A Chinese company known as C-Space has recently launched “Mars Base 1,” a simulation of a Martian base that is located in the Gobi Desert of China’s Gansu province. Initially, it will serve as an education center, providing students with insights about living conditions on Mars. Going forward, the plans include transforming it into a tourist hotspot.
Mars Base 1: A Unique Look into Future Life on Mars
“Mars Base 1” offers an immersive experience that enables learners to understand and imagine how life could transpire on Mars. The anticipated expansion of the base into a tourist destination only increases its potential to excite and educate a wide demographic about our closest neighboring planet.
Gobi Desert: More than Just a Simulated Space Station Site
The Gobi Desert, where the base is located, is a unique desert region in Central Asia. It spans vast parts of Mongolia and China. Bordered by the Altai Mountains, Mongolian grasslands and steppes in the north, it also stretches to the Tibetan Plateau on the southwest and the North China Plain on the southeast. This “waterless place” as named by the Mongolians serves as an apt Mars simulation site due to its arid environment and barren landscape.
Exercise Varuna: A Joint Naval Operation
On May 1, 2019, India and France commenced a joint naval exercise named “Varuna” off the Goa coast. This operation includes aircraft carriers from both nations, notably the INS Vikramaditya and the FNS Charles de Gaulle. Additionally, a reciprocal military logistics support agreement between the two countries that allows Indian warships access to French bases was operationalized, further cementing their strategic partnership.
Authority for Advance Rulings
The Authority for Advance Rulings (AAR) was established by the Indian government to promote foreign investment by offering binding rulings in advance about central excise, customs, and service tax issues related to investment ventures in India. This high-level body is chaired by a retired Supreme Court judge and includes two additional members, one from the Indian Revenue Service and another from the Indian Legal Service.
| Organization | Function | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|
| AAR | Facilitating foreign investment by providing advance rulings | Chaired by a retired Supreme Court judge |
| C-Space | Simulating Mars base for education and future tourism | Located in Gobi Desert, China |
| Indian Navy & French Navy | Joint Naval Operations | Maritime exercise named “Varuna” |
World Heritage Day: A Global Celebration of Cultural Importance
World Heritage Day is celebrated annually on April 18, marking the International Day for Monuments and Sites. This day, approved by UNESCO during its 22nd General Conference in 1983, aims to raise awareness about sites of historical importance and emphasize the necessity for their conservation and restoration.
ICOMOS and UNESCO: Guardians of World Heritage
Two international organizations have key roles in heritage protection. The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), a global non-government organization, promotes theory application, methodology, and scientific techniques for architectural and archaeological heritage conservation. Headquartered in Paris, France, ICOMOS plays a pivotal role in World Heritage Day.
UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), also based in Paris, works towards peace and security by fostering international collaboration through educational, scientific, and cultural reforms. Having 193 member states as of January 2019, its mission is to identify, protect, and preserve cultural and natural heritage around the world that is deemed of outstanding value to humanity.
