What is the News ?

The Light Combat Aircraft(LCA) Tejas successfully test-fired an ASTRA beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missile off the coast of Goa.

Facts About:

• The ASTRA BVR missile is designed to engage and destroy highly maneuvering supersonic aerial targets. It has a range of over 100 kilometers.

                BVR missiles are capable of engaging beyond the range of 20 nautical miles or 37 kilometres.

• This missile has all weather day and night capability. The system is being developed to meet specific requirements.
• It is jointly designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Research Centre Imarat (RCI) and other laboratories of DRDO.
•  ASTRA missile would significantly enhance the combat prowess of Tejas and reduce the dependency on imported weapons.

                   Tejas is a single-engine multi-role fighter aircraft capable of operating in high-threat air environments. It has been designed to undertake the air defence, maritime                                           reconnaissance and strike roles.

• The ASTRA Mk-I Weapon System integrated with SU-30 Mk-I aircraft is being inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF).

What is the News ?

Recently, powerful winds tormented the Bay Area and other parts of Central and Southern California, uprooting trees and disrupting the power supply due to Fujiwhara effect.

Facts About:

• It was identified by a Japanese meteorologist Sakuhei Fujiwhara.
• It was observed for the first time over the western Pacific Ocean, when typhoons Marie and Kathy merged in 1964.

What is it?

•  
• When two hurricanes (or cyclones, depending on where you live), spinning in the same direction, are brought close together, they begin ‘an intense dance around their common center’ – this interaction between two cyclones is called the Fujiwhara effect.

When it Occur?

•  
• If one hurricane’s intensity overpowers the other, then the smaller one will orbit it and eventually crash into its vortex to be absorbed.
• On the other hand, if two storms of similar strengths pass by each other, they may gravitate towards each other until they reach a common center and merge, or merely spin each other around for a while before shooting off on their own paths.
• In rare instances, the two ‘dancing’ cyclones, if they are intense enough, may merge with one another, leading to the formation of a mega cyclone capable of wreaking havoc along coastlines.

Experts have noted the rising frequency of this unusual effect, attributing it to a rapidly warming world and the subsequent heating of ocean waters.

Source: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwia1b_gj6OBAxXpSmwGHVb_DTQQFnoECBUQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Findianexpress.com%2Farticle%2Fexplained%2Fexplained-climate%2Ffujiwhara-effect-cyclones-dance-8905398%2F&usg=AOvVaw0_moE3dRI3IZbhz8XqmBkl&opi=89978449

What is the News ?

Launched on 14 July 2023, Chandrayaan-3 etched its place in history when the lander and rover touched down near the lunar south pole region on 23 August 2023 at 18:02 IST.

Facts About:

• Chandrayaan-3, part of the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) Chandrayaan program, signifies a remarkable feat in lunar exploration.
• Comprising a lander named Vikram and a rover named Pragyan, akin to the Chandrayaan-2 mission, this mission focuses on achieving a controlled landing and rover mobility on the lunar surface.
• With the propulsion module transporting the lander-rover configuration to lunar orbit, a powered descent by the lander was the critical phase of the operation.
• The mission encompasses a Lander and Rover configuration, propelled by LVM3 from SDSC SHAR, Sriharikota. The propulsion module carries the Lander and Rover until the lunar orbit's 100 km mark.

Origins and Progression: Chandrayaan-2's Influence

• Chandrayaan-2's launch in July 2019, which featured an orbiter, lander, and rover, set the stage for Chandrayaan-3.
• While the initial lander's trajectory went awry during a landing attempt in September 2019, ISRO's spirit remained unbroken, leading to the conception of Chandrayaan-3 and other future lunar missions.

Global Collaboration: ESA's Involvement

• The European Space Tracking network (ESTRACK), operated by the European Space Agency (ESA), provided support for the mission.
• A mutual support agreement emerged, where ESA's tracking assistance for ISRO missions, including Gaganyaan (India's human spaceflight program) and the Aditya-L1 solar research mission, was reciprocated by ISRO's support for future ESA missions.
• This collaboration underlines the global nature of space exploration.

Mission Aims

• ISRO laid out three primary objectives for Chandrayaan-3:

1. Achieve a safe and soft lunar landing.
2. Demonstrate the rover's mobility capabilities.
3. Conduct experiments on lunar surface materials to enhance understanding of lunar composition.

Spacecraft Configuration

Propulsion Module

• Carries the lander-rover to a 100 km lunar orbit.
• Features a solar panel and mounting structure for the lander.

Lander (Vikram)

• Executes the soft landing on the Moon.
• It had four landing legs and four landing thrusters capable of producing 800 newtons of thrust each
• Accommodates the rover and scientific instruments.

Rover (Pragyan)

• A six-wheeled, 26 kg vehicle.
• Conducts diverse measurements, contributing to lunar research.
• Investigates lunar surface composition, presence of water ice, lunar impact history, and atmosphere evolution.

Payloads

Lander Payloads

Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE)

• Objective: Measure thermal conductivity and temperature of the lunar surface.
• Information gleaned aids in comprehending lunar surface properties near polar regions.

Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA)

• Objective: Measure seismic activity around the landing site, revealing the lunar crust and mantle's structure.

