ISRO, KISR - GS questions based on daily current affairs

ANSWER: Weather monitoring

Explanation:

• ISRO will launch ScatSat, a weather monitoring and forecasting satellite, with polar satellite launch vehicle.
• SCATSat-1 is an OceanSat-2 follow-up mission, actually a gap-filler mission between OceanSat-2 and -3, under development at ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) with the objective to continue the global ocean wind vector data acquisition started by the OSCAT (OceanSat-2 Scanning Scatterometer).
• The information of global ocean surface winds is an important ingredient for weather forecasts.
• The designated primary payload of satellite is a scatterometer which is similar to the payload launched with Oceansat-2.

ANSWER: Reusable Launch Vehicle

Explanation:

• The first technology demonstrator of indigenously made Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV), that can launch satellites into orbit around earth and then re-enter the atmosphere, will be flight tested from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
• This will be the first time ISRO will be launching a winged flight vehicle. After launch it will be glided back onto a virtual runway in the Bay of Bengal, some 500 km from the coast. The mission, known as the hypersonic flight experiment, is expected to last about 10 minutes from lift off to splashdown.
• Reusable Launch Vehicle—Technology Demonstration Programme or RLV–TD is a series of technology demonstration missions that has been conceived by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) as a first step towards realising a Two Stage To Orbit (TSTO) re-usable launch vehicle.

ANSWER: 1, 2

Explanation:

• The Railway Ministry has signed an agreement with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to leverage space technology for providing passenger information in all trains, map railway assets and help survey new route alignments.
• It also requested ISRO to conduct a study to find ways to ensure smooth rail traffic during the foggy season.
• At present, Indian Railways uses space technology to provide connectivity to passenger reservation counters, unreserved ticketing system in remote areas, and emergency communication using satellite phones during disaster.
  
• The Memorandum of Understanding aims at developing applications in the field of remote sensing and graphic information system, proposes to provide information such as train stoppages, real-time train tracking, survey of new rail route alignments in hilly and difficult terrain.

ANSWER: Mapping tool

Explanation:
The plan is to integrate Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) and GAGAN (GPS-Aided Geo Augmentation Navigation) with Bhuvan, a satellite-based mapping service for the Indian mainland developed by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) a few years ago. A geoportal of Indian Space Research Organization showcasing Indian Imaging capabilities in Multi-sensor, Multi-platform and Multi-temporal domain. This Earth browser gives a gateway to explore and discover virtual earth in 3D space with specific emphasis on Indian Region. Bhuvan, (lit: Earth), is a software application which allows users to explore a 2D/3D representation of the surface of the Earth. The browser is specifically tailored to view India, offering the highest resolution in this region and providing content in four local languages. Apart from visualization Bhuvan provides timely disaster support services (domestic and international), free satellite data and a products download facility, and rich thematic datasets. Bhuvan is using a crowdsourcing approach to enrich its maps and collect point of interest data. It also acts as a platform for hosting government data (example - Karnataka Forest Department datasets). The tool “Bhuvan Ganga” now available on public domain for people to participate in providing vital information for Clean Ganga project.

ANSWER: To facilitate private partnership

Explanation:
- Two space industry enclaves or parks have been conceived for launchers at Sriharikota and a smaller one at an existing Bengaluru spacecraft campus.
- It is for encouraging increased privatization of the nation’s space programme over the next five years.
- For now, the facilities will be “captive” to drive the future missions of the Indian Space Research Organisation.
- ISRO wants to groom and engage domestic industry in the launch vehicles area from integrating sub-systems up to assembling, and even launching the PSLV.

ANSWER: Subbaiah Arunan

Explanation:
Subbaiah Arunan is ISRO scientist who is the project director of India's Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM).

ANSWER: N Valarmathi

Explanation:
First Dr A P J Abdul Kalam award to ISRO woman scientist N Valarmathi. Valarmathi was conferred the award as she was responsible for India's first indigenously developed Radar Imaging Satellite RISAT-1, launched in 2012.

ANSWER: Bangalore

Explanation:
No explanation is available for this question!

ANSWER: Both

Explanation:
Properties like high strength to weight ratio and excellent corrosion resistance make Titanium alloys (like Ti6Al4V) useful for liquid propellant tanks for launch vehicles and satellites, gas bottle/liners, inter tank structures and interface rings for satellites.

ANSWER: Kerala

Explanation:
The indigenous Titanium Sponge Plant at Chavara in Kerala has been fully commissioned and has started commercial production required for space applications. ISRO took the initiative to set up a Titanium Sponge Plant (TSP) in the country to meet the requirements in strategic areas.