Queqiao satellite : China launches relay satellite to explore dark side of the moon
China launched a relay satellite named qeqiao(magpie bridge) to establish communication between earth and it's planned lunar Probe, Chang'e-4 (rover) that will explore the dark side of the Moon. It's a part of China's Lunar Exploration Program(CLEP) onboard of long March -4C rocket from Xichang launch center.
Quequiao(Magpie Bridge)
Quequiao(meaning Bridge of Magpie) will serve as communication relay for future Lunar Probe Chang'e-4 that will explore at South Pole's Aitken basin in moon's far side. It will be located in Halo orbit i.e Earth-moon Lagrange orbit L2, a gravitational ly stable point 64,000 Km from the far side of the moon. This will be world's first Lunar Probe mission that will explore at such a spot. And China eagerly wants to take credit of being the first country to launch a Lunar Probe to explore the dark side of the moon.
Need of relay satellite :
Moon is tidally locked with earth it means we always see moon's nearest face. So a relay link is necessary to communicate with a spacecraft on far side of the moon or it will have to send singnals through bulky rocks of the moon otherwise.
Chang'e Program
China's Lunar Exploration Program (CLEP) also known as chang'e named after China's moon Goddess is an ongoing series of robotic moon missions concieved by China's National Space Administration (CNASA). The program incorporates Lunar Orbiter, Lander, Rover and sample return spacecraft launched with Long March series rockets. Chang'e-1 and chang'e-2 lunar orbits already have reached their orbits in 2007 and 2010 respectively. Chang'e-3 mission is in process to put Lander and rover in moon's near side. China is also planning for chang'e-5 T1, a mission to send a sample capsule around moon's orbit at return it back to Earth to demonstrate the technology needed to survive fiery atmospheric entry.
Academic Lomonosov: Russia unveils world's first floating nuclear reactor
Recently Russia unveiled world's first ever nuclear power plant at port city of murmansk. It will be loaded with nuclear fuel at murmansk and towed to Port of pevek in autonomous chukotka region in Russia's far Northeast Arctic circle region.
Details :
Details :
Arctic Academic Lomonosov was constructed by Russian State Neuclear Power firm 'ROSATOM'
and named after Russian academician Mikhail lomonosov. It consists of two modified KLT-40 naval propulsion reactors(each of capacity 35MV), able to generate 70 MW of electricity and 300MW of heat. It is 144 meters long, 30 meters wide and has a displacement of 21,500 tonnes. It has a Crew capacity of 69 peaople.
It is equipped with latest security systems and is considered as safest neuclear installation in the world. However some environmentalists dubbed it as a 'neuclear titanic' or 'chernobyle on ice'. It will primarily be used to power oil and gas rigs in remote areas of Arctic region where Russia is pushing to drill for oil and gas.
Importance :
The low capacity power plant can generate enough electricity to supply the needs of a town of 2,00,000 homes, where consumption of electricity is quite lower and construction of conventional power plants are more complicated and costly. It can reduce emmision of carbon Upto 50'000 tonnes per year.
The project is a part of Russia's greater aim to secure rich deposits of oil and gas in the North Pole in Arctic. Due to climate change new shipping routes are opening up and hence strengthening it's military position to that region.
Arsenic detector and removal media: IISER Developed a device to detect and remove arsenic from water
Indian Institute of Education and research, in collaboration with a private firm, developed a device named arsenic detector and removal media to detect and remove arsenic from and make it usable for household works.
The device is very simple to use and cost effective. It uses household methodology for the detection of arsenic and can detect that part of arsenic which can not be detected by other methods.
It shows immediate change in colour if there is any arsenic contamination in the water and provides holistic approach to immediate determination of arsenic level and convert it to a senior free water. It can detect arsenic level in parts per billion(ppb) while other methods can detect a level up to parts per million(ppm).
Arsenic
Arsenic is a natural component of Earth's crust and is widely distributed in environment air, land and water. It is toxic in nature and cause serious desease if inhaled by any media. It leads to chronic arsenic poisoning (arsenicosis), diabetes, cardiovascular deseases and cancer. It's limited to 0.1mg per liter as instructed by WHO. But Bureau of Indian standards revised it from 0.005mg/l to 0.01mg/l in India. Arsenic pollution is a big problem in Bengal and neighbouring states. In Bengal 83 blocks of 8 districts are contaminated with arsenic. Districts of malda, mursgidabad and Nadia come in highest arsenic pollution zones.
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