Context: The Indian Navy is expecting to finalise the Rs 90,000 crore deals for 26 Rafale Marine combat aircraft and 3 additional Scorpene submarines by January 2025.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Rafale Aircraft; Scorpène-class Submarine; Project 75.
Major Highlights:
The Indian Navy has been negotiating with:
France for the purchase of 26 Rafale Marine fighter aircraft
French Naval Group for the construction of 3 additional Scorpene-class submarines at Mazagon Dockyards Limited.
The 3 additional submarines will complement the six Scorpene-class submarines that have already been built by the dockyard. From the earlier contract, five submarines have been inducted under Project 75, and the sixth is expected to be commissioned in December 2024.
What is Rafale Aircraft?
The Dassault Rafale is a French twin-engine, canard delta wing, multirole fighter aircraft.
Designed and built by: Dassault Aviation
It is referred to as an "omnirole" (conduct both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions simultaneously) 4.5th generation aircraft by Dassault.
India had ordered the 36 Rafale combat aircraft from France in a Rs 59,000-crore deal in September 2016. The delivery of all the jets to the Indian Air Force (IAF) in December 2022.
For the Indian Navy, India selected the Rafale M over the American-made Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet.
About: They are diesel-attack submarines based on the Scorpène design developed by Naval Group (France).
Under Project 75,six Scorpene-class submarines have been constructed indigenously (at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited Mumbai) with Transfer of Technology from France.
The project was initiated in 1997, and five submarines are currently commissioned.
Submarines under Project 75 (Kalvari-class):
INS Kalvari: Inducted in 2017
INS Kandheri: Inducted in 2019
INS Karanj: Inducted in 2021
INS Vela: Inducted 2021
INS Vagir: Inducted 2023
INS Vagsheer: To be commissioned in December 2024.
Diesel Electric submarines: This class of submarines have Diesel Electric transmission systems and are attack submarines or the ‘hunter-killer’ type which are designed to target and sink adversary naval vessels.
They have the capability of operating in a wide range of Naval combat including anti-warship and anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering and surveillance, underwater mining operations and naval mine laying.
Context: As India aims to achieve its development objectives by 2047, the government has heavily emphasised on the role of science and technology in strategic and emerging sectors. However, the intensification of research and development (R&D) poses threats to Research Security.
Relevance of the Topic: Mains: Need to promote Research Security.
What is Research security?
Research security refers to safeguarding scientific research from threats to confidentiality, economic value, or national interest. These threats include:
Foreign interference
Intellectual property theft
Cyberattacks and Insider threats
Espionage and unauthorised access to sensitive information.
Need to safeguard Scientific Research:
Identify threats emerging from collaboration: Indian universities and industries are increasingly collaborating with foreign entities. Collaboration and the free exchange of knowledgeare fundamental to scientific progress, but they pose aforementioned threats to scientific research.
Protect investments in critical technology: India is ramping up investments in strategic technologies which include space, defence, semiconductors, nuclear technology, cybersecurity, biotechnology, clean energy, artificial intelligence, and quantum technology. If the threats are not identified or left unaddressed, they could undermine India’s progress in strategic sectors and risk its investments.
Protection from increasing cyber-security attacks: India ranked 5th in global data breaches in 2023 with 5.3 million leaked accounts. Any breach of security could compromise national interests, delay technological advancements, and expose sensitive data to exploitation by foreign actors.
Hence, India needs to ensure that its strategic research outputs remain protected.
Global Instances of Research Security breaches:
There have been several cases of research security breaches around the world with serious consequences.
A senior professor at Harvard University, the US (who received funding from the U.S. Department of Defense) was arrested for not-disclosing their links to Chinese funding.
COVID-19 vaccine research facilities were subject to cyber attacks in 2020 to steal sensitive vaccine research and development data.
The European Space Agency (ESA) has also suffered several cyberattacks to sabotage or steal sensitive information.
Global Initiatives for Research Security:
Such incidents have prompted several countries to develop policies and guidelines to strengthen research security.
US: The US CHIPS and Science Act has several provisions on research security. They are complemented with the research security framework of the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Canada: Canada has come up with National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships and a Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern, along with a list of sensitive technologies. It has identified research institutions (primarily from China, Iran, and Russia) with which collaborations should be avoided.
EU: European Space Agency has developed a partnership on cybersecurity with the European Defence Agency on cybersecurity.