Langmuir Probe (LP)

• Objective: Estimate plasma density variations in the vicinity of the landing site.
• Langmuir probe plays a crucial role in studying ionosphere and atmospheric phenomena.

Laser Retroreflector Array (LRA)

• Objective: Passive experiment for lunar laser ranging studies.
• LRA aids in comprehending the dynamics of the Moon system.

Additional Payload: Collaboration with NASA

• Passive Laser Retroreflector Array from NASA contributes to lunar laser ranging studies.

Rover Payloads

Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS)

• Objective: Determine elemental composition (e.g., Mg, Al, Si, K, Ca, Ti, Fe) of lunar soil and rocks around the landing site.
• APXS provides insights into the chemical makeup of lunar materials.

Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS)

• Objective: Conduct qualitative and quantitative elemental analysis.
• LIBS aids in deciphering chemical and mineralogical composition for a deeper understanding of the lunar surface.

Propulsion Module Payload

Spectro-polarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth (SHAPE)

• Objective: To make future discoveries of smaller planets through reflected light, potentially identifying habitable exoplanets.
• SHAPE payload enhances India's contribution to the study of exoplanets.

Mission Progress

The mission progressed through several stages, including launch, Earth and lunar orbit maneuvers, and descent. Notable milestones include:

• Launch on 14 July 2023.
• Lunar orbit insertion on 5 August 2023.
• Lander separation from the propulsion module on 17 August 2023.
• Successful soft landing on 23 August 2023, making India the fourth nation to land on the Moon.

Technological Innovations

• Advanced Altimeters: Laser and RF-based altimeters for precise altitude measurements.
• Velocimeters: Laser Doppler Velocimeter and Lander Horizontal Velocity Camera for speed monitoring.
• Inertial Measurement: Laser Gyro-based Inertial referencing and Accelerometer package for navigation.
• Navigation, Guidance & Control (NGC): Software elements for powered descent trajectory design.
• Hazard Detection and Avoidance: Lander Hazard Detection & Avoidance Camera and Processing Algorithm.
• Landing Leg Mechanism: Enhanced landing leg design for secure touchdown.

Mission Life

• Propulsion Module: Carried lander and rover to lunar orbit, with operation of experimental payload for up to 6 months.
• Lander Module: 1 Lunar Day (14 Earth Days).
• Rover Module: 1 Lunar Day (14 Earth Days).

Key Team Members and Funding:

• ISRO Chairperson: Somanath.
• Mission Director: Mohanakumar.
• Associate Mission Director: Narayanan.
• Project Director: Veeramuthuvel.
• Deputy Project Director: K.
• Vehicle Director: Biju C. Thomas.
• Estimated cost: Around ?615 crore.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/isro-chandrayaan-3-vikram-lander-touch-down-live-updates/article67219323.ece

What is the News ?

Recently, the final National Curriculum Framework (NCF) has been released by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT).

Facts About:

• Framed by: The NCF was drafted by the National steering committee headed by former Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), K. Kasturirangan.
• Key points:
  • For languages: 
    • From now, Students in Classes 9 and 10 will need to learn three languages, of which at least two will be native to India.
    • Classes 11 and 12, students will learn two languages, including one of Indian origin.
  • Board Exams: The NCF states that all students will be allowed to take Board exams on at least two occasions during any given school year, with only the best score being retained.
  • New Text books: It follows the lead of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, and gives assent for formulating new textbooks from Grades 3 to 12 under the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).
  • Number of Subjects: For students from Classes 9 to 12 has to study five mandatory subjects, with an option of adding one more subject.
  • Now, the number of mandatory subjects for Classes 9 and 10 is seven and six for Classes 11 and 12.
  • Optional subjects have been grouped in three parts in the NCF.
    • The first optional group includes art education, physical education and vocational education.
    • The second group includes Social Science, the Humanities, and interdisciplinary areas.
    • The third group includes Science, Mathematics, and computational thinking.
  • Shift to semester-based term: The NCF has recommended that in the long term, all Boards should change to semester or term-based systems.
  • Now, there is no hard separation between academic and vocational subjects, or between Science, Social Science, Art, and Physical Education.

NCF from NEP 2020:

The NCF brings the aims and commitments of the NEP:

• This includes the full range of human capacities, values and dispositions that are aimed to be developed in school education.
• Pedagogy, practices, and culture must work in tandem to develop these, and move away from an overemphasis on memorization and content accumulation; in fact, content reduction is required to create space for such development.
• The 5+3+3+4 Curricular and Pedagogical structure of school education is reflected in the learning standards, the content, the pedagogy, and the assessment approaches.
• It is integrative and holistic with equal status to all subjects and learning domains from Math to Sports. 
• It integrates vocational education in all schools, and there is integration across subjects while developing rigorous subject understanding and capacities.

National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT):

• The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) is an autonomous organisation set up in 1961 by the Government of India to assist and advise the Central and State Governments on policies and programmes for qualitative improvement in school education.
• The major objectives of NCERT and its constituent units are to:
  • Undertake, promote and coordinate research in areas related to school education
  • Prepare and publish model textbooks, supplementary material, newsletters, and journals and develops educational kits, multimedia digital materials, etc.
  • organize pre-service and in-service training of teachers
  • develop and disseminate innovative educational techniques and practices
  • Collaborate and network with state educational departments, universities, NGOs and other educational institutions

Source: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1951485