Why in the News?
Indian Space Research Organisation has confirmed that an interplanetary dust particle enters Earth’s atmosphere roughly every 16 minutes, based on observations from India’s first cosmic dust detector Dust Experiment (DEX).
About Dust Experiment (DEX)
- India’s first indigenously developed cosmic dust detector
- Designed to detect and measure high speed interplanetary and orbital dust particles
- Studies dust impacts in Earth’s upper atmosphere
Developed by
- Indian Space Research Organisation
- Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad
Mission Platform
- Flown aboard PSLV Orbital Experimental Module (POEM)
- Part of PSLV C58 XPoSat mission
Aim
- Direct measurement of cosmic dust flux
- Improve understanding of space environment
- Enhance satellite safety and planning of future crewed deep space missions
Prelims Pointers
- DEX is India’s first cosmic dust detector
- Operates from PSLV POEM
- Measures interplanetary dust particles
- IDPs originate from comets and asteroids
- Critical for satellite protection and deep space missions
| [2011] What is the difference between asteroids and comets?
1. Asteroids are small rocky planetoids, while comets are formed of frozen gases held together by rocky and metallic material 2. Asteroids are found mostly between the orbits of Jupiter and Mars, while comets are found mostly between Venus and Mercury 3. Comets show a perceptible glowing tail, while asteroids do not. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1 and 3 only (c) 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 |
Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024
