10.40 min science 1-66T Flashcards
- BIOTECHNOLOGY
1. 1. GENE THERAPY
Why in news?
Recently, U.S Food and Drug Administration
(USFDA) approved a Yescarta (axicabtagene
ciloleucel) therapy to treat adults with certain
types of large B-Cell lymphoma (blood cancer).
Yescarta uses CAR (chimeric antigen receptor) Tcell
therapy for treatment.
About Yescarta therapy
• It is a type of gene therapy that turns cells in
the patient’s body into a “living drug” that
targets and kills cancer cells.
• It has been given Orphan Drug Designation,
under which it will be provided with financial
incentives to encourage the development of
drugs.
• Living Drug - Genetically modified cells are that are
infused back into patients in CAR T-cell therapy,
continue multiplying to fight disease for months or
years. That’s why these immunotherapy
treatments are called “living drugs.”
• Orphan Drug - A biological product or medicine
that is intended to treat diseases so rare that
sponsors are reluctant to develop them under
usual marketing conditions. According to WHO,
disease having fewer than 100 patients per
100,000 population is described as rare disease
and fewer than 2 patients per 100,000 is described
as ultra rare disease. Examples of the rare diseases
are haemophilia, thalassemia etc.
• Genes – They are the biological templates the body
uses to make the structural proteins and enzymes
needed to build and maintain tissues and organs.
Humans have about 20,000 genes bundled into 23
pairs of chromosomes all coiled up in the nucleus
of nearly every cell in the body.
Human immune system?
The Immune system is a complex network of cells and
organs that work together to defend against foreign
substances (antigens-bacteria, virus etc.). Various cells
associated are:
• B-cell – It is a type of white blood cell that makes
antibodies. Antibodies are large Y-shaped proteins
which bind to specific antigens. This signals the
other cells of the immune system to get rid of the
invading microbes.
• T-cell – These are designed to recognise the
molecular signatures of particular proteins, such
as those from bacteria, in order to activate an
immune response.
• Macrophage – It is the first cell to recognize and
engulf foreign substances. It may break down
these substances and present the smaller
proteins to the T lymphocytes .
1.2. GENOME SEQUENCING OF
RAGI
Why in news?
Recently, Genome sequencing of Ragi has been
done.
What is Genome sequencing?
• Genome sequencing is figuring out the order
of DNA nucleotides, or bases, in a genome
i.e. the order of As (Adenine), Cs (Cytosine),
Gs (Guanine), and Ts (Thymine) which make
up an organism’s DNA. The human genome is
made up of over 3 billion of these genetic
letters.
• It may provide new information on the
genetic basis of poorly understood diseases,
with the potential to provide new therapies.
Ragi/Finger Millet:
• It was introduced to India in around 3,000 BC.
• It has a low glycemic index, so preferred by
diabetics.
• Ragi is drought resistant and is the main crop of
dry land farmers.
• It occupies 12% of global millet cultivation area.
• Karnataka, which has the second largest droughtprone
crop land.
DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid
• It is the hereditary material in humans and almost
all other organisms.
• Most DNA is located in the cell nucleus (where it
is called nuclear DNA), but a small amount of DNA
can also be found in the mitochondria (where it is
called mitochondrial DNA or mtDNA).
• DNA is made up of molecules called nucleotides.
Each nucleotide contains a phosphate group, a
sugar group & a nitrogen base. The four types of
nitrogen bases are adenine(A), thymine(T),
guanine(G) & cytosine (C)
• DNA is a double helix formed by base pairs
attached to a sugar-phosphate backbone.
• It can almost accurately ascertain the identity of
a person, establish biological relationships
between individuals etc. Thus, useful in
investigations of crime, identification of
unidentified bodies, or in determining parentage.
• It can also reveal person looks, eye colour, skin
colour as well as more intrusive information like
their allergies or susceptibility to diseases.
• It can be used in biometric identification in
addition to Iris scanning, Retinal scanning and
Voice recognition.
Biological computing
• For a long time, it was known that DNA can be
used for data storage.
• This may be used in future to build biological
computers that use biological materials such as
RNA, DNA and proteins, mimic biological
organisms or are used to study biological
organisms
• The biological computer may be an implantable
device that is mainly used for tasks like
monitoring the body’s activities or making simple
calculations or inducing therapeutic effects, all at
the molecular or cellular level.
Some other genome sequencing projects Human Genome Project (HGP): 1. HGP-Read: • This was an international and multiinstitutional effort that took 13 years [1990-2003] and $2.7 billion to produce a blueprint of the human genome. • The HGP has revealed that there are probably about 20,500 human genes composed of over 3 billion base pairs. • India did not participate in HGP-read 2. HGP-Write: • This project was launched in 2016 to write or build an artificial human genome from scratch with sophisticated bioengineering tools. • HGP-write will aim to address a number of human health challenges. Potential applications include growing transplantable human organs, engineering immunity to viruses in cell lines via genome-wide recoding, engineering cancer resistance into new therapeutic cell lines, and accelerating.
high-productivity, cost-efficient vaccine
and pharmaceutical development using
human cells and organoids.
• The project could encourage broad
intellectual property access via patent
pooling.
• But, the HGP-write will require public
involvement and consideration of ethical,
legal, and social implications.
The Genome Asia 100k initiative:
• A non-profit consortium called Genome Asia
100K based in Singapore has announced an
ambitious plan to sequence 100,000 Asian
individuals in hopes of accelerating precision
medicine applications for Asian populations.
• Bangalore-based MedGenome has also
teamed up with it.
1.3. THREE PARENTS BABY
Why in news?
UK became the first country to have officially
approved procedures to create “three-parent”
babies.
About “three-parent” babies
• Mitochondrial Replacement therapy (MRT)
is used to replace mother’s faulty
Mitochondrial DNA with healthy
Mitochondria from a donor woman during
IVF process, thus the name- “three-parent”
baby
• The donor’s mitochondria contribute just 37
genes to the child, compared with more than
20,000 from the parents. That is a negligible
amount and far less than one would gain
from a blood transfusion or organ transplant.
