France to
partner India in its next Mars mission which the Indian NASA plans to launch in
2018
•
France
will partner India in its next Mars mission, which the Indian Space Research
Organisation plans to launch in 2018. French space agency, CNES has signed a
letter of intent with the ISRO for French participation in the next Mars
mission.
•
India’s
first Mars mission was a technology demonstrator. Its success led to the
planning of Mars-2 mission for carrying out more substantive scientific
experiments.
•
As
the slot in 2016 is out of question because of the non-availability of a
suitable launch vehicle, the plan is to have the second mission in 2018 when
the reliable PSLV could be used.
NASA to Test
First Integrated-Photonics Modem
•
NASA’s
first-ever “integrated-photonics” modem will be tested aboard the International
Space Station beginning in 2020 as part of Nasa’s multi-year Laser
Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD).
•
The
cell phone-sized device incorporates optics-based functions such as lasers,
switches and wires onto a microchip much like an integrated circuit found in
all electronics hardware.
•
Once
aboard the ISS, the so-called Integrated LCRD LEO (Low-Earth Orbit) User Modem
and Amplifier (ILLUMA) will serve as a low-Earth orbit terminal for NASA’s
LCRD, demonstrating yet another capability for high-speed, laser-based
communications.
Japan unveiled
country’s first stealth fighter aircraft X-2.
•
Japan
unveiled country’s first stealth fighter aircraft X-2. The domestically-built
fighter aircraft seeks to augment defence capabilities of the country that is
surrounded by China and Russia that already have radar-evading aircraft
technology.
•
X-2
is expected to undergo its first test-flight in February 2016.
Lt Governor of
Puducherry AK Singh launched the MITRA mobile application
•
Lt
Governor of Puducherry AK Singh launched the MITRA mobile application to ensure
safety and security of women in the Union Territory.
•
The
app was launched in the presence of the Chief Minister N Rangasamy in
Puducherry.
•
Features of
MITRA app:
o
The
Android based application can send emergency SOS messages when in danger or
emergency.
o
To
launch the application, the person in danger need only press the power button
of his/her mobile three times.
A permanent
memorial of India’s first aircraft carrier INS Vikrant has been unveiled in
Mumbai
•
A
permanent memorial of India’s first aircraft carrier INS Vikrant has been
unveiled in Mumbai by Vice Admiral S.P.S. Cheema, Flag Officer
Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command, and Municipal Commissioner
Ajoy Mehta.
•
The
memorial stands at a traffic island opposite the Lion Gate near the Naval
Dockyard in south Mumbai.
Indigenously-built
surface-to-air Akash missile was successfully test fired
•
Indigenously-built
surface-to-air Akash missile was successfully test fired from complex-3 of the
Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipuri in Odisha.
•
Test:
It was as part of a user trial mission in which 3 rounds of test were carried
out by Indian Air Force (IAF) aiming at para-barrel targets.
Heena Sidhu
Secures Olympic Quota With Gold Medal at the Asia Olympic Qualifiers
•
India’s
top pistol shooter Heena Sidhu has secured an Olympic quota for the country
after she led from start to finish and claimed the gold medal in women’s 10-m
air pistol on day one of competition at the Asia Olympic Qualifiers for
Shooting.
•
This
was India’s ninth quota from shooting for the upcoming Olympic Games.
•
The
current world record holder and former world number one, Heena shot 199.4 in
the eight-women finals to finish ahead of Chinese Taipei’s Tien Chia Chen
(198.1) and Gim Yun Mi (177.9) of Korea at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range.
Pakistan
Cricketer Imran Farhat retired from International Cricket
•
Pakistan’s
discarded Test opening batsman Imran Farhat announced his retirement from international
cricket in a bid to appear in the Masters Champions League (MCL), which
commences in Dubai
•
Farhat,
made the decision after meeting the officials of the Pakistan Cricket Board and
got a No-Objection Certificate to participate in the MCL.
Olympic gold
medalist Matthew Mitcham retired from diving
•
Matthew
Mitcham, the Australian Olympic diving gold medalist, announced his retirement
from the sport.
