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Subject: Space Technology

  • ESA to launch Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) Mission

    juice

    The European Space Agency (ESA) is all set to launch the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, or Juice, mission from its spaceport in French Guiana on an Ariane 5 launcher.

    What is the Juice Mission?

    • Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) mission is a project by the European Space Agency (ESA) to explore the Solar System’s largest planet Jupiter and its three largest moons, Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa.
    • Juice is constructed by an industrial consortium led by Airbus Defence and Space and is planned to reach Jupiter in 2031 using remote sensing, geophysical, and in situ instruments.

    Goals of the Juice mission

    • Juice aims to create a detailed map of the surfaces of Jupiter’s moons and to look beneath them to probe their potential habitability by creating a comprehensive picture of Jupiter.
    • One of the primary goals of the Juice mission is to gain insight into how planetary systems form and evolve over time and how possibly habitable environments can arise in Jupiter-like systems around other stars.
    • Juice will also analyze the chemistry, structure, dynamics, weather, and climate of Jupiter and its ever-changing atmosphere.

    Ganymede: Focus of the Juice mission

    • Ganymede is the largest moon in the Solar System and the only one to generate its magnetic field.
    • Juice will move into Ganymede’s orbit after approximately four of arriving at Jupiter.
    • Juice will use its suite of ten sophisticated instruments to measure how Ganymede rotates, its gravity, its shape and interior structure, its magnetic field, its composition, and to penetrate its icy crust using radar down to a depth of about nine km.

    Can Juice detect life?

    • Juice is not equipped to detect life on Jupiter or its moons.
    • It is, however, capable of finding out whether there could be places around Jupiter, inside the icy moons, where the necessary conditions, such as water, biological essential elements, energy, and stability, to sustain life are present.
    • Scientists believe that there is a possibility that life is present on Jupiter’s moons, in the form of microbes or more advanced species, such as those found in deep-sea trenches and at hydrothermal vents on Earth.

     

  • LIGO-India: India’s Node in Global Universe Probe

    ligo

    India has given the final approval to build its biggest scientific facility, Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO), in the Hingoli district of Maharashtra. The facility will join the global project to detect and study gravitational waves.

    Gravitation and General Theory of Relativity

    • Newton’s law of gravitation, proposed by Sir Isaac Newton in the 17th century, explains that the force that makes an object fall to the ground is also responsible for making heavenly bodies go around in their orbits.
    • However, the theory did not explain the existence of an attractive force between any two bodies or the instantaneous propagation of the gravitational force over large distances.
    • In 1915, Albert Einstein proposed the General Theory of Relativity, which altered our understanding of gravitation. Einstein proposed that space-time interacted with matter, was influenced by it, and in turn, and influenced events.
    • The curvature in space-time produced by matter was the reason other smaller bodies in the vicinity felt the gravitational pull.
    • General Relativity also predicted that moving objects would generate gravitational waves in space-time.

    What is LIGO?

    What is it?

    		 Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO)
    Purpose Detect and study gravitational waves
    Cause Ripples in spacetime caused by violent and energetic events in the universe
    Location Livingston, Louisiana and Hanford, Washington
    Detector Michelson interferometer
    Function Measure changes in length caused by passing gravitational waves
    Benefits Improving our understanding of the universe and its origins
    Discovery Detected gravitational waves for the first time in 2015
    Significance Confirmed a prediction made by Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity
    Field Gravitational wave astronomy
    Discoveries Many exciting discoveries about the nature of the universe

    About LIGO-India

    • LIGO-India will be the fifth node of this international network of gravitational wave observatories, and possibly the last.
    • The instrument is so sensitive that it can easily get influenced by events like earthquakes, landslides, or even the movement of trucks, and produce a false reading.
    • That is why multiple observatories are needed to revalidate the signals.
    • India’s involvement in LIGO is crucial to demonstrating its intent and capability to pull-off complex science projects independently.

    Significance

    • The detection and study of gravitational waves could help in understanding the universe’s structure, the origin of the universe, and the functioning of black holes.
    • The LIGO project also has huge spin-off benefits for India’s science and technology sector.

     

  • Union Cabinet gives nod to Indian Space Policy, 2023

    Central idea: The Union Cabinet has approved the Indian Space Policy, 2023.

