Chandrayaan-2, an ambitious mission orchestrated by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), is set to launch between July 9 and July 16, with the moon landing project expected around September 6, 2019. The ISRO mission, worth Rs 800-crore, is India’s second lunar exploration program featuring three modules — Orbiter, Lander (Vikram), and Rover (Pragyan).
The integrated module of the Orbiter and Lander will be inserted into the GSLV MK-III launch vehicle, with the Rover housed within the Lander. After the initial launch, the module will reach the Moon’s orbit using the Orbiter propulsion system. Following this, the Lander will separate from the Orbiter and soft-land near the lunar South pole. Then, the Rover rolls out for conducting scientific experiments on the lunar surface.
GSLV MK-III: India’s Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle
ISRO’s GSLV MK-III is a three-stage heavy lift launch vehicle designed to carry 4-ton class satellites into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) or about 10 tons of satellites to Low Earth Orbit (LEO). This vehicle has two solid strap-on rockets, a core liquid booster, and a cryogenic upper stage, improving upon the capability of its predecessor, GSLV Mk II.
The Niyamgiri Hills Controversy
A recent report by a 16-member fact-finding team from the Coordination of Democratic Rights Organisations concluded that villagers living near Vedanta Ltd.’s refinery in Lanjigarh, Kalahandi, are experiencing severe health issues due to dust emission from the red mud pond. In 2013, mining bauxite from Niyamgiri by Vedanta Ltd. was rejected by the Supreme Court of India.
Niyamgiri Hill, home to the Kutia Kondh and Dongria Kondh tribes, holds approximately 88 million tonnes of Odisha’s 700-million-tonne bauxite reserve. Bauxite serves as a raw material for alumina and aluminum.
| Niyamgiri Hills Facts | |
|---|---|
| Location | Rayagada and Kalahandi districts, Odisha |
| Residents | Kutia Kondh and Dongria Kondh tribes |
| Bauxite Reserve | 88 million tonnes |
99942 APOPHIS: A Near Earth Asteroid
99942 APOPHIS, a near-Earth asteroid, is set to pass Earth in 2029, coming within about 31,000 km of the surface. This 340m-wide asteroid will at one point move more than the width of the full moon within a minute, and will appear as bright as the stars in the Little Dipper. Named after the Egyptian god of chaos, Apophis, while not a threat to Earth, has sparked significant interest in the scientific community.
Labour Day: Recognition of Workers’ Achievements Worldwide
Labour Day or Worker’s Day, celebrated globally on May 1st, honours the working class with a public holiday. Originating from an 1886 protest in the U.S., advocating for an eight-hour workday, the day now represents the achievements of workers. While U.S. celebrates Labour Day on the first Monday of September, the overall theme remains the same, with the International Labour Day 2019 theme being “Sustainable Pension for all: The Role of Social Partners”.
Grounds for Rejection of Candidature in Election
The election process involves stringent checks for candidate eligibility. Recently, the Returning Officer of Varanasi rejected the nomination of a dismissed BSF constable-Tej Bahadur Yadav- based on inadequate documentation. Under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, individuals dismissed from government service must wait five years before contesting, unless they possess a certificate issued by the ECI attesting that they have not been dismissed due to corruption or disloyalty towards the state.
