Daily Current Affairs Notes for 25 April 2023

ISRO’s PSLV-C55 successfully deployed 2 Singapore satellites into orbit

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has reported that it successfully launched two Singaporean satellites, TeLEOS-2 and Lumelite-4, into orbit using the reliable Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). Additionally, seven other payloads were attached to the PS4 upper stage and used for experiments.

ISRO’s PSLV-C55 successfully deployed 2 Singapore satellites into orbit: Key Points

• The Satish Dhawan Space Centre hosted the launch.
  ● According to ISRO, the launch was the 57th flight of the PSLV and the 16th mission to use the PSLV Core Alone configuration. This design is the lightest version of the launch vehicle, featuring only four core stages and no strap-on boosters for additional thrust.
• PSLV-C55 successfully placed TeLEOS-2 into orbit approximately 586 kilometers above the Earth. The launch took about 20 minutes to complete.
• The 16 kilogramme Lumelite-4 was then sent into orbit as well. The Defence Science and Technology Agency of Singapore and ST Engineering, a Singaporean technology and engineering company, collaborated on the development of the TeLEOS-2 satellite.
  ● It will be utilised to support the satellite imagery needs of several agencies in Singapore once it is deployed and operational.
  ● Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is the payload carried by TeLEOS-2. It will offer coverage in all weather conditions day and night.

Development of the Lumelite-4 satellite

The development of the Lumelite-4 satellite was a collaboration between the National University of Singapore's Satellite Technology and Research Centre and A*STAR's Institute for Infocomm Research. The 12U satellite is considered cutting-edge and was equipped with a high-performance VHF data exchange system to demonstrate its technological capabilities. Its primary objective is to enhance maritime safety systems for electronic navigation in Singapore.

Moreover, the mission involved a PSLV Orbital Experimental Module, which would make use of the launch vehicle's discarded PS4 stage as an orbital platform for carrying out scientific experiments with payloads that do not separate.

According to S Somnath, chairman of Isro, the first unmanned Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) rocket is expected to launch in February 2024 as part of the Gaganyaan mission. He made this statement to the media after the launch. However, before that, there are two critical mission tests scheduled in the coming months.

Gaganyaan Mission: About

• India's maiden human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan, is planned to launch in the fourth quarter of 2024.
• The G1 mission, an unmanned launch, is slated for the last quarter of 2023, followed by the G2 mission, also unmanned, in the second quarter of 2024. Finally, the H1 mission, the last of the three, will carry human astronauts and is scheduled to launch in the fourth quarter of 2024.
• The objective of ISRO's Gaganyaan project is to demonstrate the viability of human spaceflight by launching a crew of three individuals into a 400 km orbit for a three-day mission, and bringing them back safely to land in the Indian Ocean.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate India's first-ever water metro during his two-day visit to Kerala. The water metro connects 10 islands surrounding Kochi through the use of battery-operated electric hybrid boats, offering a convenient and seamless mode of transportation between the islands and the city. This innovative transportation system provides a travel experience similar to traditional metro systems and is especially useful in urban areas such as Kochi.

About India’s first Water Metro:

• The Kochi metro project will commence with eight electric hybrid boats that were developed by Cochin Shipyard Limited.
• The project is being financed by the Kerala government and the German firm KfW.
• The water metro system will consist of 38 terminals and 78 electric boats.
• The initial phase of the KWM service will be inaugurated from the High Court-Vypin and Vyttila-Kakkanad terminals.
• Boat trip tickets will be available starting at Rs 20, and weekly and monthly passes will be offered to regular commuters.
• The Kochi One Card can be utilized for both the Kochi Metro Rail and the Kochi Water Metro.
• The Kochi One App enables users to buy tickets digitally.

Other Projects in Kerala: Worth over Rs 3,200 crore.

• Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for multiple projects worth more than Rs 3,200 crore.
• PM Modi will inaugurate the electrification of the Dindigul-Palani-Palakkad railway section.
• The foundation stone for the renovation of Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, and Varkala Sivagiri railway stations will be laid.
• PM Modi will also lay the foundation for comprehensive development projects in the Thiruvananthapuram area, including Nemon and Kochuveli.
• During the event, the speed of the Thiruvananthapuram-Shoranur section will be increased.

UDAN 5.0 launched by Civil Aviation Ministry

UDAN 5.0, The Regional Connectivity Scheme, also known as UDAN, has entered its fifth stage, with the goal of improving connectivity to the nation’s rural and regional communities. The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) on April 21 began the process of accepting airline proposals for a number of routes under this fifth round of bidding for its regional connectivity scheme UDAN.

UDAN 5.0 launched by Civil Aviation Ministry: Key Points

• The Ministry of Civil Aviation has announced on Twitter that there are no limitations on the distance between the starting and ending points of the flights, and the previous stage length cap of 600 km has been removed.
• Aircraft operations with Category 2 (20-80 seats) and Category 3 (>80 seats) will be considered eligible.
• The Ministry of Civil Aviation has announced that there will be no restrictions on the distance between the flight’s origin and destination, and the previous stage length cap of 600 km will be waived for the fifth round of bidding for the Regional Connectivity Scheme (UDAN).
• The viability gap funding (VGF) provided will be limited to a stage length of 600 km for both Priority and Non-Priority areas, whereas it was previously limited to 500 km.
• The Ministry of Civil Aviation will only consider the network and route proposals submitted by the airlines. Once a Letter of Authorization (LoA) has been issued, the airlines will have two months to submit an action/business plan detailing their strategy for purchasing aircraft, hiring crew, and utilizing slots. This plan will be included in the technical proposal.
• An airline cannot be awarded the same route more than once, whether within the same network or across different networks.
• If the average quarterly passenger load factor [PLF] remains above 75% for four consecutive quarters, the exclusivity will be withdrawn to avoid the exploitation of route monopoly.

UDAN 5.0 launched by Civil Aviation Ministry: About Performance Guarantee

• If there is a delay in operationalization of the airline services, then for each month of delay up to four months, 25% of the Performance Guarantee will be forfeited as an additional incentive for fast commencement of operations.
• A performance guarantee is a commitment to provide a prospective contractor with necessary resources and assume all contractual responsibilities, which can be enforced.
• The Ministry stated that airlines are required to commence operations within four months of receiving the route award.
• This deadline was formerly set at six months.
• To encourage the swift implementation of routes under the Scheme, the Ministry also stated that the list of airports ready for operation or soon to be ready for operation has been included in the scheme.
• The procedures for transferring or assigning the rights and obligations of a route from one operator to another, known as novation, are simplified and encouraged.
• Novation is the act of substituting an old contract with a new one, with the consent of all parties involved.

UDAN has been a lifeline for many regions, enabling them to be well-connected to other parts of the country. With the help of this upgraded version of the scheme, which will increase momentum and connect new routes, we will come closer to achieving the goal of operationalizing 1,000 routes and 50 additional airports, heliports, and water aerodromes in the near future.