• No other characteristics in terms of
intelligence, eye colour, hair colour, height
etc. are changed.
About Mitochondrial Disease
• The mitochondria are organelles inside cells that
are involved in releasing energy by producing
adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the key energy
currency that drives metabolism.
• Mitochondria are inherited solely from the
mother and this results into cases of babies been
born with rare mitochondrial diseases if mother
has the faulty mitchochondrial DNA.
1.4. STEM CELLS THERAPY
Why in news?
Recently, miniature eye-like organs have been
successfully grown using induced pluripotent
stem (iPS) cells.
Stem Cells: Stem cells are a class of undifferentiated
cells that are able to differentiate into specialized cell
types. Commonly, stem cells are of the following
types:
• Embryonic stem cells - derived from the inner cell
mass of an embryo and these are capable of
forming any cell types of the body.
• Adult stem cells – also known as somatic stem cell
and it refers to non-reproductive cells in the body
(eggs or sperm). They generate cells to replace
those that are lost through normal repair, disease,
or injury. ASCs are found throughout ones lifetime
in tissues such as the umbilical cord, placenta,
bone marrow, muscle, brain, fat tissue, skin, gut,
etc.
• Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells: These cells
are produced by genetically manipulating somatic
cells to produce embryonic-like stem cells
Importance
• Stem cells offer new potentials for treating
diseases such as diabetes, and heart disease.
• To screen new drugs and to develop model
systems to study normal growth and identify
causes of birth defects.
• Study how an organism develops from a single cell
and how healthy cells replace damaged cells in
adult organisms.
Immunosuppressants are a class of drugs that suppress
the immune response through various mechanisms. In
organ transplantation, they are used to prevent the
body from either recognition or attacking the foreign
organ.
Draft Guidelines for Stem Cell Research • The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in association with the Department of Biotechnology recently released the revised Draft Guidelines for Stem Cell Research, 2017 which calls for: o conducting research in an ethical and scientifically responsible manner o involving various stakeholders in research of human stem cells. o option of sharing IPRs o ensuring compliance with the national guidelines through National Apex Committee for Stem Cell Research and Therapy which currently monitors and oversees research activities at the national level.
1.5. BIO-INK
Why in news
• Recently, a new printing material called flink
(functional living ink), has been developed by
scientists using bacterias.
About Bio-Ink
• Bio ink consists of a hydrogel biomaterial. It
temporarily mimics the natural extracellular
matrix environment of mammalian cells,
giving them time to produce their own
milieu.
• Bio inks are ideal for 3D bioprinting, thus
provide a 3D environment for culturing cells.
• The bio-ink contains two different polymer
components: a natural polymer extracted
from seaweed, and a sacrificial synthetic
polymer used in the medical industry.
• Application: It can be used for printing
complex tissues using the patient’s own stem
cells for surgical bone or cartilage implants,
which could be used in knee and hip
surgeries.
3D printing
• 3D printing or additive manufacturing is a
process of making three dimensional solid
objects from a digital file.
• It is an additive process wherein an object is
created by laying down successive layers of
material until the object is created. Each of
these layers can be seen as a thinly sliced
horizontal cross-section of the eventual
object.
• 3D printing produces complex (functional)
shapes using less material than traditional
manufacturing methods.
Application
• Manufacturing: Mass customisation, Rapid
Prototyping, Rapid manufacturing, cloudbased
additive manufacturing.
• Medical applications: Printed prosthetics,
use of bioprinting in tissue engineering, high
dose pills manufacturing.
• Industrial applications: Apparel,
customisable art and jewelry, in automotive
industry as 3D printed
1.6. BIOTECHNOLOGY IN
NORTH EAST REGION
Why in news?
Recently Department of Biotechnology (DBT)
under Ministry of Science and Technology has
announced a series of new programs and
missions for North Eastern Region (NER).
Recent Programs and Missions Launched by DBT
• Phyto-Pharma Plant Mission
o The mission would work towards
conservation and cultivation of
endangered and threatened species
o Major objectives of the mission are:
Captive cultivation of selected medicinal
plants of NER, Development of packaging technology for export market,
Production of safe efficacious phytopharmaceutical
drugs following global
standards.
• Brahmaputra Biodiversity and Biology Boat
(B4)
o It is an effort towards conservation of
world’s largest riverine island and India’s
first island district – Majuli facing
excessive erosion, in collaboration with
DONER.
o Under this program, large boats will be
set up in the river which will have a wellequipped
laboratory along with cold
storage facility to store samples. It will
also have a number of satellite boats and
rafts will also venture in the river to
collect samples.
• Human Resource Skilling Programs
o Twinning R&D Program – Under this
program DBT has initiated establishment
of link institutes in NER with the rest of
the country. This has resulted in 252
research publications and 600 junior and
senior fellowship being awarded to the
students in biotechnology research.
• Infrastructure and Resource binding –
through establishment of biotech hubs,
animal house facility for critical animal
experiments, Advance Animal Disease
Diagnostic & Management Consortium
(ADMaC) for surveillance of pathogens from
NER, collaborating for conservation of
delicate ecology of NER.
1.7. EMBRYO TRANSFER
TECHNOLOGY
Why in news?
Department of Animal Husbandry launched
Embryo Transfer Technology to increase the
livestock productivity.
Embryo Transfer Technology (ETT)
• It is a technique of assisted reproduction in
which the embryo or zygote is collected from
a donor animal with higher genetic merit and
transferred to a recipient animal which serves
as surrogate for rest of the pregnancy.
• Government has undertaken a Mass Embryo
Transfer programme in Indigenous Breeds
under the scheme, National Mission on
Bovine Productivity.
