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- A recent astronomical discovery unveiled five youthful star clusters, potentially the oldest ever found, originating from the universe's infancy.
- Star Clusters Overview:
- Star clusters are groups of stars bound together by gravitational attraction, sharing a common origin. They serve as crucial tools for astronomers, offering insights into stellar evolution and age modeling. There are two primary types of star clusters:
- Open (Galactic) Clusters:
- Open clusters derive their name from the fact that individual stars within them can be distinguished through telescopic observation. They are also known as galactic clusters due to their location within the dusty spiral arms of spiral galaxies. These clusters typically form from the same giant molecular cloud and contain anywhere from a dozen to hundreds of stars, often arranged asymmetrically.
- Globular Clusters:
- Globular clusters are spherical, gravitationally bound clusters housing from several thousand to over a million stars. They are predominantly found in the halo surrounding the galactic plane and are characterized by their ancient stellar populations. Due to the lack of free dust and gas, globular clusters do not foster new star formation. Their central regions exhibit exceptionally high stellar densities compared to surrounding areas.
- Open (Galactic) Clusters:
- Additionally, astronomers recognize stellar associations, which are groups of stars of similar type and origin, with densities lower than the general field stars.
- Recently, the Russian Black Sea Fleet (BSF) conducted an assault on Ukrainian infrastructure, employing sea-launched Kalibr cruise missiles.
- About Kalibr Missile:
- The Kalibr missile family is a series of Russian cruise missiles designed for versatile deployment from ships, submarines, containers, aircraft, or transport erector launchers. They serve roles in anti-ship, anti-submarine, and land attack scenarios, developed and manufactured by Russia's Almaz-Antey corporation.
- Features:
- Variants: Kalibr missiles vary in mass (1,300 kg to 2,300 kg) and length (6.2 m to 8.9 m) depending on the specific variant.
- Warhead: They can carry a warhead weighing between 400-500 kg, comprising high explosive or thermonuclear material.
- Engine: Equipped with a multi-stage solid-fuel rocket engine, some versions integrate a turbojet engine or a different type of solid-fuel rocket.
- Guidance: Kalibr missiles employ inertial guidance with satellite navigation updates for precise targeting.
- Speed: Capable of accelerating to supersonic speeds in the terminal phase to evade enemy defenses.
- Range: Ranges vary from 200 km to 2500 km, depending on the missile type.
- These capabilities make the Kalibr missile family a formidable force in modern naval and aerial operations, demonstrating significant operational reach and firepower.
- Recently, Ladakh achieved the milestone of becoming the first administrative unit to attain full functional literacy under the ULLAS-Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram (New India Literacy Program).
- About ULLAS-Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram:
- The Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society (ULLAS) is a centrally sponsored scheme launched for the period 2022-2027. It is aligned with the recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and aims to empower adults aged 15 years and above who have missed out on formal schooling, integrating them into society to enhance their contribution to the country's growth.
- Key Components and Vision:
- Components: The scheme includes Foundational Literacy and Numeracy, Critical Life Skills, Basic Education, Vocational Skills, and Continuing Education.
- Vision: The vision of the ULLAS Scheme is to achieve universal literacy across India, inspired by the principle of Kartvya Bodh (sense of responsibility), and operates on voluntary participation.
- Technology Integration: The ULLAS app facilitates learner and volunteer registration through self-registration or surveys. It serves as a digital platform connecting learners to diverse learning resources available via the DIKSHA portal of NCERT.
- Ladakh's achievement underscores the effectiveness of the ULLAS-Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram in enhancing literacy rates and fostering lifelong learning opportunities for all segments of society.
- Recently, the Australian government finalized an $18 million memorandum of understanding (MoU) with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), under the auspices of the Space MAITRI mission.
- About Space MAITRI (Mission for Australia-India's Technology, Research and Innovation):
- Space MAITRI signifies a significant stride in the strategic partnership between Australia and India in the realm of space. It aims to strengthen collaboration among commercial, institutional, and governmental space entities from both nations.
- Objectives and Focus:
- Debris Management and Sustainability: The mission prioritizes initiatives related to debris management and sustainability, reflecting shared values and goals in promoting responsible space operations and addressing the challenge of space debris.
- Key Agreement Details:
- Under the MoU, NSIL will facilitate the launch of Australia’s Space Machines Company's second Optimus spacecraft in 2026.
- The Optimus spacecraft, weighing 450 kg, represents Australia's largest domestically designed and built satellite to date.
- It will be launched aboard ISRO's Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), marking a milestone in collaborative space efforts between the two countries.
- About NewSpace India Limited (NSIL):
- NSIL operates as the commercial arm under the Department of Space (DoS), Government of India, established in March 2019 to advance high technology space activities within India.
- Following India's space policy reforms in June 2020, NSIL operates on a "demand-driven" model for operational satellite missions, encompassing satellite build, launch, ownership, operation, and service provision.
- NSIL is headquartered in Bengaluru, playing a pivotal role in facilitating international partnerships and commercial space endeavors.
- The collaboration under Space MAITRI underscores the growing cooperation and mutual benefits in space exploration and technology innovation between Australia and India.