- UAE’s Moon Mission
The issue in news
United Arab Emirates (UAE) recently took another step towards space by deciding to send an unmanned spacecraft to the moon in 2024.
Main points
- This moon rover (a vehicle to expre the surface of a planet) will be named Rashid after Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum,
- The aim of this mission is to explore those surfaces of the moon that have not been explored previously by human missions such as NASA’s Apollo, and if successful UAE could become the fourth nation to land a spacecraft on the moon after the USA, the former Soviet Union and China.
- the UAE also launched a Mars probe named Amal (Hope -In July 2020) from Japan.
- This moon exploration is part of the UAE’s space strategy to make new knowledge developments and capabilities and therefore the country’s scientific, technical and research environment will become more prominent.
- India, Israel and Japan have tried but failed in landing a spacecraft on the moon.
- Chandrayaan-2 was launched by India in 2019. India has planned a new moon mission named Chandrayaan-3 likely to be launched in early 2021.
- iDEX4Fauji
The issue in news
iDEX4Fauji launched for the first time to encourage innovation among soldiers.
About iDEX4Fauji:
- iDEX4Fauji is a first of its kind initiative, launched to support innovations identified by members of the Indian Armed Forces and will bolster frugal innovation ideas from soldiers/field formations.
- There are more than 13 Lakh service personnel working in the field and on borders, handling extreme conditions and equipment and would be having many ideas and innovations to improve such equipment.
- There was no mechanism to support such innovations.
- iDEX4Fauji would open this window and allow the soldiers to become part of the innovation process and get recognised and rewarded.
- Services Headquarters will provide support to the soldiers & field formations all over the country to ensure maximum participation.
- Cat Que Virus
The issue in news
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-National Institute of Virology and Maximum Containment Laboratory (pune) found the antibodies against the Cat Que virus (CQV) in two human serum samples. Indicating that this virus has the potential of becoming a public health pathogen and if it spreads it may lead to a pandemic.
Main points
- CQV is an Arthropod-borne viruses. it belongs to the Simbu serogroup virus of the genus
- This virus is found in pigs and Culex mosquitoes, Birds like the Jungle Myna may also act as a host. Japanese Encephalitis is also caused by Mosquitoes of Culex species.
- Humans are infected through mosquito bites. It infects both humans and livestock species.
- Arthropods are a group of invertebrate animals including insects, spiders etc.
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