BepiColombo: An Innovative Mission to Mercury
In an unprecedented venture, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) have embarked on a joint mission named BepiColombo to explore the planet Mercury. The spacecraft gets its name from the Italian scientist Giuseppe “Bepi” Colombo who played a significant role in the success of NASA’s Mariner 10 mission to Mercury in 1973. By 2025, BepiColombo is expected to reach Mercury, making it the first mission by ESA and JAXA to the planet closest to the Sun.
The unique component of this mission is that it includes two spacecraft – ESA’s Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) and JAXA’s Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (MMO, also known as ‘Mio’) – designed to conduct simultaneous and complementary measurements of the planet and its environment. The pair will be transported to Mercury via the ESA-built Mercury Transfer Module (MTM) through a combination of solar electric propulsion and gravity-assisted flybys. The orbiters will also gather data from Venus during their journey.
The mission posits numerous challenges such as the gravitational pull of the Sun, which complicates placing a spacecraft into a stable orbit around Mercury, and coping with extreme temperatures and high levels of solar radiation. With this mission, researchers aim to gain insights into planet formation and the intricacies of our solar system.
| Past Missions to Mercury |
|---|
| Mariner 10 – NASA Flyby Mission to Venus and Mercury (1973) |
| MESSENGER – NASA Orbiter to Mercury (2004) |
Kumbh Mela: A Unique Cultural Phenomenon
Kumbh Mela is a significant cultural event that holds the distinction of being the most peaceful gathering of pilgrims on the earth, where participants perform the ritualistic act of bathing in a sacred river. This festival is proudly featured on UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
It takes place every four years in one of four different Indian cities – Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nasik – drawing millions of individuals from varied backgrounds. Given its diverse locations, Kumbh Mela encompasses a range of social and cultural activities, making it a culturally diverse festival. The knowledge and skills related to this tradition are conveyed through diverse mediums such as ancient religious manuscripts, oral traditions, historical travelogues, and eminent historians’ texts.
Green Climate Fund: A Ray of Hope for the Environment
As part of its commitment to fighting climate change, the Green Climate Fund (GCF) has approved over $1 billion for 19 new projects. Established under the UNFCCC at the COP-16 in Cancun, Mexico in 2010, the fund supports developing nations in limiting their greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change impacts. Its resources are financed by developed countries alongside various public and private sources. In India, the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) are the National Implementing Entities (NIE) for GCF.
Similipal National Park: A Treasured Wildlife Reserve
The Similipal National Park, located in the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha, is set to reopen after a three-month monsoon closure. This renowned park, which also functions as a Tiger Reserve, became part of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves in 2009. Furthermore, it belongs to the Similipal-Kuldiha-Hadgarh Elephant Reserve, encompassing three protected areas – Similipal Tiger Reserve, Hadgarh Wildlife Sanctuary, and Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary. The park gets its name from the red silk cotton trees (Semul) that bloom profusely in the area. It received official designation as a tiger reserve in 1956, was included under Project Tiger in 1973, and declared a wildlife sanctuary by the Odisha government in 1979.