•
Mitcham
won gold at the 2008 Beijing Games with the highest-scoring single dive in
Olympic history – four of the seven 10m platform judges gave him a perfect 10.
Astronomers
discovered the largest known solar system
•
Astronomers
have discovered the largest known solar system in the form of gas giant located
one trillion kilometres away.
•
This
solar system has large planet known as 2MASS J2126-8140 that takes nearly a
million years to orbit its star.
Intelsat, the
commercial satellite giant announced that Inteslat 29e, the first of the
Intelsat EpicNG high throughput satellites, was successfully launched
•
Intelsat,
the commercial satellite giantannounced that Inteslat 29e, the first of the
Intelsat EpicNG high throughput satellites, was successfully launched. The
satellites were launched from French Guiana aboard an Ariane 5 vehicle.
•
The
high throughput platform should provide customers with superior connections at
a lower cost.
India is all set
to build a satellite tracking and imaging centre in southern Vietnam
•
India
is all set to build a satellite tracking and imaging centre in southern
Vietnam. It is decided to provide Hanoi a full time access to pictures from
Indian earth observation satellites that cover the region, including China and
the South China Sea.
•
The
move is set to deepen ties between India and Vietnam, who both have
long-running territorial disputes with China.
A total of five
minor planets have been named after top Chinese scientists
•
A
total of five minor planets have been named after top Chinese scientists,
including the country’s first Nobel laureate scientist Tu Youyou.
•
The
naming was suggested by the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese
Academy of Sciences (CAS) and approved by the International Astronomical Union
(IAU) Minor Planet Center (MPC). Chinese vice premier Liu Yandong awarded
scientists certificates at the ceremony.
Scientists
spotted the potential planet by seeing the disturbances that it is causing in
the gravitational field of the far solar system.
•
Scientists
spotted the potential planet by seeing the disturbances that it is causing in
the gravitational field of the far solar system. There appears to be a great
perturber upsetting the movement of other objects in that far away region.
•
Konstantin
Batygin and Michael E. Brown, the researchers at the California Institute of
Technology claimed it as a possible ninth planet and their research papers were
published in The Astronomical Journal with the title ‘Evidence for a distant
Giant Planet in the Solar System.’
Scientists have
discovered a new bird species named Himalayan Forest Thrush in northeastern
India
•
Scientists
have discovered a new bird species named Himalayan Forest Thrush in
northeastern India and adjacent parts of China.
•
It
has been given scientific name Zoothera salimalii after ornithologist and
naturalist Salim Ali who has made significant contributions to ornithology in
India.
NASA announced
that it had formalized its ongoing program for detecting and tracking NEOs
•
National
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced that it had formalized
its ongoing program for detecting and tracking near-Earth objects (NEOs) as the
Planetary Defense Coordination Office (PDCO).
•
It
will remain within NASA's Planetary Science Division under Science Mission
Directorate in Washington.
India and Oman
will conduct 10th edition of bilateral maritime exercise ‘Naseem Al Bahr’
•
India
and Oman will conduct 10th edition of bilateral maritime exercise ‘Naseem Al
Bahr’ in the Arabian Sea from January 22 to January 27, 2016. Two Oman Navy
ships RNOV Al-Shamikh and RNOV Al-Seeb, which will also participate in IFR
2016, entered the port of Goa.
IBM signed a MoU
with the NRSC to monitor the mining activities in the country through satellite
technology
•
Indian
Bureau of Mines (IBM) has signed a MoU with the National Remote Sensing Centre
(NRSC) to monitor the mining activities in the country through satellite
technology.
•
As
part of the MoU, IBM would set up an exclusive remote sensing cell under the
technical guidance of the NRSC at its offices in Nagpur and Hyderabad.
Researchers have
discovered a new genus of tree hole-breeding frogs named Frankixalus
•
Researchers
have discovered a new genus of tree hole-breeding frogs named Frankixalus in
the forests of northeast India and bordering parts of China.
•
It
was discovered by team of researchers led by Professor Sathyabhama Das Biju who
is popularly known as the frogman of India.
Hundreds of
endangered Olive Ridley turtles, besides a bottlenose dolphin, were found dead
on Puri beach in Odisha.
