1)Russia & US agree to build new space station after ISS, work on joint Mars project
- In a landmark decision, Russian space agency Roscosmos and its US counterpart NASA have agreed to build a new space station after the current International Space Station (ISS) expires. The operation of the ISS was prolonged until 2024. The talks were held at Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
2) Astra test fired successfully
- Astra, India’s first indigenous beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missile integrated by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on the Sukhoi Su-30 MKI aircraft was successfully launched on 19th March from Chandipur, Odisha.
3) India`s first IRIS recognition technology launched
- Surat-headquartered Biomatiques Identification Solutions Pvt. Ltd. (Biomatiques) on 19th March launched India’s first indigenous Iris recognition technology through their range of Iris scanning products
- Biomatiques is the first Indian company to receive the Standardisation Testing and Quality Certification (STQC) for their Iris scanners from the STQC Directorate, Department of Electronics and Information Technology (Deity) under the Union Ministry of of Communications and Information Technology
- The Iris technology, the company statement claimed, is the most trusted form of identity authentication and as affordable as fingerprint technology.
- Iris recognition method is an automated form of biometric identification that uses mathematical pattern-recognition techniques on video images of one or both of the irises of an individual`s eyes, whose complex random patterns are unique, stable, and can be seen from some distance.
- An iris-recognition algorithm, can identify up to 250 identification points including rings, furrows and freckles within the iris. Some of these Iris scanners can capture the Iris image from a distance of two metres and authenticate the Iris.
4) Eco-restoration project for Kinnerasani Sanctuary in Telangana announced
- Wildlife Management of Palvancha on 18 March 2014 announced eco-restoration project for Kinnerasani Sanctuary in Telangana. The project will be implemented in 716 hectares of land under the Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary limits in Kothagudem Mandal with an estimated cost of 60 lakh rupees.
- The objective of the project is to reverse the damage caused to ecology due to human intervention and restore the degraded ecosystem in the sanctuary. In order to restore the ecology of Kinnerasani Sanctuary, a total of 26 deer had been shifted from three different deer parks to the eco-restoration project site and are being released into the wild in a phased manner in strict adherence to the safety precautions and rules in force.
- Also, a plan is on the anvil to shift a few more deer from Kinnerasani Deer Park to the project site at Chintonichelka in view of the excess population of deer in the park beyond its stipulated capacity.
5) Researchers from Australia unveiled world`s first 3D printed jet engine
- Australian researchers on 26 February 2015 unveiled the world`s first 3D-printed jet engine. This is the first of its kind 3D printed engine. It was developed by a team of researchers from Monash Center for Additive Manufacturing of Monash University in partnership with Amaero Engineering, the private company set up by Monash University to commercialize the product. According to Amaero, these printed engines will flight tested within the next 12 months and will be certified for commercial use within the next two to three years .