India test-fires indigenous supersonic interceptor missile
India has successfully test-fired its indigenously developed supersonic interceptor missile capable of destroying any incoming enemy ballistic missile at low altitude. This is the second time that the missile has been test-fired in less than a month and is part of an effort to put in place a multi-layer missile defence system.
Navy successfully test fires anti-ship missile for 1st time
The Navy has successfully test-fired an anti-ship missile for the first time from an indigenously built Kalvari class submarine. The Navy described the launch as a significant milestone in enhancing its “sub-surface” warfare prowess. The weapon was fired from the submarine, the first of India’s six Scorpene-class submarines which are being built under the Project 75, and it “successfully hit” a surface target during the trial in the Arabian Sea.
Artificial mouse embryo created from stem cells for First time
Scientists in Britain have for the first time created a structure that resembles a mouse embryo using a 3D scaffold and two types of stem cells – research which deepens understanding of the earliest stages of mammalian development. The team based at Cambridge University said that while the artificial embryo closely resembled the real thing, it would be unlikely to develop further into a healthy mouse foetus.
For research purposes, however, the scientists were able to show how the artificial embryo followed the same pattern of development as a normal embryo – with the stem cells organising themselves in the same way.
For research purposes, however, the scientists were able to show how the artificial embryo followed the same pattern of development as a normal embryo – with the stem cells organising themselves in the same way.
NASA proposes magnetic shield to protect Mars’ atmosphere
Scientists at NASA have proposed that launching a giant magnetic shield into space to protect Mars from solar winds could give the Red Planet its atmosphere back and make it habitable for humans. Mars now appears to be a cold desert world and it has no global magnetic field.The cold temperatures and thin atmosphere on the red Planet do not allow liquid water to exist at the surface for long.
Sickle-cell anaemia cured for 1st time by gene modification
A new gene therapy technique has been used to successfully reverse sickle cell disease for the first time. The early signs are encouraging, and the therapy could eventually lead to an effective treatment for the millions of people with this crippling disease worldwide. Sickle-cell disease occurs when one of the proteins making up a type of haemoglobin we use to carry oxygen through our body takes a slightly different form.
India’s Indigenously-made INSAS rifles to ‘retire’ from army
After nearly 20 years, the indigenously-manufactured INSAS rifles will be finally ‘retiring’ from the army and replaced by an imported assault rifle to be manufactured in the country later. The Indian Small Arms System (INSAS), which was inducted in the army in 1988, is likely to be replaced with deadlier assault rifles of higher caliber. The reason for phasing out of INSAS, as cited by experts, was that it was not effective at long range and at best, could only maim the enemy.
US Congress approves NASA’s manned Mars mission in 2033
For the first time in more than 6 years, both chambers of Congress passed a bill that approves funding for NASA and lays out new mandates for the space agency. The NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2017 , which appropriates $19.508 billion to the agency, is a version of a nearly identical bill that the Senate and House had previously collaborated on for months. The space agency received $19.3 billion in 2016 – less than half a percent of the total federal budget.
India’s first lunar probe Chandrayaan 1 still orbiting Moon: NASA
India’s first lunar probe – the Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft – which was considered lost, is still orbiting the Moon, Nasa scientists have found by using a new ground-based radar technique. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) lost communication with Chandrayaan-1 on August 29, 2009, almost a year after it was launched on October 22, 2008. Now, scientists at Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California have successfully located the spacecraft still circling some 200 kilometres above the lunar surface.
China developing manned submersible to reach deepest points
China is developing a manned submersible capable of reaching the deepest known points in the world’s oceans in search of precious metals. The 11,000-metre deep-sea submersible is planned to conduct its first ocean test in 2021, said Yan Kai, director of the state key laboratory of deepsea manned submersible under the China Ship Scientific Research Centre.
Scientists say potatoes can be grown on Mars
Potatoes can be grown even in the extreme environment of Mars, according to a new study that has implications for future manned missions to the red planet as well as helping people survive in harsh climates on Earth.The International Potato Centre (CIP) in Peru launched a series of experiments to discover if potatoes can grow under Mars atmospheric conditions and thereby prove they are also able to grow in extreme climates on Earth.
INS Tillanchang commissioned to Indian Navy
INS Tillanchang, a Water Jet Fast Attack Craft (WJFAC) was commissioned into the Indian Navy by Vice Admiral Girish Luthra, the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command, at Karwa. INS Tillanchang is the third ship of four follow-on WJFAC built by the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Kolkata. The first two ships of the class, IN ships Tarmugli and Tihayu were commissioned in 2016 and are based at Visakhapatnam. The ship has been indigenously designed and built and is an upgrade from the Chetlat class of Fast Attack Craft that the Indian Navy possesses.
