11-12 july 2015
NASA selected four Astronauts for First US Commercial Spaceflights
The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on 9 July 2015 selected four astronauts to provide crew transportation services to and from the International Space Station.
Astronauts and test pilots Robert Behnken, Eric Boe, Douglas Hurley and Sunita Williams will work with The Boeing Company and SpaceX to develop crew transportation systems and provide crew transportation services to and from the International Space Station (ISS).
They will train and prepare for commercial spaceflights that will return American launches to US soil and further open up low-Earth orbit transportation to the private sector.
NASA called the move the latest major milestone in the plan of the administration of the President Barack Obama to transport astronauts to space, create more jobs and end the US reliance on Russia for space travel.
In May 2015, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program office granted the Boeing Company permission to launch its astronaut crew capsule to the International Space Station in 2017.
Kagiso Rabada became second bowler to claim hat-trick on ODI debut
South Africa debutant Kagiso Rabada on 10 July 2015 became only the second cricketer in the history of One Day International (ODI) cricket to claim a hat-trick on ODI debut.
20-year-old Johannesburg-born fast bowler claimed a hat-trick in only his second over in a one-day international against Bangladesh in Mirpur. He also recorded the best debut figures in an ODI with 6-16.
His hat-trick helped South Africa (Proteas) to bowl out the hosts for a score of 160, which was chased easily by Proteas, at a loss of 2 wickets and more than 18 overs to spare.
Bangladesh spinner Taijul Islam was the first debutant to take an ODI hat-trick. He achieved the fete in 2014 at Mirpur.
Scores of the match
• Bangladesh: 160 (36.3 overs)
• South Africa: 164-2 (31.1 overs)
ISRO successfully launched five British satellites into space
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on 10 July 2015 successfully launched five British satellites into space from the first launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikotta.
These satellites are three identical DMC3 optical earth observation satellitesand two auxiliary satellites, viz., CBNT-1 and De-OrbitSail.
These all satellites, built by Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL) and weighing 1440-kg, were launched aboard the 13th flight (PSLV-C28) of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).
The three DMC3 satellites, each weighing 447 kg was placed into a 647 km Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO) using the high-end version of PSLV (PSLV-XL). PSLV-C28 is the ninth flight of PSLV in ‘XL’ configuration.
These international customer satellites are being launched as part of the arrangement entered into between DMC International Imaging (DMCii), a wholly owned subsidiary of SSTL, UK; and Antrix Corporation Limited (ANTRIX), the commercial arm of ISRO.
This was the heaviest commercial luggage carried by a PSLV rocket to date. It was also the biggest commercial launch of ANTRIX/ISRO. France’s SPOT 7 satellite that weighted 714 kg was the heaviest single foreign satellite carried by a PSLV rocket until now. It was launched on 30 June 2014.
Since 1999, India has launched 40 satellites (38 smaller and two bigger satellites) of foreign countries and the successful launch of the five British satellites took the tally to 45.
About British Satellites
DMC3 Constellation:Comprises of three advanced mini-satellites DMC3-1, DMC3-2 and DMC3-3. Each DMC3 satellite weighing 447-kg is designed to address the need for simultaneous high spatial resolution and high temporal resolution optical Earth Observation. Major application areas include surveying the resources on earth and its environment, managing urban infrastructure and monitoring of disasters.
CBNT-1: Weighing 91 kg, it is an optical Earth Observation technology demonstration micro satellite built by SSTL.
De-orbitSail:The 7 kg from Surrey Space Centre is an experimental nano satellite for demonstration of large thin membrane sail and drag deorbiting using this sail.
Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan (RAA) launched by Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam
Former President of India Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam on 9 July 2015 launched the Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan (RAA) in New Delhi. The abhiyan aims to inculcate a spirit of inquiry, creativity and love for Science and Mathematics in school children.
Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan is a concept developed by the Ministry of Human Resource Development.
Under Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan, government schools will be mentored by Institutes like IITs/IIMs/IISERs and other Central Universities and reputed organisations through innovative programmes, student exchanges, demonstrations, student visits, etc to develop a natural sense of passion towards learning of Science and Maths.
Besides, the Union Minister for Human Resource Development Smriti Irani announced that Phase II of RAA will be launched in January 2016 for higher education under which model science labs will be established in all districts of the North Eastern States.
RAA is an effort to take forward the Prime Minister Narednra Modi’s vision of Digital India, ‘Make in India’ and ‘Teach in India’.
India-Pakistan joint statement released at Ufa, Russia
India and Pakistan on 10 July 2015 issued a Joint Statement (JS) in the Russian city of Ufa after a bilateral meeting between the Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Nawaz Sharif. The meeting between the two Prime Ministers took place on the sidelines of the BRICS and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summits.
The JS was issued by the Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakistan, S Jaishankar and Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry.
Text of the Joint Statement issued by the two foreign Secretaries
• The two leaders exchanged views on issues of bilateral and regional interest and condemned terrorism in all its form and agreed to cooperate with each other to eliminate its menace from South Asia
• The two nations agreed to have a collective responsibility to ensure peace and promote development.
