The Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) represents an innovative class of extremely large telescopes, promising unprecedented sensitivity in observing cosmic objects and a deeper exploration into the vast expanse of space. It is currently undergoing construction at Mauna Kea, Hawaii, USA. With a 30 m prime mirror diameter, the TMT surpasses existing visible-light telescopes in size and area, offering unparalleled image resolution that exceeds that of the Hubble Space Telescope by more than 12 times.
The Project Partners and Indian Contribution
The TMT International Observatory LLC (TIO), a non-profit organization, was established in May 2014 to manage the construction and operation phases of the project. The partner members of TIO include prestigious institutions from the world over, such as Caltech, the University of California, US, National Institutes of Natural Sciences of Japan, along with others.
India’s government has also approved its participation in the TMT project, investing a total cost of Rs. 1299.8 crores from 2014-2023. This joint project of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) involves contributions from Indian institutions like the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pune; Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore; and Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences, Nainital.
Indian Industries Involvement in TMT
Indian industries are contributing to the TMT project by manufacturing the telescope’s sensors, actuators, and mechanical support structures. The state-of-the-art high-end technologies used in the project would benefit a number of industries and R&D centres in the country.
Groundbreaking Space Missions
Apart from the TMT, other space projects are also making headlines. The space company ‘Blue Origin’ has unveiled its lunar lander called the Blue Moon, proposed to transport equipment and possibly human beings, to the South Pole of the Moon by 2024.
On similar lines, the planned ‘Chandrayaan-2’ mission from ISRO will have 14 Indian payloads or study devices and is India’s second mission to the moon. The Chandrayaan-2 will be launched during July 9 to July 16, 2019, with an expected Moon landing on September 6, 2019.
Key Facts
| Project | Timeline | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| TMT | In Progress | 30 m prime mirror diameter; 12 times sharper images than Hubble Space Telescope |
| Blue Moon | Expected by 2024 | Lunar lander to transport equipment and humans to Moon’s South Pole |
| Chandrayaan-2 | Expected by September 6, 2019 | Launch of 14 Indian payloads or study devices to the moon |
Advancements in Material Science: Recyclable Plastic
In the world of material sciences, a study published in ‘Nature Chemistry’ talks about a new kind of plastic – poly (diketoenamine) or PDK. This plastic can be repeatedly recycled without any loss of quality. Unlike traditional plastics, it falls apart into its component parts when submerged in a highly acidic solution. And this break down allows the monomers to be easily separated from additives, enabling easy reuse or upcycling.
Public Health Alert: Monkeypox Virus
In public health news, Singapore has reported its first case of the rare monkeypox virus (MPXV). This viral disease results in symptoms similar to smallpox, but milder. It is typically transmitted via close contact with infected animals such as rodents and monkeys. The disease is mostly seen in Central and West Africa, with isolated cases in the United States, Britain, and Israel. Although no specific treatments or vaccines are available, outbreaks can be controlled. Formerly, vaccination against smallpox proved 85% effective in preventing monkeypox. However, it’s no longer available to the general public following global smallpox eradication.
