China’s Space Lab Tiangong-2 launches Micro-Satellite Banxing-2:
China’s experimental space lab Tiangong-2 orbiting the Earth with two astronauts on board has successfully launched a micro-satellite Banxing-2. The two astronauts were launched into space onboard of the Shenzhou-11 spacecraft carried two astronauts on 11 October 2016. It docked with Tiangong-2 on 13 October 2016. About Banxing-2 The micro-satellite Banxing-2 is roughly the size of a desktop printer and the media has nicknamed “Selfie Stick”. It weighs 47 kilogrammes. It has series of visible light cameras, including a 25 megapixel camera and wide-angle imagers. It also has an infrared camera that is temperature-sensitive. Its mission is to take photographs of Tiangong II and the Shenzhou 11 spacecraft, which has been docked with the lab. The micro-satellite has three solar panels which generates enough power to adjust its orbit to shoot pictures of the lab and spacecraft. its predecessor, Banxing-1, accomplished the same mission for Shenzhou VII in 2008. Banxing-2 is new model of its predecessor Banxing-1 which had accomplished the same mission for Shenzhou VII in 2008. However Banxing-1 is smaller and has a higher capacity.
PM Narendra Modi inaugurates first National Tribal Carnival:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first National Tribal Carnival in New Delhi to promote a sense of inclusiveness among the tribals. The main purpose of this four-day carnival is to promote a sense of inclusiveness among the tribals. It will also showcase and promote various facets of tribal culture on a large scale. Key Facts In this carnival around 1,600 tribal artists and around 8,000 tribal delegates from across the country are taking part. Besides, eminent tribal personalities who have excelled in various fields like arts and culture, literature, sports, academics and medicine will also participate. The idea behind the carnival is to preserve and promote various facets of the tribal life relating to culture, tradition, customs and their skills. Besides it also seeks to expose it to the general public with a view to utilise the potential for overall holistic development of the Scheduled Tribes. The carnival will host activities like displaying documents on traditional socio-culture aspects, exhibition of art/artifacts, cultural performances. It will also demonstration of skills like paintings, traditional healing practices, sports, etc. It will also host workshops on issues like implementation of Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA), Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006.
Cyrus Mistry removed as Chairman of Tata Group:
he board of India’s largest conglomerate Tata Sons Ltd has removed Cyrus Pallonji Mistry (48) as Chairman. However he will remain a director of the individual companies. The board has replaced him with his predecessor Ratan Tata as interim chairman for four months. Mistry had shortest tenure as Chairman so far at the group. Mistry had replaced Ratan Tata as chairman in December 2012. He was only the sixth group Chairman in nearly 15 decades and the first from outside the Tata family to be appointed to top most post of Tata group. Besides, the board also named a five-member search committee to choose a successor within four months. It has given time of four months to choose a successor. About Cyrus Pallonji Mistry Cyrus Pallonji Mistry is son of the billionaire Pallonji Shapoorji Mistry. Prior to his appointment as chairman he was deputy chairman of Tata Sons. He had remained the director of Tata Sons since 2006. Billionaire Pallonji Mistry, along with his sons, Shapoor Mistry and Cyrus Mistry are owners of 18.5% stake in Tata group. They are largest shareholders on individual basis of group. He also had served as chairman of Tata Motors, Tata Chemicals, Tata Steel and Tata Global Beverages.
ECI amends election rules to allow e-transfer of postal ballot:
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has amended the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 to facilitate the e-transfer of postal ballot. The new rules empower a returning officer in any constituency to send postal ballots to an eligible voter by electronic means as specified by the ECI. In India, postal ballots have played a critical role in extending the electoral process to voters who are unable to exercise their franchise due to either the nature of their job or geographical location of their posting.
CO2 level reaches record high in 2016: WMOAccording to the World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) annual Greenhouse Gas Bulletin level of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the atmosphere has reached a record high. The globally averaged concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere reached to 400 parts per million (ppm) for the first time in 2015. It is expected to surge again to new records in 2016 on the back of the very powerful El Niño event.
ISRO starts landing tests for Chandrayaan-2 mission:
The Indian Space Research Organsiation (ISRO) has started a series of ground and aerial tests linked to the critical Moon landing of Chandrayaan-2. These tests were started as ISRO’s new site at Challakere in Chitradurga district, 400 km from Bengaluru. This site has simulated craters. ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC) is the lead centre for the second Moon mission. It has artificially created close to ten craters to simulate the lunar terrain and test the Lander’s sensors. ISAC will conduct many tests including on avionics and electronics, testing the Lander’s legs, followed by a combined full test. About Chandrayaan-2 mission Chandrayaan-2 mission is tentatively set for late 2017 or early 2018. The mission includes an Orbiter, a Lander and a Rover. The Orbiter spacecraft will be launched from Sriharikota will travel to the Moon and release the Lander, which will in turn deploy a tiny Rover to roam the lunar surface. The mission includes soft-landing on Moon and moving a rover on its surface. All three project components will be sending data and pictures to Earth. Some facts about Chandrayaan-1 mission Chandrayaan-1 was India’s first lunar probe. It was launched by the ISRO in October 2008 and operated until August 2009. The spacecraft was launched by PSLV-C11 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. It had completed 312 days in orbit. It made more than 3,400 orbits around the moon. The vehicle was successfully inserted into lunar orbit on 8 November 2008. The probe had impacted near Shackleton Crater ejecting underground soil that could be analysed for the presence of water or ice. It had sent more than 70,000 images of the lunar surface which provided breathtaking views of lunar mountains and craters, especially craters in the permanently shadowed areas of the Moon’s polar region.