• Both leaders also agreed on following topics
a) To discuss all issues connected to terrorism, the National Security Advisors (NSAs) of the two countries will meet in New Delhi
b) Early meetings of DG BSF and DG Pakistan Rangers followed by that of DGMOs
c) They agreed to release the fishermen of each other countries, who went into custody along with their boat, within a period of 15 days.
d) Agreed to form a mechanism for facilitating religious terrorism
e) The two leaders agreed to discuss the ways and means to expedite the trial pertaining to 2008 Mumbai attack including additional information like providing voice samples
Besides, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Sharif invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Paksitan for the SAARC Summit in 2016, which was accepted by him.
‘World Population Day’ observed with theme Vulnerable Populations in Emergencies
11 July: World Population Day
World Population Day was observed on 11 July 2015 with theme Vulnerable Populations in Emergencies.
The theme focuses on the record number of people displaced by crises – some 60 million according to the latest UN figures.
At present, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is working around the globe to respond to the rights and needs of women and girls, and help them to maintain their dignity by securing their safety, and restoring their access to sexual and reproductive health care.
The event was established by the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 1989, through its decision 89/46. The UNDP in its recommendation for the day asked to focus attention on the urgency and importance of population issues in the context of overall development plans and programmes and the need to find solutions for these issues.
The World population in 2011 crossed the mark of 7 billion people from 2.5 billion in 1950.
World population Day in India
In this day, the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry organised a National Workshop on vulnerable populations in emergencies in New Delhi. The ministry to mark the day also flagged off a walkathon at India Gate.
New species of butterfly called Banded Tit discovered in Arunachal Pradesh
A new species of tiny butterfly species called Banded Tit (Hypolycaena Narada) discovered in the green forests of the Changlang district in Arunachal Pradesh. The discovery of Banded Tit was announced by Dr. Yogesh, State Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Wildlife and Biodiversity, in Itanagar on 10 July 2015.
The Banded tit is a resident of low-lying evergreen forests of Changlang and carries an interesting life cycle. Adult butterflies of the species live only for approximately two weeks in March every year. It spends a large part of the year in a dormant state in larval or pupal stages, which is still unknown. The species primarily feeds on bird-droppings along cool streams in the forests.
The species was recently described in a research paper by Dr Krushnamegh Kunte, a research scientist and faculty member at the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Bengaluru.
Bright-eyed Argus (Callerebia Dibangensis) was the last species of butterfly that was discovered in Arunachal Pradesh.
India to be part of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) along with Pakistan by 2016
India and Pakistan on 10 July 2015 were accepted as the full members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), a six-member regional grouping, including China and Russia. India that has had on the observer status of the group for past 10 years will become a full member of SCO by 2016.
The membership will help India to have an access to the energy resources of Central Asia.
Now the full membership status of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) will require approval by the six existing members (China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan) unanimously passing a resolution to the effect. Russia was the main backer of India’s full membership of the security grouping.
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) or Shanghai Pact is an intergovernmental organization founded in Shanghai on 15 June 2001 by six countries, People’s Republic of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The main objectives of the SCO are to
(i) Strengthen relations among member states
(ii) Promote cooperation in political affairs, economics and trade, scientific-technical, cultural, and educational spheres as well as in energy, transportation, tourism, and environmental protection
(iii) Safeguard regional peace, security, and stability
(iv) Create a democratic, equitable international political and economic order. With assistance from the Asian
Development Bank and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, SCO members have developed an intergovernmental agreement on facilitating international road transport.
In 1996, it was found as Shanghai V but was renamed as SCO after inclusion of Uzbekistan in 2001 in the group.
India, Turkmenistan inked 8 agreements to increase regional cooperation & connectivity
India and Turkmenistan on 11 July 2015 signed eight agreements/ Memorandum of Understanding (MOUs) to deepen bilateral cooperation between the two nations. They discussed ways to increase regional cooperation and connectivity.
The agreements were inked during the two-day visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Turkmenistan from 10 July to 11 July 2015. Modi paid an official visit to Turkmenistan at the invitation of the President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.
List of Agreements/ MOUs signed
• MoU on supply of chemical products between the Indian Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) ‘Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Limited’ and the Turkmen State concern ‘Turkmenhimiya’
• MoU between the Foreign Service Institute of the Ministry of External Affairs of the Republic of India and the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan
• Agreement between the ministry of youth affairs and sports of India and the state committee for sport of Turkmenistan on cooperation in the field of sports
• Programme of cooperation in science and technology between India and Turkmenistan for the period of 2015-2017
• MoU between India and Turkmenistan on cooperation in Yoga and Traditional Medicine
• MoU on cooperation in the field of tourism
• Agreement on cooperation in the field of Defence
Besides, the two nations also released an Indo-Turkmen Joint Statements after PM Modi and President Berdimuhamedov held extensive discussions on bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest.