar
d. SARAL:IndoJapaneseTsunamipredictionsatellite.
CorrectMatch
a. Spot6:Japan
b. Proiteres:France
c. Beidou:Japan
d. Noneofabove
FindtheOddsequence
a. GLONASS,Beidou,IRNSS
b. NuSTAR,HXMT,Herschel
c. GAGAN,PISHGAM,SARAL
d. NoneofAbove
whichofthefollowingcountrydoesnthaveitsownGlobalNavigationsystem?
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15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
a. Russia
b. China
c. Japan
d. NoneofAbove
whichofthefollowingisnotthemainaimofISROsSpacevision2025?
a. Developreusablelaunchvehicles
b. DevelopIndiasownspacestation.
c. Sendhumanstospace
d. Usesatellitesforruralconnectivity,securityandmobileservices.
NameofthemissionunderwhichNasasentarovertoMarsin2011?
a. MSL
b. Curiosity
c. Pegasus
d. NoneofAbove
GaleCraterislocatedin
a. Mercury
b. Saturn
c. Mars
d. Moon
BlackBeautyisaspacerockfrom
a. Moon
b. Mars
c. Saturn
d. Mercury
Who/WhatisSallyRide?
a. FirstfemaleastronautofUSA
b. APlaceonMoonwheretwoNASAspacecraftscrashlanded.
c. Bothofabove
d. NoneofAbove
WhatisthepurposeofGRAILmission?
a. StudythegravityfieldofMoon
b. StudythegravityfieldofMars
c. StudythegravityfieldofMercury
d. StudythegravityfieldofVenus
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21. CorrectStatement
a. TitanisoneofthemoonofMars
b. PhobosisoneofthemoonofSaturn
c. Both
d. None
22. Whatis/arecommonbetweenNuSTARandHXMT
a. Bothwillarespacetelescopesusedforfindingblackholes.
b. BotharelaunchedbyNASAunderPegasusmission.
c. BothAandB
d. NeitherAorB
23. Beidouisthe
a. SpacestationofChina
b. MarsmissionofChina
c. GlobalnavigationsystemofChina
d. Noneofabove
24. WorldsLargestradiotelescope:
a. Herschel
b. HXMT
c. Hubbles
d. SquareKilometerArray
25. In2012,SunitaWilliamswenttoISSusingwhichofthefollowingspacecraft?
a. Atlantis
b. Discovery
c. Soyuz
d. NoneofAbove
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