Modern India has had a strong focus on science and technology, realising that it is a key element of economic growth. India is among the topmost countries in the world in the field of scientific research, positioned as one of the top five nations in the field of space exploration.
India is among the world’s top 10 nations in the number of scientific publications. Position-wise, it is ranked 17th in the number of citations received and 34th in the number of citations per paper across the field of science and technology (among nations publishing 50,000 or more papers). The country is ranked ninth globally in the number of scientific publications and 12th in the number of patents filed.
With support from the government, considerable investment and development has incurred in different sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, space research, and nuclear power through scientific research. On the occasion of India’s 67th republic day of India, let’s know about some of major scientific projects of modern India.
Space Applications
ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) founded in 1969 under Dr. Vikram Sarabhai with vision to "harness space technology for national development, while pursuing space science research and planetary exploration" and organisation is continuously operating towards the betterment of common people in India. ISRO is pioneer in Space Applications. India has one of the largest fleet of remote sensing satellite operational, contributing in weather forecasting, disaster planning, ground resource management, etc. It also has large number of communication satellite.
IRNSS is an indigenously developed Navigation Satellite System that is used to provide accurate real-time positioning and timing services over India.The constellation of seven satellites is expected to operate from March 2016 onwards.
At present, ISRO team is actively working on its next generation of GSLV, a heavy liftoff vehicle, GSLV mk-III, which will power India’s Moon Lander Mission, Chandrayaan-2 and Human Spaceflight Program in future.
Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM)
Mars Orbiter Mission is India's first interplanetary mission to planet Mars with an orbiter craft designed to orbit Mars in an elliptical orbit. Mars Orbiter Mission, also called Mangalyaan is orbiting Mars since 24 September 2014. With success of mission in its maiden attempt India has become fourth country to reach Mars and first Asian nation to do so.
The mission was planned to test and prove ISRO’s capability to reach out in outer space which will propel future interplanetary missions of India. The Mission is primarily technological mission considering the critical mission operations and stringent requirements on propulsion and other bus systems of spacecraft. It has been configured to carry out observation of physical features of Mars and carry out limited study of Martian atmosphere with following five payloads:
- Mars Colour Camera (MCC)
- Thermal Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (TIS)
- Methane Sensor for Mars (MSM)
- Mars Exospheric Neutral Composition Analyser (MENCA)
- Lyman Alpha Photometer (LAP)
ASTROSAT
ASTROSAT is India’s first dedicated multi wavelength space observatory, launched on 28th September, 2015. This scientific satellite mission endeavours for a more detailed understanding of our universe. One of the unique features of ASTROSAT mission is that it enables the simultaneous multi-wavelength observations of various astronomical objects with a single satellite.
ASTROSAT observes the universe in the optical, ultraviolet, low and high energy X-ray regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, whereas most other scientific satellites are capable of observing a narrow range of wavelength band. Multi-wavelength observations of ASTROSAT can be further extended with co-ordinated observations using other spacecraft and ground based observations. All major astronomy Institutions and some Universities in India will participate in these observations.
The scientific objectives of ASTROSAT mission are:
- To understand high energy processes in binary star systems containing neutron stars and black holes
- Estimate magnetic fields of neutron stars
- Study star birth regions and high energy processes in star systems lying beyond our galaxy
- Detect new briefly bright X-ray sources in the sky
- Perform a limited deep field survey of the Universe in the Ultraviolet region
The Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO)
IAO is located near Leh in Ladakh, India, has one of the world's highest sites for optical, infrared and gamma-ray telescopes. The cloudless skies and low atmospheric water vapour make it one of the best sites in the world for optical, infrared, sub-millimetre, and millimetre wavelengths. It is currently the second highest optical telescope in the world, situated at an elevation of 4,500 meters (14,764 ft).
This telescope is remotely operated from CREST at Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Hosakote, Bangalore. using dedicated satellite links. In addition, IIA is collaborating with University of Washington, St. Louis, in operating a 0.5m photometry telescope for continuous monitoring of Active Galactic Nuclei. The two telescopes, 180 deg apart in longitude, would together constitute the Antipodal Transient Observatory. A 0.3-m Differential Image Motion Monitor, a 220-GHz radiometer and an Automated Weather Station have been installed to facilitate continuation of site characterisation. In addition to night observations, the site is also being characterised for solar observations.
Giant Meter-wave Radio Telescope (GMRT)
In trying to answer big questions about the origins of universe and where we all come from, one could start from here in GMRT. The Facility is situated in Khodad, a rural area at the north of Pune, in Maharashtra, free from any radio interferences.
