Science and Technology

Question 0

Pluto fact sheet

Answer 0

• discovered in 1930
• Revolution: 248 Earth years, Distance from Sun: 5.8 bil km
• considered dwarf planet as of 2006
• is a Kuiper Belt Object
• reflective surface with markings indicative of polar ice caps, surface temperature -233C, but varies greatly due to eccentric orbit and polar tilt
• rocky icy planet, 35% ice
• atmosphere: mainly nitrogen, methane, carbon monoxide
• Pluto’s atmosphere loses mass into space because the thermal energy in the upper atmosphere is sufficient to escape Pluto’s gravitational hold (hydrodynamic escape)

Question 1

New Horizons (NASA)

Answer 1

• first dedicated spacecraft platform to explore Pluto at close quarters
• launched in 2006
• closest approach to Pluto was on 2015.07.15
• instruments: UV imaging spectrometer, visible and infrared camera/spectrometer, long range telescopic camera, particle spectrometers, a detector to measure masses of space dust particles, radio science experiment to examine atmospheric structure, surface thermal properties and the planet’s mass

Question 2

Radiocarbon dating

Answer 2

• carbon 14 is a radioactive isotope of carbon which is present in all living objects
• it decays at a uniform rate; half life: 5568
• when an object is living, decay of C14 is neutralized by absorption of C14 through air and food
• by measuring the loss of C14 content in an ancient object, it’s age can be determined

Question 3

GSAT 6

Answer 3

• communication satellite launched by Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)
• successfully positioned in orbital slot in September 2015
• was launched on-board GSLV-D6 rocket from Sriharikota spaceport in August
• has an indigenous cryogenic engine

Question 4

Suraksha Hose

Answer 4

• Centrally mandated, orange colored, triple layered safety hose used with LPG cylinders
• inner and outer layer are made of special quality rubber, outer layer is fire resistant and cannot be damaged by rodents or insects
• middle layer is made of braided copper or brass coated high carbon steel wire mesh

Question 5

Floating test range

Answer 5

• A huge ship being built on the designs of DRDO to test missiles of varying ranges for the two tier ballistic missile defence (BMD) system to protect important cities from external threats
• designated displacement equivalent of the ship is 10,000 tonnes
• state of the art facilities on board include launch pad, a launch control center and a mission control center
• the floating system is intended to overcome the limitations inherent to testing on land mass, such as evacuation before testing, and limitations on range (<300)
• testing used to happen on Wheeler Island, off the coast of Odisha

Question 6

Ballistic Missile Defence System

Answer 6

• two tier system to protect important cities against external threats
• the system will engage and destroy incoming enemy missiles at different altitudes in the endo- and exo- atmospheres
• the first phase envisages annihilating incoming missiles within a range of 2000km, the second >2000km