    Indian Space Policy, 2023

    • It aims to enhance the role of the Department of Space, boost the activities of ISRO missions, and encourage participation from research, academia, startups, and industry.

    Salient features

    (1) Outlining roles and responsibilities

    • The Indian Space Policy, 2023 outlines the roles and responsibilities of various organizations in the space sector.
    • The policy includes the responsibilities of ISRO, NewSpace India Limited, and private sector entities.
    • This clarity in roles will help in the efficient functioning of the components set up in recent times.

    (2) Multistakeholder participation

    • The policy aims to boost the space sector by enhancing the role of the Department of Space and encouraging participation from research, academia, startups, and industry.
    • This will help in the development of the space segment and create more opportunities for the private sector.

    (3) Boosting ISRO Missions

    • The Indian Space Policy, 2023 aims to boost the activities of ISRO missions.
    • This will help ISRO achieve its objectives more efficiently and effectively.
    • It will also help in the development of new technologies and innovative solutions.

    (4) Involvement of Private Sector

    • The Policy, 2023 recognizes the importance of the private sector in the development of the space sector.
    • It encourages the involvement of private sector entities in various aspects of the space segment.
    • This will create more opportunities for the private sector and help in the growth of the Indian space industry.

    (5) Research and development

    • The policy aims to involve research, academia, and startups in the development of the space sector.
    • This will help in the development of new technologies, innovative solutions, and talent pool.
    • It will also help in the growth of the Indian space industry and create more opportunities for research and development in the sector.

    Conclusion

    • The Indian Space Policy, 2023 is a comprehensive policy that provides clarity in the roles and responsibilities of various organizations in the space sector.
    • The policy aims to boost the space segment, encourage private sector involvement, and involve research, academia, and startups in the development of the sector.
    • The policy will help in achieving the objectives of ISRO more efficiently and effectively, and create more opportunities for the private sector and research and development in the space sector.

     

  • What is Dhawan II Engine?

     

    dhawan

    In Telangana, private space vehicle company Skyroot Aerospace has test-fired its 3D-printed Dhawan II engine.

    Dhawan II Engine

    • The Dhawan II engine is a cryogenic engine developed by Skyroot Aerospace for use as the upper stage of the updated version of their Vikram II rocket.
    • The engine was recently test-fired for a duration of 200 seconds and demonstrated impressive performance results.
    • Cryogenic engines use extremely cold liquid propellants, which can provide greater thrust and enhance the payload-carrying capacity of a rocket.
    • The engine was developed using advanced technologies like 3D printing and green propellants.
    • Its successful testing marks a significant milestone for Skyroot Aerospace in their efforts to become the first private launcher from South Asia.

    Stipulated use

    • The Dhawan II engine will be used as the upper stage of the updated version Vikram-2.
    • Using a cryogenic upper stage instead of a solid fuel stage enhances the payload carrying capacity of a rocket.
    • The updated Vikram II rocket is scheduled to become launch-ready by next year, making Skyroot the first private launcher from South Asia.

    Skyroot’s other sub-orbital and orbital flights

    • Skyroot carried out its first sub-orbital flight in November 2021, using a single-stage solid fuel Vikram S rocket.
    • The company plans to carry out its first orbital flight by the end of this year using the updated Vikram II rocket.
    • The Vikram-1 rocket, the first in the series of rockets being developed by Skyroot, will use three solid-fuel stages to take satellites to orbit.

    Impressive performance results and advanced technologies

    • The endurance test of Dhawan-II demonstrated impressive performance results.
    • The company is proud to be at the forefront of developing cutting-edge cryogenic technologies in the private space sector of India.

     

  • ISRO’s Reusable Launch Vehicle Mission RLV LEX

    reus

    The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) conducted a successful autonomous landing mission experiment for a Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) at the Aeronautical Test Range in Chitradurga, Karnataka.

    What is a Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV)?

    • RLV is a type of spacecraft that is designed to be reused multiple times for launching payloads into space, instead of being discarded after a single launch like traditional rockets.
    • They are seen as a more cost-effective and sustainable option for space launches, as they reduce the need for manufacturing new rockets for each mission.
    • They typically consist of a reusable orbiter, similar to a space shuttle, and a reusable booster that provides the initial thrust needed to lift the orbiter and payload into space.
    • After the payload is released into orbit, the orbiter and booster return to Earth and land back on a runway, where they can be refurbished and reused for future launches.