China: Working on a military-civil fusion plan to share strategic research and technologies between the civilian and military sectors.
Way Forward to promote Research Security in India:
Systematically map the security vulnerabilities in India’s research ecosystem. This would involve:
Understanding the nature of foreign influence in our universities
Assessing the vulnerabilities of key research labs and sensitive research infrastructure
Analysing foreign collaborations and funding in strategic technologies
Reviewing the personnel hiring and access control practices to comprehend possible insider threats in the crucial research facilities.
Develop Institutional Framework: The Anusandhan National Research Foundation should set up a special research security office, similar to one in the U.S. National Science Foundation.
It can help develop a framework for research security that minimises overregulation while safeguarding important research areas.
It can become a focal point for coordinating and synergising efforts for research security among security agencies and academic institutions.
International Collaborations: Foster engagement with trusted international partners could be explored for the initial capacity building and awareness-raising in this area.
Increase investments in strengthening the cyber security framework to protect critical infrastructure and business ecosystems.
The Union Budget of India (2024-2025) allocated ₹759 crores for cybersecurity projects, which was an increase from the past, but is very low.
Developed economies allocate separate funds for cyber security purposes, and India should consider 1% of its GDP is spent on cyber security.
Science is inherently international and collaborative in nature and international collaborations are crucial drivers of scientific progress. We need to find a balance between open science (which includes sharing of research infrastructure, open data, and involving the general public in the scientific research) and ensuring Research Security. Only this would guarantee that research is "as open as possible, as closed as necessary.” and build an innovation ecosystem to harness the transformative power of these technologies.
Context: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is exploring the idea to establish an AI Safety Institute (AISI) in Indiaunder the IndiaAI Mission.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about AI Safety Institute (once it is established); Global Partnership on AI (GPAI) initiative; Bletchley Declaration; IndiaAI Mission.
Major Highlights:
In recent years, India has displayed leadership in developing a robust Artificial Intelligence ecosystem and AI governanceat the G20 and the Global Partnership on AI (GPAI) initiative.
India needs to consider setting up its own globally assimilated, but locally driven, AI institute to create an ecosystem for cutting-edge AI innovation, access, and safety, as outlined in the Bletchley Declaration.
Bletchley Declaration:
Bletchley Declaration is a global agreement on the responsible development of AI.
Aim: Enhance global cooperation on artificial intelligence (AI) safety by identifying AI-related risks and developing collaborative policies for mitigation of these risks.
It was signed by the 28 countries & EU at the AI Safety Summit, UK, in November 2023.
Important signatories: India, China, the US, the UK, European Union etc.
What is AI Safety?
AI safety refers to practices and principles that help ensure AI technologies are designed as responsibly as possible tobenefit humanity and minimize any potential harm or negative outcomes. It includes:
Ethical design of algorithms
Ensuring data privacy and security of individuals and organisations
Identifying potential AI risks (such as bias, data security, vulnerability to external threats) and developing AI safety measures for risk mitigation.
Scope of AI Safety Institute:
Advocate responsible AI deployment adapting to the unique needs of industries such as healthcare, finance, and logistics etc.
Facilitate proactive information sharing without being a regulator.
Assess the risk to public safety from frontier AI models by leveraging multi-stakeholder consortiums and partnerships.
Improve government capacity and mainstream the idea of external third-party testing and risk mitigation and assessment.
Deliver insights which can transform AI governance into an evidence-based discipline.
Structure of AI Safety Institute:
Standardisation Agency: AISI should be a technical institution that operates exclusively as a technical research, testing, and standardisation agency which sets standards for AI safety. It should be independent from rulemaking and enforcement authorities.
Advisory role of AISI: AISI’s role should not be limited to safety testing and standard-setting but should also be advisory in nature, helping policymakers and the private sector understand and mitigate the socio-technical risks AI poses. The institute could champion perspectives on risks relating to bias, discrimination, social exclusion, gendered risks, labour markets, data collection and individual privacy.
Multi-stakeholder collaboration: In collaboration with a broad range of stakeholders (including startups, large enterprises, academic institutions, civil society organizations, and government bodies), AISI should work closely to develop and disseminate industry best practices, responsible AI use guidelines, and advocate the importance of responsible AI practices across sectors.
Scalability and Global Engagement: AISI should collaborate with governments and stakeholders from across the world. Shared expertise will be essential to keep up with AI’s rapid innovation trajectories and help in scaling the capabilities of AI.
The AI Safety Institute would help India become a global steward for forward-thinking AI governance which embraces many stakeholders and government collaboration. AISI can demonstrate India’s scientific temper and willingness to implement globally compatible, evidence-based and proportionate policy solutions.
Context: A global outbreak of H5N1 (a highly pathogenic avian influenza virus) has been spreading across the world since late 2020. Recent human cases of H5N1 infections have raised alarms regarding its potential to turn into pandemic.
About Influenza:
Influenza (flu) is a highly-contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses.
Symptoms of influenza include acute onset of fever, cough, sore throat, body aches and fatigue.
Influenza viruses are of four different types: A, B, C and D.
i. Type A:
Influenza A is associated with severe respiratory illness and deaths in humans.
Only influenza type A viruses are known to have caused pandemics.
They are further classified into subtypes according to the combinations of the proteins on the surface of the virus. E.g.,
H3N2 (HongKong Flu) and H1N1 (Swine Flu) viruses are subtypes of Influenza A virus.
H5N1 (Avian influenza/ Bird Flu) is also a subtype of the Influenza A virus that primarily infects birds, but can also infect humans and other mammals.
ii. Type B: Influenza B almost exclusively infects humans, and is less common than influenza A.
iii. Type C: Detected less frequently and usually causes mild infections, thus does not present public health importance.
iv. Type D: Primarily affects cattle and are not known to infect or cause illness in people.
H5N1 Virus (Avian influenza/ Bird Flu):
H5N1 (Avian influenza/ Bird Flu) is a subtype of the Influenza A virus that predominantly infects birds, but can also infect humans and other mammals.
The virus can infect people in close contact with infected birds, including dairy or poultry farm workers.
Recent human cases of H5N1 in Canada and California have increased concerns about the possible mutations in the virus that could facilitate human-to-human transmission.
Genome sequencing identified a particular mutation which is linked to faster replication of the virus in human cells and greater severity of illness.
The findings raise concerns about the potential of the virus to cause more severe respiratory illness in humans.
Influenza viruses are constantly evolving, the factors include:
High population density, poor hygiene practices, weather conducive to the survival and spread of the virus increase the risk of flu transmission.
Indiscriminate antimicrobial use due tothe absence of definitive diagnosis and influenza symptoms coinciding with other acute respiratory infections.
Low Vaccination rates as strategies for influenza prevention and control have not been prioritised by the Indian Medical Association. Influenza vaccine is not includedinto the government’s Universal Immunisation Programme.
Due to climate change, seasonal epidemics of influenza may shift spatially and temporally, with rising temperatures and abnormal rainfall patterns being contributing factors.
Context: India has signed the Riyadh Design Law Treaty to foster inclusive growth and strengthen India’s intellectual property (IP) ecosystem.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Riyadh Design Law Treaty, World Intellectual Property Organisation
About Riyadh Design Law Treaty:
The Riyadh Design Law Treaty (DLT) was adopted under the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).
Aim: To harmonise procedures and simplify registration processes of industrial designs in different countries.
Key Features:
The DLT introduces a standardised framework for design registration, reducing complexity and administrative burdens for applicants.
Applicants can file multiple designs in a single application, saving time and costs.
It provides a mechanism to restore rights in case of lapses, ensuring that applicants can recover lost opportunities. Provisions have been added to make it easier to correct or add priority claims.
It encourages countries to adopt electronic systems for design registration and facilitate the digital exchange of priority documents, reducing cost and time for startups.
About World Intellectual Property Organisation:
The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) is the United Nations Agency.
WIPO was created to:
develop an international intellectual property (IP) system that encourages innovation and creativity.
promote and protect intellectual property (IP) across the world by cooperating with countries as well as international organisations and resolve disputes.
Established in 1967.
Membership: 193 member states.
Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
What are Intellectual Property Rights?
Intellectual property rights (IPRs) are the rights given to persons over the creations of their minds. They usually give the creator an exclusive right over the use of his/her creation for a certain period of time.
There are various types of IPRs, for E.g., Patent, Trademark, Copyright, Industrial design etc.
India is a signatory to Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), which sets global standards for intellectual property protection.
India has formulatedthe National IPR Policy 2016 to strengthen the Indian IPR ecosystem including- speeding up registration proceedings and reinforcing enforcement mechanisms and processes for all IP rights.
