DAILY NEWS ANALYSIS 13 JULY
ISRO’s lunar touchdown has dry-run on soil fetched from Tamil Nadu
News Important for: General Studies- 3 I Development in the field of science and technology
Context
The Indian Space Research Organization is recreating a terrain for the test of Chandrayaan-2 at Tamil Nadu.
About
- The soil near Tamil Nadu has an anorthosite rock which matches with the terrain of Moon.
- ISRO also purchased a small amount of lunar soil from U.S. to kick start the progress.
About Chandrayaan-2 mission
- Chandrayaan-2, India’s second lunar mission.
- It has three modules namely Orbiter, Lander (Vikram) & Rover (Pragyan).
- The Orbiter and Lander modules will be interfaced mechanically and stacked together as an integrated module and accommodated inside the GSLV MK-III launch vehicle.
- The Rover is housed inside the Lander. After launch into earth bound orbit by GSLV MK-III, the integrated module will reach Moon orbit using Orbiter propulsion module.
- Lander will separate from the Orbiter and soft land at the predetermined site close to lunar South Pole.
- The Rover will roll out for carrying out scientific experiments on the lunar surface. Instruments are also mounted on Lander and Orbiter for carrying out scientific experiments.
- All the modules are getting ready for Chandrayaan-2 launch during the window of July 09 to July 16, 2019, with an expected Moon landing on September 06, 2019.
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IIP dips to 3.1% in May on slowdown
News Important for: General Studies- 3 I Economic Development
Context
There has been a slowdown in the growth of industries and capital sector good.
Analysis
- Growth in industrial activity slowed in May to 3.1% driven by an across-the-board deceleration, especially in the consumer durables sector, according to official data.
- Retail inflation in June quickened marginally to 3.18% due to a rise in food price inflation, a separate release showed.
- Growth in the Index of Industrial Production slowed as the mining sector and manufacturing sector growth slowed down.
- The electricity sector saw growth acceleration.
- The consumer durables sector contracted, however overall consumer goods sector, however, was buoyed by stronger growth in the consumer non-durables sector,
- The capital goods sector saw a slowdown in growth.
- The infrastructure and construction sector also saw a slowdown in growth.
Source link:
https://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/iip-dips-to-31-in-may-on-slowdown/article28415783.ece
Vikram tested over Challakere ‘craters’
News Important for: General Studies- 3 I Development in the field of science and technology
Context
Vikram, the rover of Chandrayaan will be tested by Indian Space Research Organization at its centre in Bengaluru.
About
- For testing the lander, ISRO had a large test bed created at its new R&D campus at the Challakere Science City, Bangalore.
- Vikram’s set of sensors, called the Hazard Detection and Avoidance (HDA) system, is a critical part of the mission which needs to be tested.
Hazard Detection and Avoidance
- The HDA system processes the inputs from various sensors, compares the data collected with the information already stored in the lander and provides the required inputs to the navigation and guidance system in real time to correct the trajectory at the end of rough braking to enable a safe and soft landing.
- It comprises of several sensors which provide information like lander’s horizontal velocity, vertical velocity, height above the moon's surface, relative position of the lander with respect to the moon's surface, and hazard/safe zone around the landing site.
- At the launch of Chandrayaan-1 a proto Lunar Terrain Test Facility was created.
- This time the Vikram will be tested specifically in Bangalore creating a terrain with the help of soil brought from Salem, Tamil Nadu
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India again abstains at UN vote draws criticism
News Important for: General Studies- 1, 2 I Legal Rights, Gender Issue, International relations
Context
India abstained voting at U.N. Geneva conference drew wide criticism.
Analysis
- India’s abstention at the resolution for term-renewal of the Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva drew widespread criticism from activists.
- The criticism comes especially after the Supreme Court struck down Section 377 and decriminalized the LGBTQ community.
- The resolution received support from most of the member countries at the Human Rights Council but India, Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameron, Congo, Hungary, Togo and Senegal abstained during the final voting.
- Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, China, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Qatar, Somalia opposed the resolution.
- India had also abstained during the 2016 vote on appointment of the Independent Expert.
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Warming threatens Greenland’s archeological sites, says study
News Important for: General Studies- 3 I Global Warming, Environmental challenge
Context
Global Warming has started threatening not just the ecosystem but also the historical remains as well.
Analysis
- There are more than 1,80,000 archaeological sites across the Arctic, some dating back thousands of years, and previously these were protected by the characteristics of the soil.
- The degradation rate is controlled by the soil temperature and moisture content, rising air temperatures and changes in precipitation during the frost-free season may lead to a loss of organic key elements such as archaeological wood, bone and ancient DNA.
- In addition to organic elements, such as hair, feathers, shells and traces of flesh, some of the sites contain the ruins of Viking settlements.
- Projections used in the study, which are based on different warming scenarios, predict that average temperature could increase by up to 2.6 degrees Celsius.
- It will lead to “higher soil temperatures, a longer thaw season, and increased microbial activity within the organic layers.
- 30 to 70% of the archaeological fraction of organic carbon (OC) are expected to disappear within the next 80 years.
- At some sites, we did not find any intact bones or pieces of wood, suggesting that these have disintegrated within the last decade.
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India, Pak. officials to meet at Wagah for talks on Kartarpur
News Important for: General Studies- 1 I International Relations
Context
India and Pakistan officials will meet at Wagah border to discuss further engagements on Kartarpur.
About
- The step is ahead of the commemoration of the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak
- Discussions on issues of connectivity at the Zero Point, number of pilgrims and kind of travel documents to be allowed will be held.
- The Concerns on security issues will also be raised by India.
Kartarpur project
- The project is aimed at easing access for Sikh pilgrims from India to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib at Kartarpur in Pakistan.
- The four-lane highway connecting the Zero Point of the Kartarpur Corridor to National Highway 354 is being constructed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
- India is also constructing a bridge at the zero point to ensure the safety and security of pilgrims.
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