    Why developing RLV is a big feat?

    Developing RLVs requires advanced technologies, including-

    1. Heat-resistant materials for protecting the spacecraft during re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere
    2. Advanced guidance and control systems for landing and
    3. Reliable propulsion systems for launching and landing

    ISRO’s RLV-TD project

    • ISRO is developing essential technologies for a fully reusable launch vehicle to enable low-cost access to space.
    • The RLV-TD is being used to develop technologies like hypersonic flight (HEX), autonomous landing (LEX), return flight experiment (REX), powered cruise flight, and Scramjet Propulsion Experiment (SPEX).
    • It looks like an aircraft and consists of a fuselage, a nose cap, double delta wings, and twin vertical tails.

    Development of RLV

    (1) First RLV experiment:

    • In 2016, the RLV-TD was launched into space on a rocket powered by a conventional solid booster (HS9) engine.
    • The spacecraft travelled at a speed of Mach 5 when re-entering the earth’s orbit and travelled a distance of 450 km before splashdown in the Bay of Bengal.
    • Critical technologies such as autonomous navigation, guidance and control, reusable thermal protection system, and re-entry mission management were successfully validated.

    (2) Second RLV experiment:

    • The RLV LEX test on April 2, 2023, involved a Chinook Helicopter lifting the RLV LEX to a height of 4.5 km and releasing the RLV.
    • After midair release, the RLV carried out an autonomous landing on the Aeronautical Test Range airstrip, under the exact conditions of a Space Re-entry vehicle’s landing.
    • It achieved landing parameters as might be experienced by an orbital re-entry space vehicle in its return path.

    Advantages of RLVs

    • Reusable launch vehicles are considered a low-cost, reliable, and on-demand mode of accessing space.
    • The cost of a launch can be reduced by nearly 80 percent of the present cost by using RLVs.

    Global RLV technologies

    • NASA space shuttles have been carrying out dozens of human space flight missions.
    • The private space launch services provider SpaceX demonstrated partially reusable launch systems with its Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets since 2017.
    • SpaceX is also working on a fully reusable launch vehicle system called Starship.
    • Several private launch service providers and government space agencies are working on developing reusable launch systems.

    Significance

    • RLVs have the potential to significantly reduce the cost of space launches, as a significant portion of the cost of traditional rockets comes from the need to manufacture new rockets for each mission.
    • By reusing spacecraft, the cost per launch can be significantly reduced.
    • Additionally, RLVs can provide greater flexibility and reliability for space launches, as they can be launched on-demand instead of needing to be manufactured and assembled for each mission.

     

  • SNAP-10A: World’s first Operational Nuclear Reactor in Space

    snap

    Central idea: The newscard is about the US government-sponsored System for Nuclear Auxiliary Power (SNAP) program, also known as SNAPSHOT for Space Nuclear Auxiliary Power Shot, and its SNAP-10A space nuclear reactor.

    What is SNAP-10A?
    SNAP-10A A nuclear reactor sent to space by the US in 1965
    SNAP program A government-sponsored program for developing compact, lightweight, and reliable atomic devices for use in space, sea, and land
    Objective To produce at least 500 watts of electricity for a year or longer in Earth orbit
    Components Enriched uranium fuel with zirconium hydride as a moderator, and liquid sodium-potassium alloy as the coolant
    Conversion A thermoelectric converter was used to directly convert heat from the reactor into electricity
    Payload Weighed less than 431 kg, including the instruments and shielding, and was designed to be remotely started and operated in space
    Launch April 3, 1965, on an Atlas-Agena D rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base and placed in a polar orbit
    Operations Achieved on-orbit criticality within six hours of startup and set to autonomous operation at full power after 200 hours of reactor operations
    Contact loss Contact was lost with SNAP-10A for about 40 hours on May 16, 1965, and the reactor’s reflectors ejected from the core, causing the core to shut down and bringing an end to the reactor’s operations
    Test objectives All test flight objectives were met, except the length of operation, which was just 43 days as opposed to the expected year or more
    Significance Only known nuclear reactor sent to space by the US, while Russia has sent several, including one that crashed and scattered radioactive debris over Canada in 1978
    Current status Continues to be in Earth orbit, and NASA expects it to do so for 2,000 years or more

     

  • In news: Megha Tropiques Satellite

    sat

    ISRO attempted a controlled re-entry of the Megha Tropiques-1 satellite with leftover fuel to lower the orbit and reduce space debris.

