Addapedia Odisha | Daily Current Affairs | 02 April 2024 | Download PDF

• The recent successful test firing of Stage-2, named Kalam-250, of the Vikram-1 space launch vehicle by Skyroot Aerospace marks a significant advancement in India’s space industry.
• Importance:Stage-2 is crucial in propelling the launch vehicle from the atmospheric phase to the deep vacuum of outer space, playing a pivotal role in achieving the desired trajectory.

Key points:

• Kalam-250 is a high-strength carbon composite rocket motor using solid fuel.
• It features a high-performance Ethylene-Propylene-Diene terpolymers (EPDM) Thermal Protection System (TPS).
• The stage-2 includes a carbon ablative flex nozzle and high-precision electro-mechanical actuators for thrust vector control, ensuring precise trajectory adjustments.
• The solid propellant for Kalam-250 was processed by Solar Industries at their Nagpur facility.
• The successful test firing brings Skyroot Aerospace closer to the upcoming orbital launch of the Vikram-1 rocket.

Vikram I Details

• Vikram I is the first rocket in the series, featuring three solid-fuel-powered stages and a final stage equipped with Raman engines.
• The Raman engines, powered by MMH and NTO liquid fuels, are used for final orbit adjustments.
• Vikram I is designed to lift payloads of up to 290 kg to a 500 km Sun synchronous polar orbit (SSPO) or 480 kg to a 500 km low Earth orbit (LEO) with a 45º inclination.

• • NASA has been tracking a massive 170-foot asteroid(Asteroid 2015 MB54) that is moving towards Earth at a speed of 13,798 kilometers per hour.
  • On March 29, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory predicted the passage of four asteroids near Earth.
• Monitoring celestial objects is crucial to protect Earth from potential impacts and damage. 

Key points:

• NASA reassures that Asteroid 2015 MB54 poses no threat to Earth due to its relatively small stature. 
• According to NASA’s criteria, only asteroids approaching within 4.6 million miles and measuring larger than approximately 150 meters are considered potentially hazardous.

Asteroids:

• Asteroids, also known as minor planets, are rocky remnants from the early stages of the solar system’s formation around 4.6 billion years ago.
• These space rocks are primarily located in the main asteroid belt, a region between Mars and Jupiter, and their total count exceeds 1,351,400.
• These celestial objects vary greatly in size, with the largest asteroid, Vesta, measuring about 329 miles (530 kilometers) in diameter, while the smallest are less than 33 feet (10 meters) across. Their shapes range from nearly spherical to irregular double-lobed peanut shapes.
• Asteroids follow highly elliptical orbits around the Sun, often rotating unpredictably and tumbling through space. 
• Despite their abundance, the combined mass of all asteroids is less than that of Earth’s Moon. Interestingly, many large asteroids have small moons orbiting them. 

• The Department of Telecom (DoT) has issued a directive to telecom operators regarding the deactivation of USSD-based call forwarding services, effective from April 15, to prevent fraud and online crimes. 

Key points:

• USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) is a protocol used by GSM cellular telephones to communicate with service provider computers. 
• It allows users to interact with various services using short codes, initiating a session between the user’s phone and the service provider’s system.

Reasoning and Impact:

• The directive aims to prevent fraud and enhance security for subscribers by suspending USSD-based call forwarding services.
• Telecom operators can mitigate risks associated with fraudulent activities.

• The Union Environment Ministry has recently introduced stricter rules to regulate “biodegradable” plastics in response to the growing concern over microplastic pollution.
• These rules aim to ensure that the environmental impact of disposable plastic ware is accurately communicated through labelling. 

Key points:

• Biodegradable plastics were initially seen as a solution to plastic waste, as they were expected to decompose naturally after use, reducing plastic accumulation in landfills and the environment.
• However, previous regulations in India lacked clear definitions for “biodegradable,” leading to incomplete breakdowns and the potential for microplastics to remain. 
• The new rules require complete biodegradation, with no microplastics left behind, representing a significant step towards preventing further plastic waste pollution.

Microplastics:

• Microplastics are small plastic pieces less than five millimeters long which can be harmful to our ocean and aquatic life.

• India’s defence exports exceeded ₹21,000 crore for the first time.

Key points:

• The Defence Ministry reported a 31-fold increase in exports over the past decade compared to FY 2013-14.
• Mr. Singh expressed his delight, highlighting the significant milestone in India’s defence exports.
• The exports reached ₹21,083 crore in FY 2023-24, marking a remarkable 32.5% growth from the previous fiscal year.

• • Paradip Port in Odisha has achieved a significant milestone by becoming India’s highest cargo handling port. 
  • The Paradip Port Authority (PPA) recorded a record 145.38 million metric tonnes (MMT) of cargo throughput in FY 2023-24, surpassing Deendayal Port, Kandla, to emerge as the top major port in the country. 
• This achievement marks the first time in its 56-year history of operation that PPA has exceeded previous records set by Deendayal Port.

About:

• Paradip Port, located on the east coast of India in Odisha, is a major seaport on the Bay of Bengal. It is an artificial deep-water port and one of the largest ports in India.
• It is situated at the confluence of the Mahanadi River and the Bay of Bengal. It serves as a vital gateway for the export and import of goods for the eastern and central parts of India.
• It was commissioned as a major port on 12th March 1966.

• Odisha has achieved a milestone by recording its second-highest Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection ever, amounting to Rs 5,109.33 crore in March 2024.
• This marks a significant increase from the GST collection of Rs 4,749.02 crore in March 2023, showing a growth rate of 7.59% in the Gross GST (CGST+IGST+OGST+Cess) collection compared to the same period last year.
• The state had previously set its highest GST collection record in February 2024, with Rs 5,135.81 crore.

• World Autism Awareness Day is observed annually on April 2nd
• It is a UN-sanctioned day to highlight the needs and rights of people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). 

It’s a day to:

• Raise awareness: Increase public understanding of autism and the challenges faced by autistic individuals.
• Promote acceptance: Foster a more inclusive society where autistic people can thrive.
• Celebrate strengths: Recognize the unique talents and perspectives of the autistic community.

About:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), or simply autism, is a developmental condition that impacts how people interact with the world around them.
• It’s characterized by: Social communication challenges: Difficulty with social interaction, understanding nonverbal cues, or expressing oneself clearly.
• Restricted interests and repetitive behaviors:  A focus on specific topics, repetitive movements (stimming), or an insistence on routines.

Theme:

• The theme of World Autism Awareness Day 2024 is ‘Empowering Autistic Voices’ 
• It aims at providing more support and power to the individuals with this condition, in order to ensure they lead a meaningful life and even pursue successful careers.

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