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Science & Technology Current Affairs December 4th Week 2021

NASA Psyche Mission:

NASA will launch the Psyche mission in August 2022. The mission will be the first to investigate Psyche, a massive metal asteroid in the main asteroid belt.
 
Highlights:
 
  • Psyche, an asteroid, orbits the Sun between Mars and Jupiter. The Psyche mission is one of NASA`s first two missions to explore the Solar System.
  • The Lucy mission is another mission that will explore Jupiter`s Trojan asteroids to learn more about the early Solar System.
  • The Psyche Mission is NASA`s first mission to investigate Psyche, a unique giant metal asteroid.
  • The mission is overseen by Arizona State University. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory at NASA will be in charge of mission management, navigation, and operations.
  • The mission was selected as one of two missions to explore the early Solar System in 2017. The mission will launch from Florida`s Kennedy Space Center in August 2022 and land on the Psyche asteroid in 2026.
  • The mission will study and map the asteroid Psyche for 21 months.
 
Objectives:
 
  • Understanding the division of planets and other bodies into layers such as cores, mantles, and crusts.
  • To investigate a metal asteroid.
  • To investigate the solar system`s early epochs
 
Instruments:
 
  • X-band Gravity Science Investigation
  • Gamma Ray and Neutron Spectrometer
  • Multispectral Imager
  • Magnetometer
 
Psyche Asteroid:
 
  • Annibale de Gasparis, an Italian astronomer, discovered the Psyche as the 16th asteroid in 1852. 
  • The asteroid was named after the Goddess of Soul from Greek mythology. It has a diameter of 210 kilometers. 
  • The asteroid, like Earth`s core, is mostly made of metallic iron and nickel.
 
 
 
 
 
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Inmarsat-6 F1 Communications Satellite Launched By Japan:

A communication satellite, Inmarsat-6 F1, has been launched from Japan`s Tanegashima Space Center.
 
Highlights:
 
  • It was carried into geostationary orbit by a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) H-IIA204 rocket, about 22,240 miles (35,790 kilometres) above the Earth.
  • It is being developed by Inmarsat, a London-based company, as part of its next-generation satellite broadband service.
  • The satellite, which weighs 12,060-pounds, is the first of two `I-6` spacecraft (5,470 kilograms).
  • The H-IIAF45 launch of the Inmarsat-6 F1 satellite is Japan`s third orbital flight of 2021 and the H-second IIA`s mission of the year, marking the H-IIA vehicle`s 45th flight overall.
  • It is a dual-payload satellite capable of L-band (ELERA) and Ka-band communications (Global Xpress).
  • It is the world`s largest and most advanced commercial communications satellite.
  • The H-IIA has been Japan`s longest-serving liquid-fueled rocket since 2001, and it is now MHI`s largest rocket for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
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Science & Technology Current Affairs December 3rd Week 2021

Noises Captured Near Jupiters Moon Ganymede Released By NASA:

NASA has released noises taken by the Juno mission near Jupiter`s moon Ganymede.
 
Highlights:
 
  • Juno`s flyby across the Solar System`s biggest moon yielded data.
  • A spectacular voyage inside Ganymede`s realm is provided by data extracted from noises captured on the moon`s surface.
  • NASA published a 50-second audio recording chosen by Juno`s wave instrument.
  • The wave device monitors the magnetosphere of Jupiter for electric and magnetic radio waves.
  • Scientists altered the gathered frequencies into the audio spectrum for the audio track.
  • On its closest approach, Juno approached within 1,038 kilometres of Ganymede`s surface. It was speeding along at 67,000 kilometres per hour.
  • Ganymede is a satellite of Jupiter (moon). It is the largest and most massive moon in the Solar System, as well as the ninth-largest object. Ganymede orbits Jupiter in about seven days.
  • Jupiter is orbited by Juno, a NASA spacecraft. It was designed and produced by Lockheed Martin.
  • NASA`s Jet Propulsion Laboratory is in charge of the spacecraft. It was launched as part of the New Frontiers program from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in August 2011.

 

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Dinosaur Embryo Unearthed In China:

A 66-million-year-old dinosaur embryo was discovered in Ganzhou, China.
 
Highlights:
 
  • Baby Yingliang, the embryo, is thought to be a toothless theropod dinosaur or oviraptorosaur.
  • Because of the discovery of embryos, scientists now have a better understanding of the relationship between dinosaurs and modern birds.
  • According to the fossil, the embryo was in a coiled position known as "tucking." Birds exhibit this behaviour just before hatching. According to the findings, modern birds` tucking behaviour evolved from their dinosaur forefathers.
  • Baby Yingliang measures 27cm from head to tail. It is housed inside a 6.7-inch-long egg at the Yingliang Stone Nature History Museum in China.
  • This egg was discovered in the year 2000 and stored for ten years.
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James Webb Space Telescope:

NASA is preparing to launch the much-anticipated "James Webb Space Telescope Mission," a next-generation space telescope mission.
 
Highlights:
 
  • The Arianespace Ariane 5 rocket will launch it. JWST has been in the works for decades. It was developed in collaboration with NASA, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), and the European Space Agency (ESA).
  • It will be NASA`s flagship astrophysics mission, succeeding the Hubble Space Telescope. On December 25, 2021, it will be launched aboard Ariane mission VA256.
  • The JWST`s Optical Telescope Element, or primary mirror, is made up of 18 hexagonal mirror segments. These components are made of gold-plated beryllium.
  • Observing some of space`s most distant events and objects, such as the birth of the first galaxies and the precise atmospheric parameters of potentially habitable exoplanets.
 
Ariane VA256
 
  • The Ariane spacecraft is on its 256th mission. During this mission, the James Webb Space Telescope will be launched into space.
  • The Ariane 5 rocket is a two-stage heavy-lift vehicle with two solid-fuel boosters. The ECA variant of the rocket, which has the highest payload mass capacity, will be used.
  • The total launch mass of the vehicle is estimated to be around 770,000 kg. Its sole cargo is the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). This launch is one of the contributions of the European Space Agency.