TNPSC Current Affairs 2017 February 19

1.ISRO successfully Tests India's Largest Cryogenic Engine For 400-Ton Rocket.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully tested India’s largest Cryogenic engine. The Indigenously developed cryogenic engine is capable to launch four ton class satellites in Geosynchronous Orbit and this will be used in GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite launch vehicle) Mark III rocket.

It was successfully Ground tested its cryogenic upper stage engine for GSLV Mark III at its liquid propulsion complex at Mahendragiri in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu.

India is now become 6^th country to acquire this technology after two decades of hard work as the technology was denied to India by Russia under pressure from the US. Other countries which have this technology are Russia, USA, Japan, China and France.

About Cryogenic Engine:

'Cryogenic is the study of substances at very low temperature in which gases like nitrogen, hydrogen and oxygen become liquid at minus 150 degree or less.

'This is the reason we called this as cryogenics engine, which use liquid hydrogen and oxygen as fuel that are stored at minus 253 degrees and then ignited to burn at plus hundreds of degrees centigrade .

'Cryogenic Engine was first used by US in 1963. India took almost 20 years to develop Cryogenic Engine.

About Geo-Synchronous Orbit:

Geo-synchronous orbit is located 35,786 kilometers(22,236 miles) above Earth’s Equator which is ideal site for monitoring communication, weather, and surveillance.

2.Indian Coast Guard Ship Ayush was commissioned

Indian Coast Guard Ship Ayush was commissioned by vice admiral A R Karve flag officer Commanding-in-chief , southern Naval Command, Vishakapatnam.

Ayush was the last in the series of 20 fast patrol vessels (FPVs) which is built by M/S Cochin Shipyard Ltd which is a part of coast guard’s plan to expand operation in coastal Region.

About Ayush:

Ayush was designed and developed indigenously by M/s Cochin shipyard ltd. The 50-metre FPV, Ayush is equipped with state-of-the-art weaponry, communication and navigational equipment. It is propelled by 3 advance diesel engines coupled with 3 Rolls Royce jets to achieve max speed of 33 knots and has an endurance of 1500 nautical miles at economical speed of 14 knots.

This ship will be helpful for safeguard the coastal region and other missions like surveillance, search and rescue, interdiction and maritime law enforcement.The ship will be based at Krishnapatnam.