Sign In
Learn bits
Science & Tech.
Pradeep Kumar

24/04/21 10:20 AM IST

Source: The Hindu

SpaceX rocketship

In news

SPaceX launched four astronauts into orbit using a recycled roacket anc capsule.

Highlights
  • The astronauts will reach the International Space Station after 23 hours of launch and will spend six months at the orbiting lab.
  • It was the first time SpaceX reused a capsule and rocket to launch astronauts for NASA, after years of proving the capability on station supply runs.
  • The rocket was used last November on the company’s second astronaut flight.
  • It's been 20 years since JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), and ESA (European Space Agency), and NASA and Russian astronauts have been together in space
About the mission
  • The mission is also a major milestone for Europe, which has named it "Alpha" after the star system Alpha Centauri.
  • The Crew-2 team has around 100 experiments in the diary during their six-month mission.
  • These include research into what are known as "tissue chips" -- small models of human organs that are made up of different types of cells and used to study things like aging in the immune system, kidney function and muscle loss.
  • In terms of the environment, by the time Crew-2 returns in fall, it will have taken 1.5 million images of the Earth, documenting phenomena like artificial lighting at night, algal blooms, and the breakup of Antarctic ice shelves.
  • Important element of the mission is upgrading the station's solar power system by installing new compact panels that roll open like a huge yoga mat.
Source: The Hindu

More Related Current Affairs View All

05 Aug

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)

'In a note that police found in his wallet, the gunman who killed four people in New York on Monday claimed he had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) — a result of playin

Read More

05 Aug

How India’s pesticide market is changing

'Crop protection chemicals are commonly known as “pesticides”.' These are basically substances sprayed on crops to protect against insects (“pests”) that

Read More

04 Aug

Maharashtra’s new security Bill

'The Maharashtra Legislature passed the Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill or a ‘Bill to provide for effective prevention of certain unlawful activities of Left Wing Ex

Read More

India’s First Ai-Driven Magazine Generator

Generate Your Custom Current Affairs Magazine using our AI in just 3 steps