• The programme is implemented with the objective of conservation and development of indigenous breeds under Rashtriya Gokul Mission. • Indigenous Cow Breeds such as Sahiwal, Gir, Red Sindhi, Ongole, Deoni and Vechur will be the recipient surrogates under the program. • Benefits of ETT o Farmers may get 5-6 times increased number of off springs o Calves will be of high genetic merit and born disease free. About Rashtriya Gokul Mission • Aim: Development and conservation of indigenous bovine breeds to enhance milk production and productivity through: o Induction of high genetic merit bulls for semen production, o Strengthening of bulls mother farms. o Setting up of Gokul Grams. o Generating awareness among farmers for rearing of indigenous breeds. About National Mission on Bovine Productivity • Aim: Enhancing milk production and productivity and thereby making dairying more remunerative to the farmers. • Mission components: o Pashu Sanjivni- It includes identification of animals in milk using UID, issuing health cards to all animals in milk and uploading data on INAPH data base. o Advance reproductive Technique- Under the component sex sorted semen production facility is being created at 10 A graded semen stations and 50 Embryo Transfer Technology Labs with IVF facilities are being created in the country. o Creation of E Pashu Haat Portal- For linking farmers and breeders of indigenous breeds o Establishment of National Bovine Genomic Centre for Indigenous Breeds(NBGC-IB): For enhancing milk production and productivity through genomic selection among indigenous breeds
- NANOTECHNOLOGY
2. 1. NANOTECHNOLOGY
Nanotechnology is science, engineering, and
technology conducted at the nanoscale, which is
about 1 to 100 nanometers. The physical,
chemical and biological properties exhibited by a
material changes at this size level is unique and
peculiar way, i.e. it follows the laws of quantum
physics which is very different from the laws of
Newtonian physics we see and feel. As
nanotechnology allows manipulation of
properties at a very small scale, it can have many
applications such as:
• Medical field: Nano scale diagnostic devices
are more efficient in detecting cancer or
infection, Nano size drugs can be delivered to
targeted areas which can also help fight
cancer. For example - Recently, a new
technology for safer and cheaper diagnosis
and treatment of cancer has been found by
turning nano-particles of calcium phosphate
into fully biodegradable radio frequency (RF)
agents that can be imaged in MRI and CT
scans.
• Combating climate change: by developing
nanomaterial which can effectively help to
reduce the Carbon Dioxide in the air and
trigger bioremediation to get rid of toxic
waste such as dyes, oil spill etc.
o Combating Carbon Emission: The Nano
CO2 Harvester can capture more CO2
than usual and is more efficient fuel
converter.
o Cleaning Water: The magnetically
charged nanoparticles have been proved
potent in researches to have effectively
carried on adsorption process to remove
heavy & toxic metals, dyes from and oil
spills from water bodies.
o Accelerating Biodegradation (Solid
Waste Management): They accelerate
the conversion of organic waste into
organic manures or biogas and fertilizers
can also be quickened through use of
Nanoparticles (such as Iron oxide
particles).
• Agriculture: Food processing industry can get
better packaging, presentation with least
waste and minimum moisture flow and
growth of bacteria. Also, Silver Nanoparticles
which exhibit antifungal, anti-bacterial, antiinflammatory,
antiviral and antiplatelet
properties can be used to increase the shelf
life of agricultural products.
• Defence: Use in intelligence gathering
through difficult to detect sensors/cameras/
recording devices, precision guiding tools etc.
• Construction: as nanomolecular structures
can make asphalt and concrete more robust
to water seepage, heat-resistant
nanomaterials can block ultraviolet and
infrared radiation etc.
• Energy: such as Novel hydrogen storage
systems based on carbon nanotubes and
other lightweight nanomaterials,
Nanocatalysts for hydrogen generation etc.
- SPACE TECHNOLOGY
3. 1. ISRO
• The Indian Space Research Organization
(ISRO) is the pioneer space exploration
agency of the Government of India based at
Bengaluru.
• It aims to develop and harness space
technology in national development, while
pursuing planetary exploration and space
science research.
• Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
operates through a countrywide network of
centre such as Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre
in Thiruvananthapuram, ISRO Satellite Centre
in Bangalore, Satish Dhawan Space Centre on
Sriharikota Island, near Chennai, Sensors and
payloads Space Applications Centre in
Ahmedabad, National Remote Sensing Centre
in Hyderabad etc.
• ISRO’s commercial arm is Antrix Corporation,
which has its headquarters in Bangalore.
- 1.1. MISSIONS
3. 1.1.1. MARS ORBITER MISSION
Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), has completed
four years in space since its launch on
November 5, 2013
• It was India’s first interplanetary mission,
launched by using a Polar Satellite Launch
Vehicle (PSLV) rocket.
• First Asian Nation: India had created global
history by becoming the first Asian nation to
reach the Mars orbit in a space mission.
• Proved the capability and efficiency of ISRO:
ISRO has become the fourth space agency to
reach Mars, after the Soviet space program,
NASA, and the European Space Agency
• MOM was aimed to explore and observe
Mars surface features, morphology,
mineralogy and the Martian atmosphere
• It carried 5 instruments for Atmospheric
studies (Lyman-Alpha Photometer (LAP),
Methane Sensor for Mars (MSM)), Particle
environment studies (Mars Exospheric
Neutral Composition Analyser (MENCA)),
Surface imaging studies (Thermal Infrared
Imaging Spectrometer (TIS), Mars Colour
Camera (MCC).
• ISRO was presented with the Indira Gandhi
Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for the year 2014 for the
successful Mars Orbiter Mission and for
strengthening international co-operation
3.1.1.2. CHANDRAYAAN-1
Why in news?
Recently, scientists from Brown University, USA
have created the first map of water trapped in
the uppermost layer of Moon’s soil using the data
captured by instrument on Chandrayan-1.
More on news
• Scientists have stated that the water thus
detected by the Chandrayan-1 lunar mission
mostly concentrated around the polar region
is present everywhere and not just polar
region.
• It was also found that the concentration of
water changes over the course of Lunar Day
at latitudes lower than 60 degrees i.e. wetter
in morning and evening and dry during lunar
noon with fluctuations up-to 200ppm.
About Chandrayan-1
• Chandrayan-1 was launched by India in
October, 2009 using PSLV-C11.
• The primary objective of the mission was to
prepare a three-dimensional atlas of both
near and far side of the moon and chemical,
mineralogical and photo-geological mapping
of moon.
• It had made almost 3400 orbits around the
moon before it lost contact with Earth in
2009.
• Chandrayaan-1 had payloads from India
namely:
o Terrain Mapping Camera (TMC)
o Hyper Spectral Imager (HySI)
o Lunar Laser Ranging Instrument (LLRI)
o High Energy X-Ray Spectrometer (HEX)
Moon Impact Probe (MIP).
Findings of Chandrayan-1
• Detection of Water – Major finding was the
detection of Water (H2O) and Hydroxyl (OH) on
the surface of the moon. The data revealed its
presence in abundance around the polar region.
• Magma Ocean Hypothesis – It confirmed the
Ocean Magma Hypothesis i.e. the moon was once
completely in molten state using HySi and TMC.
• Evidences of landing site of Apollo 15 and 17 –
TMC found the anomalies in Lunar surface about
the landing of USA’s Apollo-15 and 17.
• New Spinel-rich Rock – Data from TMC, HySI, M3
and SIR2 have led to detection of new spinel-rich
rock type on lunar far-side.
• X-Ray signals detected– C1XS have detected x-ray
signals during weak solar flares thus indicating
presence of magnesium, aluminium, silicon and
calcium on lunar surface.
ISRO is planning to launch a fully indigenous
Chandrayan-2 in October this year. This would include
an orbiter, lander and a rover.
Lunar Day
• Lunar Day refers to time taken by the Earth’s
moon to complete one rotation on its axis and it is
also the time taken by the moon to complete one
orbit around the Earth.
• One Lunar Day equals to 27 Earth Days, 7 hours,
43 minutes and 12 seconds.
• It is usually the phase between two new moons.
3.1.1.3. NAVIC
Why in news?
Recently, IRNSS received setback due to failure of
the atomic clocks on board IRNSS-1A and
unsuccessful launch of navigational satellite
IRNSS 1H.
More on news
• IRNSS-1A is the first of the seven satellites
comprising the Navigation with Indian
Constellation (NavIC) - (IRNSS-1G; IRNSS-1F;
IRNSS-1E, IRNSS-1D, IRNSS-1C, IRNSS-1B; and
IRNSS-1A)
• It has been designed to support vehicle
tracking, fleet management, disaster
management and mapping services besides
terrestrial, marine and aerial navigation for
India and its neighbourhood.
• It was carried on by PSLV (Polar Satellite
Launch Vehicle)-C39 to augment the existing
seven satellites of the NavIC constellation.
NAVIC or IRNSS (Indian Regional Navigation
Satellite System)
• It is an independent indigenous regional
system developed by India on par with the
US-based Global Positioning System (GPS),
Glonass of Russia, Galileo by Europe, BeiDou
by China and Quasi-Zenith Satellite System
(QZSS) by Japan.
• IRNSS will provide basically two types of
services:
o Standard Positioning Service (SPS) for
civilian users
o Restricted Service (RS), is an encrypted
service provided only to specific users
• It offers services like terrestrial and marine
navigation, disaster management, vehicle
tracking and fleet management, navigation
aide for hikers and travellers, visual and voice
navigation for drivers and marine & aerial
navigation for India and its neighbourhood.
An atomic clock is a clock device that uses an
electronic transition frequency of the electromagnetic
spectrum of atoms as a frequency standard for its
timekeeping element.
Atomic clocks are the most accurate time and
frequency standards known and are used as primary
standards for international time distribution services,
to control the wave frequency of television
broadcasts, and in global navigation satellite systems
such as GPS.
A rubidium atomic clock is a frequency standard in
which a specified hyperfine transition of electrons in
rubidium-87 atoms is used to control the output
frequency. It is the most inexpensive, compact, and
widely used type of atomic clock.
3.1.1.4. ASTROSAT
Why in news?
Astrosat is indulged in observing major events
such as merging of two Black holes, gamma ray
burst etc.
Background
• US-based LIGO group had detected
gravitational waves emanating from the
merger of two massive black holes located
nearly 3 billion light years away. It was also
confirmed by Hawaii-based ATLAS group.
• However, AstroSat team in collaboration with
the GROWTH network of observatories, has
concluded that this event is due to a gamma
ray burst, which was confirmed by POLAR
project.
• A gamma ray burst is light emanating from a
bursting star, that may lead to the formation
of a black hole.
About ASTROSAT
• It is India’s first dedicated multi wavelength
space observatory.
• It observes universe in the optical,
Ultraviolet, low and high energy X-ray regions
of the electromagnetic spectrum, whereas
most other scientific satellites are capable of
observing a narrow range of wavelength
band.
• It’s dubbed as a smaller version of NASA’s
Hubble Space Telescope
• Various paylods carried by it are: Large Area
X-ray Proportional Counter, Ultraviolet
Imaging Telescope, Soft X-Ray Telescope,
Scanning Sky Monitor, Cadmium Zinc
telluride Imager.
Major objectives of ASTROSAT
• Understand high energy processes in binary
star systems containing neutron stars and
black holes.
• Estimate magnetic fields of neutron stars.
• Study star birth regions and high energy
processes in star systems lying beyond our
galaxy.
• Detect new briefly bright X-ray sources in
the sky.
GROWTH (Global Relay of Observatories Watching
Transients Happen)
• GROWTH is an international scientific collaborative
project in astronomy studying the physics of fastchanging
events in the cosmos like supernovae,
neutron stars or black hole mergers, and nearearth
asteroids. It is partnership of eleven
universities and research institutions from US,
India, Sweden, Taiwan, Japan, Israel and Germany.
• It continuously gathers data of cosmic transient
events in the first 24 hours after detection to build
a more complete picture and better understand
the physical processes of their evolution.
• It jointly operates 17 observatories in the northern
hemisphere. Girawali Observatory – IUCAA in
Maharashtra (near Pune) is part of this network.
POLAR project
POLAR is an international mission of China and
European collaboration is dedicated to establishing
whether the photons from Gama-ray bursts (GRBs) —
thought to be a particularly energetic type of stellar
explosion — are polarized.
3.1.1.5. CREW MODULE ATMOSPHERIC REENTRY EXPERIMENT (CARE)
• It’s a module developed by ISRO to carry
human beings to space.
• ISRO tested it’s ability to re-enter the Earth’s
atmosphere with thermal resistance,
parachute deployment in cluster formation,
aero braking system and apex cover
separation procedures.
3.1.1.6. ADITYA L1
Why in news?
• India is set to launch its first solar mission
Aditya-L1 in 2019.
About Aditya L1
• The Aditya L1 will be placed in a halo orbit
around a vantage point in space known as L1
Lagrange point.
• The point L1 has the major advantage of
viewing the sun without any occultation/
eclipses.
• The mission will carry seven payloads
including the main payload the Visible
Emission Line Coronagraph (VLEC).
• Aditya L1 is to be the first satellite to study
the magnetic field of the sun’s corona.
• The Aditya L1 is expected to help study that
why the photosphere, the deeper layer of
the sun is at much lower temperature than
the corona.
• It will also study aspects that affect space
weather, the origin of solar wind ions, their
reaction to coronal mass ejections, the
distribution of these in the heliosphere- the
13
space around the sun that extends up to
Pluto.
• Halo Orbit: It is periodic, three-dimensional orbit
near the L1, L2 and L3 lagrange point (unstable) in
a three body system.
• Lagrange Point: It is the point where the
combined gravitational force of two large bodies
is equal to the centrifugal force that is felt by a
third body which is relatively smaller.
• There are about 5 such points in a two body
system.
• Corona: The outer layers of the Sun, extending to
thousands of km above the disc (photosphere) is
termed as the corona. It has a temperature of
more than a million degree Kelvin which is much
higher than the solar disc temperature of around
6000K.
- 1.2. LAUNCHERS
3. 1.2.1. PSLV C40
Why in news?
• ISRO’s through PSLV C40 has successfully
placed 31 satellites (second highest number
launched by ISRO using a single rocket)
including main payload Cartosat-2s series
and 28 foreign satellites in two different
orbits.
• It also includes the Indian nano satellite,
NIUSAT which belongs to Tamil Nadu’s Nooral
Islam University. This will provide multispectral
imagery for agricultural crop
monitoring and disaster management
support applications. Nanosatellites or
nanosats weigh between 1 kg and 10 kg.
Significance of the launch
• The launch marks the roll out of the 100th
satellite by ISRO
• It is also significant in the sense that India
failed in its last attempt to launch its backup
navigation satellite IRNSS-1H on board PSLVC39
failed.
• It is the second time that ISRO will be
achieving the two orbits feat. This was done
through the “multiple burn technology”
under which the rocket’s engine is switched
off and then switched on to control its height.
• It reinstates India’s position as a successful
multiple satellite launcher.
• Government recently also announced funding
to develop an exclusive Small Satellite
Launch Vehicle (SSLV) to cater mini and
micro satellites exclusively.
3.1.2.2. GSLV MK III
Why in News?
• Recently, GSLV MK III D1 rocket (GSAT 19)
was launched successfully.
Background
• The first experimental flight of LVM3-
X/CARE mission successfully tested the
atmospheric phase of flight. Crew module
Atmospheric Reentry Experiment was also
carried out in this flight. This was the first
testing of the indigenous cryogenic engine.
Features
• It is the heaviest rocket to be launched from
India till now.
• Apart from the upper cryogenic stage, the
vehicle has two solid strap-on motors (S200)
and a core liquid booster (L110).
• For the first time there will be no
transponders on the satellite. It will be using
a new way beaming data down using
multiple frequency beams. It is therefore
called “a high through put satellite”.
• For the first time, it would have indigenously
made Lithium ion batteries.
• This spacecraft would have advanced
technologies including miniaturized heat
pipe, fibre optic gyro, Micro Electro-
Mechanical Systems (MEMS) accelerometer.
Cryogenic: Cryogenic propellants are liquefied gases
stored at very low temperatures, most frequently
liquid hydrogen as the fuel and liquid oxygen as the
oxidizer.
• The liquid fuel and oxidizer are pumped from the
storage tanks to an expansion chamber and
injected into the combustion chamber where they
are mixed and ignited by a flame or spark.
• The fuel expands as it burns and the hot exhaust
gases are directed out of the nozzle to provide
thrust.
Satellite-Launch Vehicles Developed By ISRO.
PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle): It is designed
mainly to deliver the “earth-observation” or “remotesensing”
satellites with lift-off mass of up to about
1750 Kg to Sun-Synchronous circular polar orbits of
600-900 Km altitude.
• PSLV is a four-staged launch vehicle with first and
third stage using solid rocket motors and second
and fourth stages using liquid rocket engines.
• PSLV is classified into its various versions like corealone
version (PSLV-CA), PSLV-G or PSLV-XL
variants depending on the number of these strapon
boosters
• PSLV is also used to launch the satellites of lower
lift-off mass of up to about 1400 Kg to the
elliptical Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).
GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle):
GSLV is designed mainly to deliver the communicationsatellites
to the highly elliptical (typically 250 x 36000
Km) Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).
• Two versions of the GSLV:
1. GSLV Mk-II: is a three stage vehicle with four
liquid strap-ons. First stage using solid rocket
motor, second stage using Liquid fuel and
Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS) forms the third
stage of GSLV Mk II. has the capability to
launch satellites of lift-off mass of up to 2,500
kg to the GTO and satellites of up to 5,000 kg
lift-off mass to the LEO (low earth orbit).
2. GSLV-III: It is a three stage vehicle with an
indigenous cryogenic upper stage engine
(C25). It has been designed to carry heavier
communication satellites weighing upto up to
4000 kg into the Geosynchronous Transfer
Orbit.
3.1.2.3. REUSABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE– TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATOR (RLVTD)
• It is one of the most technologically
challenging endeavors of ISRO, that is,
developing essential technologies for a fully
reusable launch vehicle
• If developed, it would enable low cost access
to space. The configuration of RLV-TD is
similar to that of an aircraft and combines the
complexity of both launch vehicles and
aircraft.
3.1.3. SATELLITE
There are various types of satellite in India
• Communication satellite - The Indian
National Satellite (INSAT) system is one of the
largest domestic communication satellite
systems placed in Geo-stationary orbit. GSAT-
17 joins the constellation of INSAT System.
The INSAT system provides services to
telecommunications, television broadcasting,
satellite newsgathering, societal applications,
weather forecasting, disaster warning and
Search and Rescue operations.
• Earth Observations satellite - ISRO has
launched many operational remote sensing
satellites such as CARTOSAT 2, RESOURCSAT
1, OCEANSAT 2 etc. in sun-synchronous orbit
and INSAT-3D, Kalpana etc. in geosynchronous
orbit. The data from these
satellites are used for several applications
covering agriculture, water resources, urban
planning, rural development, mineral
prospecting, environment, forestry, ocean
resources and disaster management.
• Navigation satellite - To meet the user
requirements of the positioning, navigation
and timing services. Example – IRNSS, GPS
Aided GEO Augmented Navigation (GAGAN)
to meet civil aviation requirements.
• Space Science satellite - research in areas like
astronomy, astrophysics, planetary and earth
sciences, atmospheric sciences and
theoretical physics. For example – Astrosat,
Chandrayaan-1 2, MOM
• Experimental satellite - ISRO has launched
many small satellites mainly for the
experimental purposes such as Remote
Sensing, Atmospheric Studies, Payload
Development, Orbit Controls, recovery
technology etc. For example AryaBhata,
APPLE etc.
• Small Satellite – It is envisaged to provide
platform for stand-alone payloads for earth
imaging and science missions within a quick
turn around time.
• Student satellite - ISRO has influenced
educational institutions by its activities like
making satellites for communication, remote
sensing and astronomy etc.
GSAT
• A GSAT is a series of geosynchronous satellite
placed in geosynchronous orbit, with an orbital
period the same as the Earth’s rotation period.
• Such a satellite returns to the same position in the
sky after each day.
• A special case of geosynchronous satellite is the
geostationary satellite, which has a geostationary
orbit – a circular orbit directly above the Earth’s
equator.
o Geosynchronous satellites have the
advantage of remaining permanently in the
same area of the sky, as viewed from a
particular location on Earth
o Geostationary satellites have the special
property of remaining permanently fixed in
exactly the same position in the sky,
meaning that ground-based antennas do not
need to track them but can remain fixed in one direction. Such satellites are often used
for communication purposes. This orbit is
present at an altitude of approx. 35,786 km in
the equatorial plane.
o Sun Synchronous Orbits (or Low Earth Orbit):
These orbits allows a satellite to pass over a
section of the Earth at the same time of day.
These satellites orbit at an altitude between
700 to 800 km.
o Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO) is an
elliptical orbit, with an apogee (high point) of
35,784 kilometers and an inclination roughly
equal to the latitude of the launch site, into
which a spacecraft is initially placed before
being transferred to a geosynchronous or
geostationary orbit.
GSAT-7 or Rukmini
• Rukmini was the first military communication
satellite launched by the ISRO in 2013, for the
Indian Defence forces, with the Indian Navy being
the primary user.
• It’s a multi-band military communication satellite,
placed into a geosynchronous orbit, to secure
real-time communication
3.1.3.1. HYPERSPECTRAL IMAGING
SATELLITE
Why in news?
ISRO plans to launch HySIS (Hyperspectral
Imaging Satellite) – an earth observation satellite,
using a critical chip it has developed called
“optical imaging detector array”.
What is hyperspectral imaging?
• Hyperspectral imaging, or imaging
spectroscopy, combines the power of digital
imaging and spectroscopy. Hyperspex
imaging is enabled by an optical imaging
detector chip
• For each pixel in an image, a hyperspectral
camera acquires the light intensity (radiance)
for a large number of contiguous spectral
bands.
• Every pixel in the image thus contains a
continuous spectrum in the visible and near
infra-red regions and can be used to
characterize the objects in the scene with
great precision and detail.
• Significance: Hyperspectral images provide
much more detailed information about the
scene than a normal color camera, which only
acquires three different spectral channels
corresponding to the visual primary colors
red, green and blue.
• Hyperspectral imaging leads to a vastly
improved ability to classify the objects in the
scene based on their spectral properties
3.1.4. SPACE ACTIVITIES BILL, 2017
Why in news?
• The government of India has come up with
Space Activities Bill 2017, a draft law meant
to regulate the space sector.
Background
• Department of Space(DoS) is the nodal
agency for space activities in India which
include:
o Space Infrastructure: spacecraft for
various applications and associated
ground infrastructure
o Space Transportation systems: various
class of launch vehicles and associated
ground infrastructure Space applications:
for various national requirements
through establishment of necessary
ground infrastructure and coordination
mechanisms.
• Space activities in India till now have been
governed by Satellite Communication Policy,
2000 (which enacted a framework to provide
licenses to private sector players to operate
communication satellites over India) and the
Remote Sensing Data Policy, 2011.
• Internationally, the outer space activities are
governed by relevant chapters of
international law in general and by United
Nations’ (UN) Treaties and principles
evolved under UN Committee on Peaceful
Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS) in
particular
About Space Activities Bill 2017
• It is needed to encourage the participation of
private sector agencies in space activities in
India. This will supplement the manpower
requirement of ISRO.
• The draft law includes provisions such as
providing non-transferable licence to carry
out commercial space activity, supporting
such activities professionally ad technically,
regulating their operations, penal provisions
for undertaking such as
providing non-transferable licence to carry
out commercial space activity, supporting
such activities professionally ad technically,
regulating their operations, penal provisions
for undertaking such activities without
authorization etc.
UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), 1958.
• It promotes international cooperation in peaceful
uses of Outer Space.
• It serves as the secretariat for UNGA’s UN
committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space
(COPUOS).
• It also establishes UN register for Objects
launched into Outer space.
• It manages the UN Platform for Space based
Information for Disaster Management and
Emergency Response (UN -SPIDER).
Outer Space Treaty, 1967.
• Aim: To preserve space for peaceful uses by
prohibiting the use of space weapons, the
development of space-weapon technology, and
technology related to “missile defense.”
• It would prevent any nation from gaining a
military advantage in outer space.
3.1.5. VILLAGE RESOURCE CENTRES
Why in news?
ISRO has established around 473 Village Resource
Centres (VRCs) on a pilot basis, in association
with selected NGOs, Trusts and State
Government Departments.
What is Village Resource Centres (VRC)?
This is one of the unique initiatives that use
Satellite Communication (SATCOM) network and
Earth Observation (EO) satellite data to reach out
to the villages to address the needs of the local
people in villages itself.
Applications: VRCs provide wide varieties of
services in rural areas:
• Tele-medicine concept connects the sick
people in villages, through VSAT network, to
the doctors, who located in cities/urban
areas or the Super-speciality hospitals, for
providing health services.
• The Tele-education uses SATCOM to provide
a virtual classroom facility to far-flung villages
or remote areas in the country and helps in
imparting education to the needy, career
guidance to rural students etc.
• Advisories related to agriculture like crop
pest and diseases, fertilizer/pesticides,
organic farming, crop insurance etc.
• Skill development and vocational training to
the rural population.
• Other areas of application include Panchayat
planning, Weather information, Marketing
information, Watershed Development,
Drinking water etc.
3.1.6. SARASWATI: A
SUPERCLUSTER OF GALAXIES
Why in News?
A team of Indian scientists has reported the
discovery of a previously unknown ‘supercluster’
of galaxies, some four billion light years away
from Earth, and named it Saraswati.
What are Superclusters?
• Galaxies are like the building blocks of the
universe, they contain a huge number of
stars. Galaxy clusters have 3-100 galaxies,
and super clusters are the clusters of clusters.
• Within superclusters, clusters are connected
by filaments and sheets of dark matter with
galaxies embedded in them
• Sarawati has 42 clusters and it is 4000 million
light years from earth.
3.1.7. NASA-ISRO SYNTHETIC APERTURE RADAR (NISAR)
What is NISAR mission?
• It is the world’s most expensive earth
imaging satellite till date ($1.5 billion), being
jointly developed by India and USA and
expected to be launched around 2021.
• NISAR is a dual frequency L-band and Sband
radar mission, that will map Earth
every 12 days from two directions.
• NASA and Jet Propulsion Laboratory will be
responsible for the design & development of
L-band SAR, while ISRO will be responsible
for the design & development of S-band SAR
• It will make global integrated measurements
of the causes and consequences of land
surface changes.
• NISAR will provide a means of resolving
highly spatial and temporally complex
processes ranging from ecosystem
disturbances, to ice sheet collapse and
natural hazards including earthquakes,
tsunamis, volcanoes, and landslides.
• Post completion, NISAR will be integrated
with ISRO’s spacecraft and launched on board
India’s GSLV.
NASA AND ISRO:
• The two space research organisations signed a
framework agreement in 2008 that called for
cooperation in the exploration and use of outer
space for peaceful purposes.
• Under the agreement, both ISRO and NASA have
executed an implementing arrangement for
cooperation in NISAR mission, which is valid until
2034.
• The arrangement provides scope for joint
activities on science & applications of NISAR data
after the launch.
Earlier collaborations between NASA and ISRO:
• Chandrayaan-I mission, 2005: Moon Mineralogy
mapper from NASA accompanied the mission,
resulting in “joint-discovery” of water on moon.
• Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan), 2014: where
NASA’s navigational expertise in deep space
trajectory and maneuverability aided the mission.
3.2. NASA
NASA MISSIONS MATTER OF STUDY Parker Solar Probe • Solar corona, solar wind and solar energetic particles GOLD & ICON Mission • Refer to Global-scale Observations of the Limb and Disk (GOLD) and Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) respectively • Ionosphere region to understand more about hurricanes & geomagnetic storms Observations of the Limb and Disk (GOLD) and Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) respectively • Ionosphere region to understand more about hurricanes & geomagnetic storms
New Frontiers program • Explore the solar system. Two recently selected missions: Comet Astrobiology Exploration Sample Return (CAESAR) for visiting comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko Dragonfly: spacecraft to study Titan, Saturn’s largest moon • Three older missions: Juno Mission: Juno spacecraft to orbit Jupiter. Earlier, Galileo probe in its mission had found evidence of subsurface saltwater on Jupiter’s moons Europa, Ganymede and Callisto OSIRIS-Rex: Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security- Regolith Explorer is NASA’s first unmanned asteroid sampling mission heading towards a near-Earth asteroid called Bennu. New Horizons Spacecraft: To study Pluto, its moons (such as Nix and Hydra) and the Kuiper belt SOFIA Mission (Flying Observatory) • Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) is world’s largest airborne astronomical observatory built as a joint project of NASA and the German Aerospace Centre to observe celestial magnetic fields, star forming regions, comets and Saturn’s giant moon Titan Cassini Mission • launched through collaboration between NASA, ESA and the Italian space agency to study Saturn and its system of rings and moons (Saturn’s largest moon is Titan) • first spacecraft to orbit Saturn Exploration Mission-1 • It will be the first integrated test of NASA’s deep space exploration systems: the Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System (SLS) rocket (most powerful rocket in the world • Orion Spacecraft is designed to take astronauts beyond low-Earth orbit and explore the Moon, Mars and other destinations Voyager 1 and 2 • Year 2017 marked 40th anniversary of its journey • They have explored all the giant planets of our outer solar system, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune; 48 of their moons; and the unique system of rings and magnetic fields • Voyager 1 was the first spacecraft to have entered interstellar space Kepler Mission • Kepler is a space observatory launched by NASA to discover Earth-size planets orbiting other stars. • The Kepler telescope detects the presence of planets by registering minuscule drops in a star’s brightness that occurs when a planet crosses in front of it, a movement known as a transit. DAWN Mission • only mission ever to orbit two extraterrestrial targets - giant asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres • Ceres is the largest body in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. It is a dwarf planet, the only one located in the inner circle of the solar system, rest all are located on the outer edges. AIDA (Asteroid Impact and Deflection Assessment) Mission • It is the first-ever mission that will deflect a near-Earth asteroid to protect the planet • It is an international collaboration among the European Space Agency (ESA), NASA and others • AIDA involves two independent spacecraft – NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART), and ESA’s Asteroid Impact Mission (AIM). • Its target is the binary near- Earth asteroid Didymos, a potentially hazardous asteroid. • NASA has also designed a spacecraft named Hammer (Hypervelocity Asteroid Mitigation Mission for Emergency Response), which could deflect a asteroids, if it happens to hit Earth. SPARCS • Star-Planet Activity Research CubeSat (SPARCS) is a space telescope to study the habitability and high-energy environment around M-dwarf stars. TESS • Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) to study exoplanets in orbit around the brightest stars in the sky. TESS will monitor more than 200,000 stars for temporary drops in brightness caused by planetary transits. InSight Mars lander • for Mars (Red Planet) which will study the interior of Mars and listen for Marsquakes ICESat-2 and GRACE Follow- On • to continue the long-term record of how Earth’s ice sheets, sea level, and underground water reserves are changing
Roll-out Solar Array (ROSA) • It is a collaboration between NASA and two private companies with an aim to develop flexible solar array (adaptable to different sizes) that could one day power satellites and spacecraft. • It is 20% lighter and four times smaller in volume than traditional solar panels. Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer mission • The proposal for this mission was accepted under NASA’s Explorers Programme which provides frequent, low-cost access to space for investigations. • This mission is aimed at studying some of the most extreme and exotic astronomical objects by studying the polarisation of Xrays emitted from their surrounding environments as
direct image cannot be taken of such as objects like black holes, neutron stars etc. New Aviation Horizons initiative • It aims to commercialise ultraefficient subsonic transportation • Recently, NASA has completed preliminary design review of the Quiet Supersonic Transport (QueSST) aircraft, initial design stage of planned Low Boom Flight Demonstration (LBFD) experimental airplane, otherwise known as an X-plane Joint Polar Satellite System-1 (JPSS) spacecraft • It is a partnership between NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and NASA • It’s first in NOAA’s series of four, next-generation operational environmental satellites designed to circle the Earth in a polar orbit. Backyard Worlds project • It is a citizen science project which lets anyone with a computer and an Internet connection flip through images taken by NASA’s Wide Field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) spacecraft. • WISE is a space telescope launched in 2009 by NASA to map the entire sky in infrared wavelengths. Its goal was to find objects that had not been imaged before, including very bright galaxies, very cold stars, and nearby asteroids and comets. Hubble Space Telescpe • It is a joint venture between NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) — was launched in its orbit 552 km above Earth • It has the ability to see in multiple wavelengths — nearinfrared, visible light and nearultraviolet • It has recently discovered seven Earth-sized planets orbiting the ultracool dwarf star TRAPPIST- 1 making it the planetary system with the largest number of Earth-sized planets discovered so far. James Webb Space • It is a joint project of the NASA, the European Space Agency
Telescope and the Canadian Space Agency. • It will be the successor of Hubble Space Telescope and 100 times powerful than it. • One of its main goals is to use spectroscopy to determine the atmospheric components of alien worlds. Kilopower project • It's a small nuclear reactor that can generate a reliable power supply which can be used to provide safe and plentiful energy for future robotic and human missions for Mars and beyond
3.3. OTHER SPACE RELATED
DEVELOPMENTS
3.3.1. BLUE MOON
Why in news?
• On January 31, 2018, a rare Blue Moon event
was experienced on large parts of the globe.
About the news
• It was a rare moment as blue moon, a
supermoon and a total lunar eclipse fell on
same day after more than 150 years.
• Blue Moon: When two full moons appear in
the same calendar month, the second is
termed a “blue moon”. First full moon
occurred on Jan 1, 2018.
• Super Moon: occurs when the full moon is at
the closest point of its orbit to the Earth,
which is also called the perigee. The moon
appears 30% brighter and 14% bigger than
the apogee full moon
• Blood Moon: The moon turns into red color
during the height of the eclipse as some light
does reach it even though the moon is in the
shadow of the Earth. Fine particles in the
atmosphere scatter (Rayleigh scattering) the
blue component of solar spectrum, & what
reaches us is the longer wavelength red light.
• A lunar eclipse happens whenever the moon
passes through Earth’s shadow, also known
as its umbra.
Solar eclipse
• A solar eclipse occurs when the moon gets
between Earth and the sun, and the moon
casts a shadow over Earth.
• It can only take place at the phase of new
moon, when the moon passes directly
between the sun and Earth and its shadows
fall upon Earth’s surface.
• However, eclipses do not happen at every
new moon because the moon’s orbit is tilted
just over 5 degrees relative to Earth’s orbit
around the sun. Thus, the moon’s shadow
usually passes either above or below Earth.
