SCIENCE AND TECH

Question 1

WHAT IS SPADEX MISSION?

Answer 1

THE MISSION, CALLED SPACE DOCKING EXPERIMENT (SpaDeX), WOULD MAKE INDIA THE FOURTH COUNTRY IN THE WORLD TO ACHIEVE A FEAT ESSENTIAL FOR EXPANDING FUTURE DEEP SPACE EXPLORATORY MISSIONS. THE SpaDeX MISSION IS DESIGNED TO DEMONSTRATE SPACE DOCKING.

Question 2

WHAT IS SPACE DOCKING?

Answer 2

• A PROCESS BY WHICH TWO FAST MOVING SATELLITES OR SPACECRAFT ARE BROUGHT INTO THE SAME ORBIT, BROUGHT CLOSER TOGETHER, ALIGNED AUTONOMOUSLY OR MANUALLY, AND FINALLY JOINED.
• THIS CAPABILITY IS NECESSARY FOR CARRYING OUT MISSIONS THAT REQUIRE BIGGER PAYLOADS THAT A SINGLE LAUNCH CANNOT CARRY.
• THE FIRST ACTUAL INDIAN MISSION REQUIRING THE DOCKING CAPABILITY IS LIKELY TO BE CHANDRAYAAN-4, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO BRING LUNAR SAMPLES BACK TO EARTH.
• DOCKING WILL ALSO BE REQUIRED FOR SETTING UP THE BHARATIYA ANTARIKSH STATION.

Question 3

WHAT IS PHOS-CHEK?

Answer 3

FIRE RETARDANT IS A MIX OF CHEMICALS USED TO EXTINGUISH OR SLOW THE SPREAD OF FIRES. TO TACKLE WILDFIRES IN USA, AUTHORITIES COMMONLY USE A BRAND KNOWN AS PHOS-CHEK, WHICH MOSTLY CONTAIN AN AMMONIUM PHOSPHATE BASED SLURRY. SALTS LIKE AMMONIUM POLYPHOSPHATE DO NOT EVAPORATE EASILY LIKE WATER, AND STAY FOR LONGER. PHOS-CHEK IS PINK IN COLOUR.