NEW INDIAN RESEARCH CENTER IN ANTARCTICA

India is in process of setting up a new research station on Larsemann Hills, East Antarctica, to carry out scientific studies on atmospheric, biological, earth sciences etc.

About 25 scientists/technicians will be stationed at this new station.

NANO TECHNOLOGY CENTRES IN INDIA

The Union Government has already supported seven Centres for Nano Technology in various institutions within the country. A separate independent institute of Nano Science and Technology is set up at Mohali. The Union Government also proposes to support a Centre for Nano Science and Technology as part of an existing institute in Bangalore.


The proposed Centre for Nano Science and Technology at Bangalore will focus on research on novel nano-materials. This Centre will be set up by May 2010. The proposed budget for this Centre is Rs. 113 crore for the remaining period of the XI Plan. However, no funds have been released so far, as the project is yet to receive sanction of the Government.

STEM CELL BANKING IN INDIA

Stem cell banking is being done in the private sector in the country. In addition, the Government is providing support to the public-funded institutions to generate human embryonic stem cell lines and their storage for research purpose.
The Department of Biotechnology and Indian Council of Medical Research have jointly formulated guidelines for stem cell research and therapy. The guidelines also include cord blood banking and human embryonic stem cell banking. Region-wise public consultation is in progress on these guidelines.This was stated by Shri Prithviraj Chavan, the Minister of State (I/C) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences in the Lok Sabha.

FIRST HUMAN GENOME SEQUENCING IN INDIA

The sequencing of first human genome in India by Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), Delhi, a constituent laboratory of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has helped our country join the league of select countries undertaking advanced research in the area of genomics.



The sequencing of human genome requires high computational capability and technological know-how in handling sophisticated machines and analyzing huge volumes of data. CSIR generated the human genome sequence data using commercially available reagents and next generation sequencing instruments. The assembly and mapping of the human genome was indigenously accomplished by effectively integrating complex computational and bioinformatics tools with high throughput analytical capabilities using super computers at CSIR-IGIB. The computational and bioinformatics know-how have been developed at CSIR over the last decade. The cost of human genome sequencing done at CSIR-IGIB is comparable with similar recent efforts world over. This was stated by Shri Prithviraj Chavan, the Union Minister of Science and Technology and Earth Sciences in the Rajya Sabha .

VERTICAL-LAUNCH VERSION OF BRAHMOS TEST-FIRED SUCCESSFULLY

The vertical-launch version of supersonic BrahMos cruise missile was successfully test-fired by the navy from a warship in the Bay of Bengal off the coast of Orissa. With this test, India has become the first and only country in the world to have a manoeuvrable supersonic cruise missile in its inventory

BrahMos aerospace chief A Sivathanu Pillai told that the missile was launched from Indian Navy ship INS Ranvir and it manoeuvred successfully hitting the target ship. It was a perfect hit and a perfect mission. With this test, India has become the first and only country in the world to have a manoeuvrable supersonic cruise missile in its inventory.

The software of the missile, which has a range of 290 kms, was improved and proved its capability of manoeuvrability at supersonic speeds before hitting the target.

The test-firing was part of the pre-induction tests by the Navy as moves are afoot to deploy the vertical-launch version of the missile in ships. The weapon system has been designed and developed by the Indo-Russian joint venture company.
All the three Indian Navy’s Talwar class ships, under construction in Russia, have been fitted with vertical launchers and many other ships will also be equipped with them.

The navy had earlier carried out several tests of the BrahMos but most of them had been done from inclined launchers abroad INS Rajput. The missile is already in service with the Navy and its Shivalik class frigates have been equipped with it.

BrahMos has also been inducted into the Army and preparations are on to develop its air-launched and the submarine-launched versions.Valleys Of Neptune

INDIA TEST FIRES NUKE CAPABLE PRITHVI-II AND DHANUSH MISSILES

India has successfully testfired Prithvi II ballistic missile from Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur off the Orissa coast also Dhanush, the naval version of Prithvi has also been testfired early 27th March 2010.


‘Prithvi-II’ ballistic missile, which has a maximum range of 295 km, was successfully test fired from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur, about 15 km from Balasore, off the Orissa coast.
The indigenously developed surface-to-surface missile was test fired at around 0548 hours from a mobile launcher from the ITR launch complex-3.

The test firing of the short-range, surface-to-surface ballistic missile, which has already been inducted into the armed forces, was a user trial by the Indian army.
The sleek missile is “handled by the strategic force command”, the sources said. Prithvi, the first ballistic missile developed under the country’s prestigious Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP), has the capability to carry 500 kg of warheads and is thrusted by liquid propulsion twine engine.

It uses an advanced inertial guidance system with manoeuvring trajectory and reach the targets with few meter accuracy. It has a length of 9 meters with 1 metre diameter.

The entire trajectory of this days trial was tracked down by a battery of sophisticated radars and an electro-optic telemetry stations were positioned in different locations for post-launch analysis, they said.

A naval ship had been anchored near the impact point in the down range of Bay of Bengal and long-range tracking radar (LRTR) as well as a multi-function tracking radar (MFTR) had been deployed to track the missile’s trajectory.

‘Dhanush’ missile test fired India on 27th March 27, 2010 successfully test fired its ship-based ballistic missile ‘Dhanush’, with a range of 350 km, from a naval vessel off the Orissa coast.

The missile was fired from INS-Subhadra in the Bay of Bengal near Puri by Indian Navy personnel as part of user training exercise, Defence sources said. 

The nuclear-capable ‘Dhanush’, a naval version of ‘Prithvi’, was test-fired at 0544 hours.

The missile followed the pre-designated trajectory with text-book precision and two naval ships located near the target have tracked the splash.


According to the sources, the 350-km range missile will give Indian navy the capability to launch a missile on enemy’s targets with great precisions The sophisticated radar systems located along the coast monitored entire trajectory of the vehicle.

The single stage missile is powered by liquid propellants. It is 10-metre long and weighs six tonnes. It has one metre diameter and can carry 500 kg warhead.

NASA LAUNCHES LATEST HIGH-TECH WEATHER SATELLITE

The United States launched the latest in its family of high-tech meteorological satellites that watch storm development and weather conditions on Earth from high in space.

The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-P (GOES-P) lifted off from Cape Canaveral in Florida at 2357 GMT yesterday on a Delta IV rocket which will carry the weather-watching satellite to its orbit around 35,406 kilometre above the Earth’s surface.

“GOES-P is on its way into orbit to begin a 10-year mission to keep a watchful eye on our world,” NASA said on Thursday on the satellite’s launch blog, noting that all systems were performing “exactly as expected.”


Once it reaches its orbit, GOES-P will collect and send back to Earth data that will be used by scientists to monitor weather, make forecasts and issue warnings about meteorological incidents

The satellite will also detect ocean and land temperatures, monitor space weather, relay communications and provide search-and-rescue support.

GOES-P is the latest in a long line of GOES satellites, the first of which was launched in 1975.

The satellite will drop its letter suffix for a number, becoming GOES-15 once it is in space.