My Science School

The Indian Space Research Organisation has been successful at developing space launch vehicles, building satellites, and launching them. But the space agency faced a glitch recently on the maiden journey of its Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV). Let's see what an SSLV is.

As the name suggests, an SSLV is a small satellite launch vehicle capable of launching lightweight satellites. The ISRO's SSLV is 34 metres tall, weighs 110 tonnes, and is equipped to launch satellites weighing between 10 kg and 500 kg to low earth orbit (LEO), that is up to 500 km from Earth. Such lightweight satellites are also called mini, micro, or nano satellites.

The SSLV has been developed to cater to the emerging market for the launch of small satellites into Earth's low orbits by developing countries, students, and others. The SSLV is the third offering of the ISRO after the Polar Satellite Launch vehicle (PSV) and the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV). The key features of the SSLV are low cost, flexibility in accommodating madtiple small satellites, possibility of multiple drop-offs launch-on-demand feasibility, and minimal launch infrastructure requirement On its maiden demonstration flight on

August 7, the SSLV carried an earth observation satellite (LOS-02), and a cube satellite developed by students, named AzandiSAY. The rocket was supposed to place the payloads into the desired 356 km circular orbit. But the satellites were instead placed in an elliptical orbit. It was said the rocket deviated from its path and placed the satellites into 356/76 km low earth orbit due to malfunctioning of a sensor. "As the 76 km elliptical orbit was the lowermost point and closer to the surface of the Earth the satellites placed in such an orbit will not stay for long due to the atmosphere and will come down. The (two satellites) have already come down from that orbit and are no longer usable according to ISRO Chairman S. Somanath.

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Smartphones have become ubiquitous. Whether you need it or not, there is an app for everything. And that has been made possible regardless of whether it is good or not-as we live in a hyper-connected world. Mobile networks have made it possible for us to access the Internet literally anytime, anywhere.

5G is the latest advancement in the telecommunications industry. The 5th generation mobile network is a new global wireless standard after 1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G networks. Designed for connectivity, 5G tech is expected to deliver higher speeds, have lower latency, greater availability and network capacity. affording uniform access, even in crowded areas.

Nearly one for every decade

While 1G delivered analog voices in the 1980s, 2G introduced digital voice in the 1990s. Early 2000s brought mobile data through 3G, and 4G came around in 2010s, ushering in the era of mobile broadband. Global operators started launching 5G networks, which is based on OFDM (orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing), in 2019, and it is expected to provide better connectivity than ever before.

All major phone manufacturers have started producing compatible handsets as 5G has been deployed in over 60 countries. With the buzz among consumers about even faster speeds and lower latencies, adoption too has been faster, when compared to 4G.

5G roll out in India

As for India, 5G is likely to be launched this year, with some expecting it to be rolled out as early as next month. Work on related hardware is already under way. thanks to the major telecom operators in the country - Reliance Jio, Airtel, and Vi.

The 5G spectrum auction in India has already been completed and it has been valued at Rs. 1.5 lakh crore. Initially expected to be rolled out in 13 cities, competitive pricing of 5G plans is expected in order to make it even more attractive.

Smartphones have become ubiquitous. Whether you need it or not, there is an app for everything. And that has been made possible regardless of whether it is good or not-as we live in a hyper-connected world. Mobile networks have made it possible for us to access the Internet literally anytime, anywhere.

5G is the latest advancement in the telecommunications industry. The 5th generation mobile network is a new global wireless standard after 1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G networks. Designed for connectivity, 5G tech is expected to deliver higher speeds, have lower latency, greater availability and network capacity. affording uniform access, even in crowded areas.

Nearly one for every decade

While 1G delivered analog voices in the 1980s, 2G introduced digital voice in the 1990s. Early 2000s brought mobile data through 3G, and 4G came around in 2010s, ushering in the era of mobile broadband. Global operators started launching 5G networks, which is based on OFDM (orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing), in 2019, and it is expected to provide better connectivity than ever before.

All major phone manufacturers have started producing compatible handsets as 5G has been deployed in over 60 countries. With the buzz among consumers about even faster speeds and lower latencies, adoption too has been faster, when compared to 4G.

5G roll out in India

As for India, 5G is likely to be launched this year, with some expecting it to be rolled out as early as next month. Work on related hardware is already under way. thanks to the major telecom operators in the country - Reliance Jio, Airtel, and Vi.

The 5G spectrum auction in India has already been completed and it has been valued at Rs. 1.5 lakh crore. Initially expected to be rolled out in 13 cities, competitive pricing of 5G plans is expected in order to make it even more attractive.