NASA shares view of new-found solar system’s star TRAPPIST-1
Astronomers announced that the ultra-cool dwarf star, TRAPPIST-1, hosts a total of seven Earth-size planets that are likely rocky, a discovery made by NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope in combination with ground-based telescopes. NASA’s planet-hunting Kepler space telescope also has been observing this star since December 2016. These additional data about TRAPPIST-1 from Kepler are available to the scientific community.
India test-fires Brahmos missile
India has successfully tested an extended range BrahMos supersonic cruise missile whose reach has been increased from 290 km to 400 km, from a test range along the Odisha coast. The cruise missile was test fired from a mobile launcher from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur near Balasore. The missile is capable of carrying a warhead of 300 kg.
IBM Researchers Creates World’s Smallest Magnet to Store Single Bit Data
Imagine one day being able to carry vast libraries of data, currently stored in rooms full of servers, in your pocket. That’s the dream of a team of IBM scientists who have built what they say is the world’s smallest ever magnet, which uses a single atom to store information. Their proof of concept could one day lead to credit card-sized hard drives capable of holding the entire 35 million song iTunes library.
5th satellite of Copernicus observation program launched by EU
Europe launched the fifth of its Sentinel Earth observation satellites as part of its multi-billioneuro Copernicus program to provide speedy images of land, oceans and waterways. The Sentinel-2B satellite, part of a system of satellites that is to monitor Earth, blasted off on board a Vega rocket from Europe’s spaceport in French Guiana. The two satellites will orbit 488 miles (786 km) above Earth, on opposite sides of the planet.
Japan to send largest warship to South China Sea
Japan plans to dispatch its largest warship on a three-month tour through the South China Sea beginning in May, three sources said, in its biggest show of naval force in the region since World War Two. China claims almost all the disputed waters and its growing military presence has fueled concern in Japan and the West, with the United States holding regular air and naval patrols to ensure freedom of navigation.
BHEL’s first 800-MW supercritical plant becomes operational
Power equipment maker BHEL has commenced commercial operations of its first 800-MW unit, a supercritical thermal plant. It also marks the company’s foray as a developer into the field of power generation. Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd (KPCL) and BHEL are the main equity partners of RPCL, the owner and operator of this power plant. The milestone was achieved for the first unit of the 2×800-MW Yeramarus thermal power station of Raichur Power Corporation Ltd (RPCL), in Raichur district of Karnataka.
ISRO commissions world’s 3rd largest hypersonic wind tunnel
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) created history by commissioning the world’s third largest hypersonic wind tunnel at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram. A wind tunnel is used to study the effects of air flowing past a solid object—in ISRO’s case, space vehicles. With the space agency lining up big missions like the ‘Reusable Launch Vehicle’ (RLV), ‘Two Stage to Orbit’ (TSTO) rockets, air breathing propulsion
systems, and the human space flight programme for the future, the aero-thermodynamic modeling of such vehicles in a hypersonic environment is vital for optimal designs.
systems, and the human space flight programme for the future, the aero-thermodynamic modeling of such vehicles in a hypersonic environment is vital for optimal designs.
Astronomers create most detailed 3D map of Milky Way dust
The largest ever 3D map of space dust in the Milky Way has been created revealing the intricate structure of our galaxy in all its vast complexity. Users can take a meander through interstellar space by exploring the dust map or navigate to a specific galactic location. Harvard astronomers built the map – which covers three quarters of Earth’s sky – using data collected from 800 million stars.
Indian Navy fires surface-to-air missile from INS Vikramadit
In a boost to India’s martime prowess, the Navy has successfully conducted the maiden trial firing of newly installed surface-to-air Barak missile system from its aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya. During the firing carried out in the Arabian Sea, the missile was fired against a live low flying high speed target. The target was successfully engaged and destroyed.
INLCU L51 commissioned into India Navy
INLCU L51 was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 28 Mar 2017 by Vice Admiral Bimal Verma, AVSM, Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command at Port Blair. The commissioning ceremony was attended by Vice Admiral Dilip Deshpande, Controller of Warship Production and Acquisition, Rear Admiral VK Saxena (Retd), CMD, GRSE and other senior officers from Indian Navy.
NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter completes 50,000th orbit
NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) has completed its 50,000th orbit this week, continuing to compile the most sharp-eyed global coverage ever accomplished by a camera at the red planet.The orbiter continues diverse science observations of Mars and communicationsrelay service for two active Mars rovers, Curiosity and Opportunity.y