•
Hundreds
of endangered Olive Ridley turtles, besides a bottlenose dolphin, were found
dead on Puri beach in Odisha. The turtles were lying scattered stretching from
Digabarini and Chakratirtha Road on the Puri beach.
•
Forest
department officials revealed that the turtles may have been hit by trawlers
fishing along the Puri beach in Orissa.
•
Local
fishermen often flout the ban on fishing along the coast, disturbing the
natural nesting space of turtles.
ISRO
successfully launched the Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS)
1-E satellite
•
The
Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) successfully launched the Indian
Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS) 1-E satellite. The satellite
will provide navigation, tracking and mapping services to the Indian sub
continent.
•
The
satellite is the fifth of the IRNSS constellation. It was launched from the
Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SHAR), Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh on-board the
PSLV-C31.
An unmanned
SpaceX Falcon rocket exploded on landing after successfully delivering an ocean
monitoring satellite to orbit.
•
An
unmanned SpaceX Falcon rocket exploded on landing after successfully delivering
an ocean monitoring satellite to orbit. The cause of the problem was that one
of the rocket’s legs collapsed as it tried to land on a floating ocean barge.
•
The
rocket company had managed a historic first controlled return of an orbital
stage last month. This footage of the landing was posted online by SpaceX CEO,
Elon Musk.
With Chinese
nuclear and conventional submarine hunters regularly popping up in the Indian
Ocean Region (IOR)
•
With
Chinese nuclear and conventional submarine hunters regularly popping up in the
Indian Ocean Region (IOR), India now begun to deploy its latest long-range
maritime patrol aircraft as well as spy drones at its forward military base in
the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
•
According
to defence ministry two of the country’s most potent submarine hunters/killers,
the naval Poseidon-8I aircraft, are just about to complete their first-ever
two-week deployment to the strategically-located Andaman and Nicobar
archipelago.
YouTube Returns
to Pakistan after Three-Year Ban
•
After
over three years of being told to ‘Surf safely’, Internet users in the country
were able to access the popular video-sharing website, YouTube, following
orders from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) that the website be
unblocked.
Chinese
scientists have developed a new bio-artificial liver
•
Chinese
scientists have developed a new bio-artificial liver that can help patients to
survive from liver failure long enough for an organ transplant.
•
It
has been developed by team of researchers from the Shanghai Institute for
Biological Sciences and doctors from Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital.
NASA astronaut
Scott Kelly has tweeted a photo of the first ever flower (Zinnia) grown in
space
•
The
first flower has finally bloomed in outer space. NASA astronaut Scott Kelly has
tweeted a photo of the first ever flower (Zinnia) grown in space.
•
The
flower was grown as part of an experiment astronauts are conducting on how
plants grow in microgravity. Besides the flower, the team also grew lettuce in
space, after a failed first attempt.
A mosquito-borne
virus called Zinka was found that the virus is spreading rapidly through the
American continent
•
A
mosquito-borne virus called Zinka was found that the virus is spreading rapidly
through the American continent. The first case was confirmed in Texas, USA in
January 2016 when a traveler returning from Latin America.
The Defence
Research and Development Organization (DRDO) successfully test-fired Nag
anti-tank missile
•
The
Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) successfully test-fired
Nag anti-tank missile at the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan.
•
The
test was conducted during a night trial to validate the enhanced 4-km range
capability of Imaging-Infrared seeker, which guides the missile to the target
after its launch.
•
During
the test, the Thermal Target System (TTS) was used as target for the missile.
The TTS simulated a target similar to an operational tank as thermal mapping
from tank to TTS was carried out for generating thermal signature.
China has begun
preparations for a new lunar mission in 2018
•
China
has begun preparations for a new lunar mission in 2018. It has planned to send
a probe to the dark side of the moon not explored by humans so far. The far
side of the moon is never visible to Earth because of gravitational forces and
has never been explored.
•
The
Chang’e-4 probe will be the first mission in human history to embark on this
expedition. China already boasts mature science and technology for sending a
probe to the far side of the moon, and is open to cooperation with
international society.
National
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has declared that its spacecraft
Juno has broken the Solar Power Distance Record.
•
National
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has declared that its spacecraft
Juno has broken the Solar Power Distance Record. The solar powered spacecraft
of NASA named Juno broke the previous record of travelling farthest distance
set by Rosetta spacecraft of the European Space Agency.
•
NASA’s
Juno travelled 793 million kilometer to break this record on January 13, 2016.
Before this, Rosetta spacecraft of the European Space Agency travelled till 792
million kilometers.
The Coast Guards
of India and Japan conducted their 15th joint exercise off the coast of
Chennai.
•
The
Coast Guards of India and Japan conducted their 15th joint exercise off the
coast of Chennai. India’s Coast Guard vessel Samudra Pehredar and the Japanese
vessel Echigo were berthed at Chennai Port for the bilateral training called
Sahyog-Kaijin 2016.
•
The
highlight of the joint exercise was anti-piracy. However, search and rescue
operations and interoperability between the two forces was also given emphasis.
•
The
exercise also involved Indian coast guard ships like Rajkamal, Vishwast,
Rajtarang, Hovercraft, C-415, C-417, one Dornier and one Chetak helicopter.
DRDO test fired
its indigenously developed, fire-and-forget anti-tank missile, Nag
•
DRDO
has test fired its indigenously developed, fire-and-forget anti-tank missile,
Nag. It successfully hit the target 4 km away during a night trial in the
Mahajan Field Firing Range, Rajasthan.
•
DRDO
used the Thermal Target System (TTS) developed by a defence laboratory at
Jodhpur as target for the missile during the test fire of Nag anti-tank
missile. Thermal Target System (TTS) imitated the target similar to operational
tank. This was possible as thermal mapping from tank to TTS was carried out for
generating thermal signature.
IMD changed the languages and also redefined
many of its terms
•
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has
changed the languages and also redefined many of its terms to make the
interface more audience friendly and fill the communication with civil administration.
•
An official notification has been issued by the
India Meteorological Department which lists out some new terms and redefined
others, thus, doing away with the outdated language.
An
international team of scientists devised a new method, galacto seismology, to
detect dwarf galaxies dominated by dark matter
•
An
international team of scientists led by Indian-American Sukanya Chakrabarti
devised a new method, galactoseismology, to detect dwarf galaxies dominated by
dark matter. The method also explains ripples on the outer disk of the galaxy.
•
Sukanya
Chakrabarti, an assistant professor at Rochester Institute of Technology, New
York, presented her findings at a press conference hosted by the American
Astronomical Society meeting in Kissimmee on 7 January 2016.
DRDO
developed a new ammunition for India’s main battle tank Arjun
•
Defence
Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed a new ammunition for
India’s main battle tank Arjun. The new ammunition is more destructive than the
previous one and was successfully test fired at Chandipur in Odisha.
•
The
new Penetration-Cum Blast (PCB) and Thermobaric (TB) Ammunition is specially
designed for Arjun.
•
The
research was carried out by DRDO’s two labs located in Pashan Armament Research
and Development Establishment (ARDE) and High Energy Materials Research
Laboratory (HEMRL).
BSF
launched ‘Operation Cold’ along the international border
•
Border
Security Force (BSF) has launched ‘Operation Cold’ along the international
border in Rajasthan covering Sriganganagar, Bikaner, Barmer and Jaisalmer that
will continue till January 30.
•
The
Operation Cold was launched to contain any infiltration or intrusion from
Pakistan in fog and cold wave weather conditions in the western desert.
•
The
Operation that was scheduled for January 17 has been preponed in view of the
Pathankot terror attack and the high security alert in the country ahead of the
Republic Day.
Astronomers
have detected a massive, sprawling, churning galaxy cluster
•
Astronomers
have detected a massive, sprawling, churning galaxy cluster about 1,000 times
more massive than our Milky Way galaxy that formed only 3.8 billion years after
the Big Bang.
•
The
early universe was a chaotic mess of gas and matter that only began to coalesce
into distinct galaxies hundreds of millions of years after the Big Bang. It
would take several billion more years for such galaxies to assemble into
massive galaxy clusters.
Scientists
at the University of Leicester developed viruses that could halt the decline of
‘Muga’ caterpillar
•
Scientists
at the University of Leicester have developed viruses that could halt the
decline of ‘Muga’ caterpillar in India which produces one of the finest silks
in the world.
•
Muga
caterpillars, which produce a highly valuable silk, are dying from bacterial
infections, in Assam.
India
is keen to promote operational oceanography
•
Government
is keen to promote operational oceanography since it plays an important role in
translating the benefits of science for the common public, Y S Chowdary, Minister
of State for Science, Technology & Earth Sciences revealed.
•
A
few examples being potential fishing zones advisories to fishermen, ocean state
forecasts for mariners, tsunami and storm surge early warnings among others,
the minister was quoted as saying by an official release.
India
and France started their eight-day counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency
joint exercise
Shakti-2016 in Rajasthan
•
India
and France started their eight-day counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency
joint exercise Shakti-2016 in Rajasthan. This is the third edition in the
series of bilateral exercises under this banner and is being held in Mahajan
Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan's Bikaner.
Anti-submarine
warfare (ASW) corvette INS Kadmatt has been commission in the Indian Navy
•
Anti-submarine
warfare (ASW) corvette INS Kadmatt has been commission in the Indian Navy by
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R K Dhowan at naval dockyard in Visakhapatnam
•
It
is the second ship of Project 28 (P28) class ASW corvettes and is the latest
ship after Shivalik class, Kolkata class and INS Kamorta.
The
Indian space agency is soon opening a 100-acre Space Park in Bengaluru
•
The
Indian space agency is soon opening a 100-acre Space Park in Bengaluru where
private industry players would be allowed to set up facilities to make
subsystems and components for satellites.
•
The
Space Park is coming up near Whitefield for the private industry. Indian Space
Research Centre’s (ISRO) satellite centre director M. Annadurai revealed that
the space park will be inaugurated in January.
•
The
space agency is already planning the Aditya satellite project which involves
launching a satellite to study solar coronograph, and Chandrayaan-2, the sequel
to Isro’s Chandrayaan-1, which was launched in October 2008.
Scientists
have revolutionised the world’s largest database for cancer drug discovery by adding 3D
structures
•
Scientists
have revolutionised the world’s largest database for cancer drug discovery by
adding 3D structures of faulty proteins and maps of cancer’s communication
networks, paving the way for more effective treatments.
ISRO
all the seven satellites of IRNSS are expected to be in the orbit by March 2016
•
Indian
Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) all the seven satellites of Indian
Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) are expected to be in the orbit by
March 2016. IRNSS-1E is slated for launch from the space port of Sriharikota in
Andhra Pradesh.
•
Earlier
ISRO launched four satellites. Another satellite IRNSS-1E is on the launch pad.
It is slated for launch.
ARDE
successfully test-fired Pinaka II multi barrel rocket launcher (MBRL) System.
•
Amament
Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) test-fired Pinaka II multi barrel
rocket launcher (MBRL) System.
•
The
three-day long user assisted trials were conducted at Pokhran in Rajasthan.
China
starts first nuclear reactor in ethnic minority region
•
The
first nuclear power plant located in one of China’s ethnic autonomous regions
has began commercial operations of its first reactor that will cut coal burning
and CO2 emissions and can create upto 64,0000 jobs annually.
•
The
first reactor of the Fangchenggang Nuclear Power Plant in Guangxi Zhuang
Autonomous Region can supply 24 million kilowatt-hours of electricity a day,
catering to the needs of a medium-sized city.
LRSAM
test-fired from INS Kolkata
•
Long
Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LRSAM), the missile co-developed by India and
Israel, was successfully test-fired on the Western Sea Board. The missile was
fired from INS Kolkata and it successfully intercepted an aerial target at
extended ranges.
•
The
test-fire was jointly carried out by the Indian Navy, Defence Research and
Development Organisation (DRDO) and Israel Aerospace Industries.
Japanese
recognized for discovering element 113
•
A
Japanese team has received official credit for the discovery of element 113,
making the group the first in Asia to have its accomplishments enshrined in the
periodic table.
•
The
International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry certified that a team led by
Kosuke Morita at government-affiliated research institute Riken discovered the
element.
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