Picture Credit : Google 

 

India, Belgium, Canada, Poland and Uzbekistan, have collaborated to build the International Liquid Mirror Telescope (ILMT), India's first liquid mirror telescope and the largest in Asia. It is the world's first liquid-mirror telescope to be solely set up for astronomy and the only one of its kind to be operational anywhere in the world.

Located at Devasthal Observatory, Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) in Nainital, Uttarakhand, the ILMT will observe asteroids, supernovae, space debris and other celestial bodies from an altitude of 2,450 metres.

Most telescopes use glass mirrors, but ILMT's mirror is made from a thin layer of liquid mercury that floats on 10 microns of compressed air and rotates every eight seconds. The rotation causes the liquid mercury to form a parabolic shape like a contact lens, allowing the telescope to focus light from deep space. The ILMT is fixed in a single position, so it only observes one strip of the night sky as the Earth rotates below it.

ILMT is the third telescope facility to come up at Devasthal, one of the best sites for astronomical observations, and will commence operations in October 2022.

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If any of your WhatsApp contacts ask unnecessary questions, pass comments or misuse your profile photo, you can now hide it from them. First, make sure WhatsApp is updated on your phone (check the App Store or Google Play Store) or you won't see the new privacy settings. Go to Settings> Account > Privacy>Profile Photo. Choose 'My contacts except... Select the contacts from whom you want to hide your profile photo and tap on done/check mark. This takes you to the previous menu, where you can see how many contacts you've excluded. These contacts won't be able to see your current or upcoming profile photos either. (You can also hide Last Seen, Status and About info from specific contacts the same way.)

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Lumosity Mobile is a fun, interactive way to train your brain and learn how your mind works. The app's 50+ games and daily workouts test your cognitive skills and adapt as you improve. Categories for the games include: memory, attention, problem-solving, logic, math, words, flexibility and speed. Begin with a Fit Test to obtain your baseline, complete daily workouts and track your performance. The app gives you an analysis about your game strengths and weaknesses to see where you need improvement and monitor your progress. The app has been created by a team of scientists and university researchers on a mission to advance the understanding of human learning and understanding. Free for iOS and Android.

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GPods claims to be the world's first earbuds with light control. The Truly Wireless Stereo (TWS) earbuds offer users a personalized light-up experience unique to their mood, music preferences and style. Its six built-in LED lights change colour to match the beat of the music. From 72 basic colours, its Al can create around 300,000 colour combinations, ensuring that no two GPods owners are alike. Users can even take a photo and brings its colours onto their ears. Its software allows full control over dimness, brightness, rhythm response, shades and colours. Switch between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode to eliminate external sounds or allow outside sound in so you can focus on what you're listening to or your surroundings. Music play, answering calls, light effects and noise blocking are controlled via touch. It has 20 hours of battery life and fast charging ensures it is ready anytime. The earbuds come with Bluetooth 5.2 and have IPx4 water resistance.

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Looking for a fun way to send messages to your friend and make their day? Notelt makes notes show up right on your friend's home screen. your live Two friends download the app and each creates an account. Each will be have to share their 'link code' with their friend who's also a Notelt user. Once both have entered the other's code and tapped the 'Link' button, their apps will update and they can start using it. Create a drawing or scribbled note; tools available include a marker, highlighter, pencil, eraser, ruler and lasso. Tap 'Save' when done, and just like that, the note is sent to your friend. Notes are viewable in the Notelt app and on the home screen (via the Notelt widget). Notelt is available for iOS and Android.

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The Internet of Things, or lot as it is popularly known, is becoming a very important part of not only the technology industry, but also our daily lives. And you may be using lot without even knowing it!

What is IoT?

IoT is nothing but the billions of physical devices that are all connected to the Internet. These devices can then be controlled and can communicate information without any help from humans.

The IoT connects "dumb" devices like refrigerators. washing machines or a kettle, to the Internet using software and makes them "smart" loT devices. These loT devices can now collect and exchange data around the world and have some digital intelligence!

Chatting with each other

With loT, devices or machines can talk with each other, or to the people who are controlling them, by messaging over the Internet. This means that these devices can tell other devices, as well as people, if something is wrong with them or they are functioning well.

For example, in loT a car will become smart and can communicate and tell you that it needs petrol.

This has become possible as Wi-Fi networks are very common and devices can now have software to allow Internet access and make use of the Wi-Fi connection. The IoT requires sensors and software to collect data and communicate.

A personal computer or a laptop is not usually considered an loT device. Neither is a smartphone, despite it having sensors.

Aeroplane engine

Large machines, like an aeroplane engine, maybe be filled with numerous smaller loT components and devices, with thousands of them relaying data back and forth and sensors gathering information to make sure it is running efficiently.

loT is here to stay to make your life even easier!

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The James Webb Space Telescope is an infrared observatory orbiting the Sun about 1 million miles from Earth to find the first galaxies that formed in the early universe and to see stars forming planetary systems

The James Webb Space Telescope took 30 years and $10 billion to build, has flown over 1.5 million kilometres away from Earth, and now, we can finally see the first glimpse of its power with a collection of images.

NASA has promised the deepest image of our universe that has ever been taken, and these first sets of images are only the first step in a long job of expanding our view of the universe.

When scientists planned and designed the Hubble Space Telescope, the most groundbreaking astronomical observatory of its era, there were many things about the universe they didn't know. One of these unknowns was that stars and galaxies existed already a few hundred million years after the Big Bang, Mark McCaughrean, senior advisor for science and exploration at the European Space Agency (ESA).

The technology has come a long way since Hubble's early years, and the James Webb Space Telescope project has been pushing it further along the way. 

"The detectors on JWST have 2000 by 2000 pixels. And we have lots of them," McCaughrean said. "We have many more infrared pixels [on JWST] than Hubble had optical pixels when it was launched."

So what exactly will all those pixels (in combination with all the other aspects of the mission that make it so ground-breaking) enable James Webb Space Telescope to do?

The James Webb Space Telescope's giant mirror will feed the light of stars and galaxies into four cutting edge instruments designed not only to take images, but also to analyze the chemical composition of the near and distant universe. This is done with a technique known as spectroscopy, which looks at how matter in the universe absorbs light. As different chemical elements absorb light at different wavelengths, astronomers will be able to reconstruct what stars, nebulas, galaxies and planets within James Webb's Space Telescope's sight are made of. 

"The James Webb Space Telescope instruments are a factor 10 to 100 [times] better than anything previously available," Randy Kimble, JWST project scientist for integration, test and commissioning at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, told Space.com. "In some of those mid-infrared wavelengths, there's probably an advantage of 1,000 for some kinds of observations."

These improvements in the resolution of infrared imaging are critical for imaging the furthest reaches of the universe. Where the Hubble Space Telescope, or the recently retired infrared telescope Spitzer, could provide only a rough estimate of an ancient galaxy's age and chemical composition, Webb will deliver with precision, added Kimble, who previously worked on instruments for the Hubble Space Telescope, including the Wide Field Camera 3, Hubble's most advanced instrument, which was installed during the final servicing mission in 2009. 

Credit : Wikipedia

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Frotiere is the first exascale supercomputer. This means that it is a computing system capable of at least one exaflop or a billion- billion calculations per second (1018)

We were heralded into a new era of computational capability in May 2022 as the U.S. retook the top spot in the race to build the world's fastest supercomputer. Capable of billion billion operations per second, Frontier is the first exascale supercomputer. This means that it is a computing system capable of at least one exaflop or a billion billion calculations per second (1018).

Different level

The fastest supercomputers that were in existence before the Frontier came into being are still in the petascale, capable of quadrillion (1015) calculations per second. By reaching quintillion (1018) operations per second, Frontier has taken computing to a whole new level.

Built by the U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in Tennessee, the Frontier was able to demonstrate a processor speed of 1.102 exaflops in a benchmarking test called the High-Performance Linpack (HPL).

Faster than the fastest

Frontier took the place of being the world's fastest supercomputer from Japanese supercomputer Fugaku. Fugaku had held the position for two years having scored 415.5 petaflops in the HPL benchmark. At that time, it was thrice as fast as the machine it had ousted - the Summit supercomputer built by IBM, also housed at ORNL.

The progress in this field has been rapid in the last few years as computer scientists worldwide had been working towards surmounting the exascale barrier. The exascale milestone represents a new level of computational power capable of calculating solutions to highly complex problems. Be it climate systems, new kinds of materials and medicines, or even some of the deepest questions of humankind, exascale devices such as the Frontier can efficiently process vast amounts of data.

This incredible machine, which was built at a cost of $600 million, is undoubtedly the most advanced computer currently on Earth. The unmatched capabilities of Frontier as a tool for scientific discovery will surely unlock new frontiers of knowledge.

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