    Megha Tropiques Satellite

    • The weather satellite Megha Tropiques-1 was developed as a joint mission by Indian and French space agencies.
    • It was launched aboard a PSLV by the space agency in 2011.
    • And, although the planned mission life of the satellite was only three years, it continued providing data on water cycle and energy exchanges in the tropics for nearly a decade.

    How was the satellite brought down?

    • With over 120kgs of fuel remaining in the satellite even after being decommissioned.
    • ISRO determined that there was enough to attempt a controlled re-entry.
    • When the satellites re-enter the atmosphere, the friction causes it to heat up to extreme high temperatures of thousands of degrees Celsius.
    • Without a heat shield, 99% of a satellite gets burnt up whether in a controlled re-entry or an uncontrolled one.

    Significance of the move

    • This was the first time that ISRO attempted such a manoeuvre to clear out space debris despite the satellite not being built to do so.
    • Usually, satellites are left in their orbit and because of the gravitational pull of the earth, they come down to the atmosphere over years and years.

    Why did ISRO attempt a controlled re-entry?

    • ISRO attempted the control re-entry to demonstrate and understand the process of doing so.
    • Keeping space clean is crucial with multiple spacefaring nations and private entities launching satellites.
    • Thousands of objects are flying around in low earth orbits, including old satellites, parts, and rocket stages.
    • Even small debris can destroy active satellites due to high speeds.
    • Kessler syndrome is a scary scenario where space debris collisions create more debris.

    What happens to satellites usually?

    • A controlled re-entry like the one attempted by Isro earlier this week is possible only for satellites in the low-earth orbit – at about 1,000 kms over the surface of the earth.
    • These manoeuvres, however, are not usually attempted because fuel reserves have to be maintained in the satellite after mission life is over.
    • And, this is impossible for satellites placed in geo-stationary or geosynchronous orbit – where time taken by the satellite to orbit the earth matches Earth’s rotation.
    • Such satellites are at altitudes of nearly 36,000 kms.
    • For attempting to bring down a satellite from such as orbit, a huge fuel reserve would be needed. This will only make the satellite heavier and costlier at launch.

    Also read-

    [Sansad TV] Perspective: Cluttered Space

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  • NASA’s IBEX spacecraft to study Edge of Solar System

    ibex

    NASA has announced that its Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) spacecraft is fully operational after the mission team successfully reset it.

    Edge of Solar System: Heliopause

    ibex

    The edge of the Solar System, also known as the heliopause, is the point where the solar wind from the Sun meets the interstellar medium. Here are some key points about the edge of the Solar System:

    • The heliopause is the boundary where the Sun’s solar wind is stopped by the interstellar medium.
    • The Voyager 1 spacecraft crossed the heliopause in 2012, becoming the first man-made object to leave the Solar System.
    • The exact location of the heliopause is not well defined and varies based on the strength of the solar wind and the density of the interstellar medium.
    • The interstellar medium beyond the heliopause is composed of plasma, magnetic fields, and cosmic rays from other stars in the Milky Way galaxy.
    • The edge of the Solar System is being studied by NASA’s Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) mission, which is mapping the boundary region where the solar wind meets the interstellar medium.

    Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX)

    • IBEX is a small NASA spacecraft designed to map the boundary where winds from the Sun interact with winds from other stars.
    • The spacecraft is about the size of a bus tire and its instruments look towards the interstellar boundary while it is on its nine-day orbit around our planet.
    • It was launched in 2008 and has spent nearly 15 years in space already.

    Purpose

    • The purpose of IBEX is to study the interaction between the solar wind and the interstellar medium and to map the boundary of the solar system.