Indian Designs Act, 2000:
Industrial design is a specific IPR which protects the aesthetic or outward appearance of a product such as its unique shape, pattern and colour combinations. Some examples of industrial design include:
Unique shape of an iPhone
Shape of a Coca-Cola bottle
Outward appearance of a Volkswagen Beetle.
India provides legal protection for industrial designs under the Designs Act, 2000 and the associated Designs Rules, 2001.
The registered design is protected for the period of 10 years from the date of registration of the design, which can be further renewed to 5 more years.
What can India gain from Riyadh DLT?
Streamlined procedures:
Simplified applications procedures for filings licenses and recording changes in design licences.
Single application and submitting a limited number of documents as per international best practices to the IPR office.
This will make it easier, faster, and more affordable for designers to protect their work internationally.
Flexibility in Compliance: The DLT allows applicants to request a deferment of the publication of their designs by the IP Office and provides a grace period that enables applicants to seek design protection even after their designs have been publicly disclosed.
Deferment allows the designers to delay the public disclosure of their design for a specific period (keep the design confidential until they are ready to launch the product in the market).
The Indian Design treaty presently does not offer a deferment of publication, and the grace period available under our law is also limited in scope.
Linking India’s existing Intellectual property rights (IPR) initiatives with the Design Law Treaty will amplify India’s IP capacity and boost its competitiveness.
Recommendations of EAC-PM Working Paper:
India should sign-
Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement on Industrial Designs 1999:
The Hague Agreement allows for a single international application for design protection in multiple countries.
In absence of this agreement, Indian designers have to file separate applications in each country, which is time-consuming and costly.
Strasbourg Agreement Concerning the International Patent Classification 1971
Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement on Geographical Indications 2015.
Conclusion: An industrial design framework at par with global standards is a prerequisite for India which seeks to become a manufacturing hub for the world. Signing the DLT and the other major IPR treaties to align with the international best practices will send the right signals to domestic and foreign entrepreneurs about India’s commitment as a protector of IPR and showcasing itself as an IPR-savvy destination.
About World Intellectual Property Organisation:
The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) is the United Nations Agency.
WIPO was created to:
develop an international intellectual property (IP) system that encourages innovation and creativity.
promote and protect intellectual property (IP) across the world by cooperating with countries as well as international organisations and resolve disputes.
With this test, India has become part of a small group of nations having the capability to fire a nuclear missile from land, air and undersea.
What is a ballistic missile?
A ballistic missile is a type of missile that uses projectile motion to deliver warheads on a target. These weapons are powered only during relatively brief periods and most of the flight is unpowered.
Short-range ballistic missiles (SRBM) typically stay within the Earth's atmosphere, while other types of larger range ballistic missiles travel outside the atmosphere, re-enter the atmosphere to strike the predetermined fixed target. They are not actively guided like cruise missiles throughout their entire flight.
The missiles travel at extremely high speeds (up to 24 Mach) during their terminal phase, making it challenging for defensive systems to track and intercept them in real-time.
They can carryconventional high explosives as well as chemical, biological, or nuclear munitions.
What is the K4 missile?
K4 missile is a nuclear-capable ballistic missile developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
Specifications:
Range:
Full load: ~3,000 kilometres
Reduced load: ~4,000 kilometres
Length: 12 metres
Guidance system: Inertial navigation system with GPS/NavIC satellite guidance
Circular error probable: <10 metres.
Warhead capacity: weighing up to 2 tonnes
Powered by: Solid rocket propellant.
What is INS Arighaat?
INS Arighaat is India’s second nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, commissioned into service in August 2024.
It measures 111.6 metres in length and has a submerged displacement of 6000 tons.
It ispowered by a 83-MW pressurised light-water reactor with enriched uranium.
INS Arighat is equipped with ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads. It is armed with a 750-km-range K-15 Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) and ~3500-km-range SLBM K-4.
Context: India’s Space Journey which began modesty six decades ago has now transitioned into an era of global collaboration and private-sector participation. It is a testimony to the country’s expanding space ecosystem.
Mains: Gist of India’s space journey, Some examples of Private-sector participation in the Space sector.
The Historical Context:
November 1963: Indian scientists launched a Nike-Apache sounding rocket from Thumba, Kerala. These rockets helped the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) master solid propellant technology, a foundation for India's launch vehicle capabilities.
Evolution to Global Participation:
Fast forward to 2024, India not only launches satellites for domestic needs but also collaborates internationally.
Recently, India launched GSAT-N2 satellite aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Florida, the US.
The satellite, weighing 4700 kg, exceeded the payload capacity of India’s most powerful rocket, the Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (LVM-3), necessitating its launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9.
It is aKa-band high-throughput satellite to enhance broadband services in underserved areas, including the northeast, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep. It will also support services like in-flight internet connectivity and the Smart Cities Mission.
The satellite is built by ISRO and will be placed in the geostationary orbit.
Upcoming PSLV-C59 Mission: PSLV-C59 mission scheduled for December 4, 2024. It will carry the European Proba-3 spacecraft to study the Sun, using extended length configuration of ISRO’s trusted Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-XL).
Indian Astronauts in Training: India’s astronaut-designate Shubhanshu Shukla, who is set to fly to the International Space Station in 2025, is undergoing training at the European Space Agency’s European Astronaut Centre.
India Joins SKAO: In 2024, India becamea full member of the Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO). SKAO is an international effort to build the world’s most advanced radio telescope in Australia and South Africa. India will contribute financially as well as in advanced electronics and engineering for telescope components in exchange for scientific data collected by the telescope.
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced the launch of its first analog space mission at Leh in Ladakh, simulating lunar and Martian conditions.
This setup will help study the challenges astronauts will face in a base station beyond Earth and gather critical data that will support India’s Gaganyaan program and future missions.
Biological Experiments on Bharatiya Antariksh Station: The Departments of Space and of Biotechnology have signed agreements to conduct biological experiments aboard India’s forthcoming Bharatiya Antariksh Station, marking a leap in interdisciplinary research.
Breakthroughs from Aditya-L1: A team led by researchers at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bengaluru, used data from Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC) instrument onboard Aditya-L1 to accurately predict the time of a coronal mass ejection, demonstrating India's capability in space weather research.
Private Sector Participation:
Pixxel’s Fireflies (India-American firm): A set of six hyperspectral satellites areexpected to be launched early next year. Each satellite weighs around 50 kg, has a native 5 m spatial resolution, and scans 40-km swaths for data in more than 150 spectral bands. These satellites constitute the first batch in a proposed constellation of 24 satellites. These satellites will provide data that can help detect crop diseases, water-stressed areas, real-time deforestation, and ocean pollution early.
GalaxEye Space’s Tech Demo: A payload on board the PSLV’s Orbital Experimental Module (POEM) platform. The Tech Demo will test subsystems of a synthetic aperture radar (SAR).
PierSight Space’s Varuna Mission: A payload on PSLV POEM called ‘Varuna’, which will demonstrate a deployable reflectarray antenna and test SAR and aeronautical information service avionics in orbit.
HEX20’s Nila Satellite: A5-kg cubesat satellite to be launched on SpaceX’s Transporter 13 mission in February 2025. The cubesat will host different payloads and provide data-processing services. A ground station will be built in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, to control and receive data from the satellite.
SatSure: SatSure is working with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEiTY) to map rural property across over two lakh villages. ‘Svamvita’ programme will capture images of 3-5 cm resolution and SatSure will use its machine-learning tools developed for satellite data to extract and classify the relevant features (building footprints, roof type, roads, and water bodies).
Context: A team of researchers has developed new ingestible capsules that release a burst of drugs directly inside the stomach or other parts of the digestive system. These capsules can offer an alternative to traditional methods like injections for delivering drugs such as insulin.
Relevance of the topic: Prelims- General idea about new ingestible capsules; Biobioavailability
Advantages of injections over pills:
Injections are usually used to administer hormones, vaccines, antibodies, or cancer treatments because drugs are usually made of larger biological molecules.
If swallowed as pill, the larger biological molecules are often quickly destroyed by digestive enzymes or the liver before they can work, limiting their efficacy and increasing the likelihood of potential side effects.
Problems with injections:
Despite their advantage over pills, injections can lead to infection, skin irritation, and other side effects.
They can also cause discomfort to patients, making oral alternatives more desirable.
About New Ingestible Capsules
Development: The inspiration for their development came from cephalopods such as squids and cuttlefish, which use jet propulsion mechanisms to move or release ink.
Researchers adapted this jetting principle to distribute drugs in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
Jet propulsion mechanism ensures that more medication is absorbed before the body breaks it down.
Mechanism:
Capsules use compressed carbon dioxide or tightly coiled springs to generate the force needed to propel liquid drugs out of the capsule.
The gas or spring is kept in a compressed state by a carbohydrate trigger. This trigger dissolves when exposed to humidity or an acidic environment in the stomach. When the trigger dissolves, the gas or spring is allowed to expand, and eject drugs out of the capsule.
Advantage of the capsule:
The new capsules have shown high efficiency in bioavailability (the body’s ability to absorb and use drugs) in animal models compared to earlier attempts.
Context: As the number of satellites in the Earth’s orbit are increasing, there are mounting concerns over the pollution caused by these satellites in the upper atmosphere.
Relevance of the topic: Prelims- Satellite Pollution, Impacts of satellite pollution
Surge in Satellite Numbers
Currently, over 10,000 active satellites orbit around the Earth. This number is estimated to rise to more than 100,000 by the 2030s, and possibly half a million in the subsequent decades.
Pollution caused by Satellites:
Pollution due to satellite launches: Emissions from rocket launches contribute to pollutants, which include:
Pollution on re-entering Earth’s atmosphere: Most satellites at the end of their life-cycle, re-enter Earth’s atmosphere, where they burn-up due to intense friction. In this process, they release various pollutants into the stratosphere, like- aluminium, nitrogen oxides, and other harmful chemicals into the stratosphere.
As per the recent data from NOAA, 10% of the aerosol particles in the stratosphere contain aluminium and other metals that have originated from the burn-up of satellites, and rocket stages during satellite re-entry.
As per a recent study, there has been a significant rise in aluminium and nitrogen oxide emissions, increasing from 3.3 billion grams in 2020 to 5.6 billion grams in 2022.
Impact of Satellite Pollution:
Threat to Ozone Layer: Ozone layer in Earth’s stratosphere absorbs up to 99% of ultraviolet rays from the Sun. But pollutants from burnt-up spacecraft are likely already harming it. E.g.,
Threat to Earth’s Ecosystem: The spacecraft pollutants might impact the atmospheric composition, as,
Warming of atmosphere: Soot emitted from rocket engines absorbs solar energy, which can warm the atmosphere.
Chemical Reactions: Copper and other metals released during the incineration of spacecraft wiring and alloys are powerful catalysts which can initiate chemical reactions in the atmosphere.
Cloud Formation: Themetals emitted during satellite incineration can act as seeds for cloud formation, and potentially alter weather patterns.
These miniscule changes in Earth’s atmosphere can trigger massive chaos on the planet.
Way Forward:
Improved satellite design by utilising materials that produce fewer harmful by-products upon re-entry.
Encouraging minimal rocket launches by maximising the number of satellites in one launch.
Encouraging the development of technologies for controlled satellite disposal or in-orbit recycling.
Context: The European Space Agency’s (ESA) Proba-3 mission is scheduled to be launched on ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre on December 4, 2024.
Relevance of the topic: Prelims- Key features of Proba-3 mission.
About Proba-3 mission
Proba-3 is the world’s first precision formation flying mission, involving two satellites to be placed in a highly elliptical orbit that extends up to 60,000 km from Earth.
Aim: To demonstrate precision formation flying between two satellites and study the Sun's corona (the outer layer of the Sun’s atmosphere).
Launch vehicle: PSLV-XL
Mission of: European Space Agency.
Key Features:
Proba-3 has two satellites- Coronagraph spacecraft and the Occulter spacecraft flying in a parallel formation at distances of 144 metres from each other for six hours a day.
The satellites will demonstrate Collision Avoidance Manoeuvre to ensure they do not collide or run away from each other.
The two satellites will work in tandem to study the Sun's corona and measure its energy outputwith unprecedented precision.
The Occulter will position itself between the Coronagraph and the Sun,creating an artificial eclipse (casting a shadow) over the Coronagraph’s telescope.
The shadow blocks the Sun’s direct light and allows the Coronagraph to observe the Sun's faint corona.
The Occulter's continuous Sun-facing position makes it an ideal platform for additional scientific instruments. It consists of Davos Absolute Radiometer (DARA) which will provide continuous measurements of the Sun's total energy output (total solar irradiance).
Benefits of precision formation flying mission:
Instead of using a single satellite accommodating both Occulter and Coronagraph, they are placed on two separate satellites that will work in tandem. This ensures:
Instruments larger than those typically accommodated on a single satellite can be deployed.