It is home to unique facility picking up signals from the farthest point in space. As a facility there is only one of its kinds in the world. 30 Antennas, each 45 meter on diameter, spread over 20 km stretch and all focus on, trying to unlock the secrets of universe. Panels of the antennas are designed with SMART (Stretched mesh attached to rope trusses), which provide larger reflective area with extremely light structure.
The complete facility is supported by powerful computer not only for image processing, also for pinpoint focusing of all antennas at a point in vast space. Scientist working 24X7, searching the early formed hydrogen gas clouds in deep space for better understanding of how the universe came in to being. Apart from it GMRT is making new discoveries involving pulsars, binary star system, etc. Working at relatively low frequency (100 MHz – 1000 MHz) GMRT became famous among Radio astronomers around the world and performing better than its counterpart in New Mexico, USA.
India’s Thorium Reactor.
India has one of the largest supplies of thorium in the world (around 319,000 Tons), with comparatively poor quantities of uranium. India has projected meeting as much as 30% of its electrical demands through thorium by 2050. It is the "only country in the world with a detailed, funded, government-approved plan" to focus on thorium-based nuclear power.
In February 2014, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), in Mumbai, India, presented their latest design for a "next-generation nuclear reactor" that will burn thorium as its fuel ore. Once built, with a target date of 2016, they estimate that the reactor could function without an operator for 120 days.
India's first commercial fast breeder reactor the 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) is approaching completion at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu; making India the most advanced country in thorium research, while other countries planned their programme in the end of last decade.
LCA Tejas, India’s Light Combat Aircraft.
Tejas is the smallest, light weight, single engine, single seat, supersonic, multirole, combat aircraft, consider to be best in its class in the world.
This fourth generation combat aircraft has Carbon Composites, light weight/high strength material for primary structures, quadruplex Digital Flight Control System, glass Cockpit and digital Avionics to give multirole capabilities with carefree maneuvering. These capabilities are further enhanced by several on-board Sensors, Communication and Navigation Systems that are supported by powerful Mission Computers and Cockpit Display System.
The LCA programme was launched in the early eighties for two primary purposes. The principal and most obvious goal was the development of a replacement aircraft for India's ageing MiG-21 fighters. The other main objective was to give an impetus for an across-the-board advancement of India's domestic aviation capability. Many complex technologies like Composite Material, Avionics, and sophisticated test facilities like wind tunnel, Iron bird test facility, simulators for training fighter pilots, etc. has been set up during development of aircraft first time in country. The programme has successfully able to create and sustainable environment for aircraft manufacturing industry in the country.
ALH Dhruv is Advance Light Helicopter developed by HAL, introduced in 2002 has already proved its capability for military and civilian use.
ORV Sagar Kanya
Sagar Kanya is a Ocean Research Vessel (ORV) owned and operated by India's National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR). The ship has helped in India's studies of the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal, and the Indian Ocean.
In the year 1983, under Indo-German collaboration, a multidisciplinary research vessel was built in Germany and delivered in India to Ministry of Earth Sciences (then Department of Ocean Development). The vessel is a versatile ocean observing platform equipped with technologically advanced scientific equipment and related facilities. The ship is continuously monitoring the nutrients dissolve in water salinity, temperature, etc. The on board sampler takes samples from ocean surface water as well as from deep ocean bed and testing it in its 14 Laboratories on the ship. Along with ocean research Sagar kanya is contributing a lot in locating of Poly metallic Nodules on ocean bed. These nodules are rich source of many strategic metals such as copper, nickel and cobalt. Large area of Indian Ocean is identified as a rich source of future development and India has been granted United Nations status as a pioneer investor.
The Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT)
TMT is a planned, eighteen stories, astronomical observatory and extremely large telescope to be built on the summit of Mauna Kea in the state of Hawaii. The TMT is designed for near-ultraviolet to mid-infrared (0.31 to 28 μmwavelengths) observations, featuring adaptive optics to assist in correcting image blur. The TMT will be at the highest altitude of all the proposed ELTs. India has government-level support in R&D along with China, Japan and Canada. The observatory and telescope are expected to be operational on Mauna Kea by 2024.
These are glimpses of Science and technology projects in modern India. Many more scientific projects and invisible innovations are going on in India. India is aggressively working towards establishing itself as a leader in industrialisation and technological development and to become centre of science and technology in world.
HAPPY REPUBLIC DAY !!!
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