    Technology

    • IBEX uses two neutral atom imaging cameras to detect energetic neutral atoms that are created at the boundary of the heliosphere.
    • The cameras are mounted on a spinning spacecraft, allowing them to scan the sky and build up a map of the boundary.

    Discoveries

    Since its launch, IBEX has made several important discoveries, including:

    • The first direct measurements of the interstellar wind, which flows into the solar system from the direction of the constellation Scorpius.
    • The discovery of a “ribbon” of energetic neutral atoms that stretches across the sky, which may be caused by the interaction between the solar wind and the interstellar medium.

    Current Status

    • IBEX is still in operation and continues to gather data about the interstellar boundary.
    • Its mission has been extended several times, with the most recent extension running until 2023.

    Significance

    • IBEX’s findings have increased our understanding of the interaction between the solar wind and the interstellar medium.
    • It has helped to refine models of the heliosphere and the solar system’s place in the galaxy.
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  • NASA hands over NISAR satellite to ISRO

    nisar

    The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has received the NASA-ISRO SAR (NISAR) satellite.

    What is NISAR?

    • NISAR has been built by space agencies of the US and India under a partnership agreement signed in 2014.
    • The 2,800 kilograms satellite consists of both L-band and S-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) instruments, which makes it a dual-frequency imaging radar satellite.
    • While NASA has provided the L-band radar, GPS, a high-capacity solid-state recorder to store data, and a payload data subsystem, ISRO has provided the S-band radar, the GSLV launch system and spacecraft.
    • Another important component of the satellite is its large 39-foot stationary antenna reflector.
    • Made of a gold-plated wire mesh, the reflector will be used to focus the radar signals emitted and received by the upward-facing feed on the instrument structure.

    Objectives of NISAR

    • Once launched into space, NISAR will observe subtle changes in Earth’s surfaces, helping researchers better understand the causes and consequences of such phenomena.
    • It will spot warning signs of natural disasters, such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and landslides.
    • The satellite will also measure groundwater levels, track flow rates of glaciers and ice sheets, and monitor the planet’s forest and agricultural regions, which can improve our understanding of carbon exchange.
    • By using synthetic aperture radar (SAR), NISAR will produce high-resolution images.
    • SAR is capable of penetrating clouds and can collect data day and night regardless of the weather conditions.
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  • Hidden corridor discovered in Pyramid of Giza using Cosmic-Ray Muon Radiography

    muon

    A hidden corridor has been unearthed by scientists inside the Great Pyramid of Giza using a non-invasive technique called cosmic-ray muon radiography.

    What is Cosmic-Ray Muon Radiography (CMR)?

    • CMR is a technique used to study the density and composition of materials hidden within large and dense objects, such as geological formations, archaeological sites, and industrial facilities.
    • The technique involves using muons, a type of cosmic-ray particle, to generate images of the interior of such objects.
    • Muon particles are created when cosmic rays, mostly protons and atomic nuclei, collide with atoms in the Earth’s upper atmosphere.
    • These muons travel through the atmosphere and penetrate deep into the ground, passing through objects along their path.
    • Muons are highly penetrating particles that can penetrate several meters of rock or other materials, making them ideal for imaging the internal structure of objects.

    Working principle

    • The principle behind CMR is to measure the flux of muons passing through an object and compare it to the expected flux based on the object’s geometry and composition.
    • Differences in the measured and expected flux indicate variations in the object’s density or composition, which can be used to create an image of the object’s internal structure.

    Applications

    Some key applications of cosmic-ray muon radiography include:

    1. Volcano monitoring: By using muon radiography to create images of the interior of volcanoes, scientists can better understand their structure and potential eruption hazards.
    2. Archaeology: Muon radiography can be used to explore the interior of pyramids and other ancient structures without damaging them.
    3. Nuclear reactor monitoring: Muon radiography can be used to detect the presence of nuclear materials within reactors and to monitor their condition over time.

    Great Pyramid of Giza

    muon

    • The Great Pyramid is the largest of the three pyramids in Giza, originally standing roughly 147 m above the Giza plateau.
    • Construction was started in 2550 BC, during the reign of Khufu, often considered the greatest pharaoh of Egypt’s old kingdom.
    • It is estimated that the pyramid was built using 2.5 million stone blocks, each weighing between 2.5 and 15 tonnes.

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