Scientists can observe fainter signals from smaller or more distant solar and astrophysical features, broadening the scope of space-based observations.
Significance:
Provide new insights into:
Sun's corona.
Origins of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and their impact on Earth's climate.
Measures total solar irradiance, track changes in the Sun’s energy output, long-term solar energy trends and their potential effects on our planet's climate.
Context: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced the launch of its first analog or simulated space mission at Leh in Ladakh.
What are Analog Space Missions?
Analog missions are field tests in locations that have physical similarities to the extreme space environments. NASA engineers and scientists work with government agencies, academia, and industry to gather requirements for testing in harsh environments before they are used in space.
Tests include:
New technologies, robotic equipment, vehicles, habitats, communications, power generation, mobility, infrastructure, and storage.
Behavioural effects – such as isolation and confinement, team dynamics, menu fatigue etc.
Significance: Analog missions provide space agencies with data about strengths, limitations, and the validity of planned human-robotic exploration operations. They also define ways to combine human and robotic efforts to enhance scientific exploration.
India’s first Analog Mission:
Located in Leh, Ladakh, the mission includes a compact, inflatable habitat namedHab-1 which will simulate life in an interplanetary habitat.
Aim: To study the challenges of extra-terrestrial conditions, as part of efforts towards developing a long-term human spaceflight programme.
Hab-1 is designed to mimic environments on Mars and the Moon. The simulation will explore the conditions of an interplanetary habitat, testing new technologies, robotic equipment, vehicles, habitats and communications.
The mission is spearheaded by ISRO’s Human Spaceflight Centre and brings together partners from AAKA Space Studio, the University of Ladakh, IIT Bombay, and is supported by the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council.
Why was Ladakh chosen?
Ladakh’s extreme isolation, dry climate, and barren, high-altitude terrain make it ideal for simulating conditions similar to Mars and the Moon.
Similarities:
Both Moon and Ladakh have extremely dry environments.
Ladakh’s rocky, barren terrain resembles the terrain of the Moon and Mars.
Dissimilarities:
The Moon has virtually no atmosphere, whereas Mars has a thin atmosphere, whereas, Ladakh is a part of Earth’s atmosphere.
The Moon has no water vapour in its atmosphere, Mars has some water vapour, whereas Ladakh's atmosphere, through dry, still contains some moisture.
The Moon has an intense thermal radiation caused by the direct sunlight which is hard to replicate on Earth.
Significance:
Hab-1 allows scientists to study the effects of isolation and confinement on human health and performance and includes essentials such as a hydroponics farm, kitchen, and sanitation facilities. This setup will help study the challenges astronauts will face in a base station beyond Earth and prepare them accordingly.
Ladakh’s environment presents an opportunity for researchers to gather critical data that will support India’s Gaganyaan program and future missions.
Context: According to a new study, semaglutide, the active ingredient in popular blood sugar control and weight loss drugs, can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in people with type 2 diabetes.
Major Highlights:
Early research on semaglutide identifies a number of ways in which it might benefit the brain, such as:
Lowering toxic effects of certain proteins linked to AD and improving how brain cells use glucose for energy.
Reducing the buildup of harmful plaques and tangles associated with Alzheimer’s.
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurologic disorder that causes the brain to shrink (atrophy) and brain cells to die. Alzheimer’s causes a gradual decline in memory, thinking, behaviour, and social skills, and it is the most common cause of dementia.
Causes: The disease is thought to be caused by the abnormal build-up of proteins in and around brain cells.
One of the proteins involved is called amyloid, deposits of which form plaques around brain cells.
The other protein is called tau, which is a deposit that forms tangles within brain cells.
Symptoms: Early signs include forgetting recent events/conversations. Later, the person will develop severe memory impairment and lose the ability to carry out everyday tasks. In the advanced stages, complications from severe loss of brain function result in death.
Treatment: Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but certain medications can temporarily slow the worsening of dementia symptoms.
Traditionally, Alzheimer’s has been managed largely using cognitive and lifestyle interventions.
Recently, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two treatments — Biogen’s Leqembi and Eli Lilly’s Kisunla — that marginally slow the progression of AD by targeting the disease’s hallmark amyloid plaques in the brain. But these can cause serious side effects, including brain swelling and brain bleeding.
