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| SCIENCE TRIBUNE | Thursday, March 9, 2000, Chandigarh, India |
 Indian space
programmeTowards a new horizon by Radhakrishna Rao AS India’s indigenously built state-of-the art domestic communications spacecraft INSAT-3B soars into orbit at the head of the European Ariane-5 rocket from Kourou launch complex in French Guyana — sometime before the end of March this year — the three and a half decade old Indian space programme will cross yet another milestone in its quest of harnessing the space technology for the socio-economic development of the country. Methane hydrates: fuel of
the future Science
Quiz |
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Indian space programme AS India’s indigenously built state-of-the art domestic communications spacecraft INSAT-3B soars into orbit at the head of the European Ariane-5 rocket from Kourou launch complex in French Guyana — sometime before the end of March this year — the three and a half decade old Indian space programme will cross yet another milestone in its quest of harnessing the space technology for the socio-economic development of the country. The 2070-kg INSAT-3B, the first of the five satellites in the third generation INSAT series, will provide a big boost to business communications, developmental communications and mobile communications. The service payload on board INSAT-3B comprises 12 extended C-band transponders, three Ku-band transponders and one-S-band mobile satellite service device. As envisaged now INSAT-3B will give a big boost to the Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) services in the country which took off less than five years ago. Right now, there are more than 7500 VSATs serving about 300 corporate units spread across around 400 locations in the country. The major VSAT users include banking and financial institutions, stock markets, white goods sector, fast moving consumer goods sector and stock markets. At present, seven transponders on board INSAT-2B and INSAT-2C are being used for supporting VSAT operations in the country. And INSAT-3B designed and developed at the Bangalore based Satellite Centre of the Indian Space Research organisation (ISRO) will almost double this transponder capability for VSAT service. INSAT-3B will also be used to support the Vidya Vahini programme announced by the Prime Minister on the eve of 1998 Independence Day. Essentially, Vidya Vahini envisages a scheme of interactive training and education using satellite communications infrastructure INSAT-3B will also enable the introduction of telemedicine which will help in remote diagnostics and extension of super special hospital treatment to rural population. Meanwhile, with a view to accommodating the increased frequency of launches projected for the near future, a second launch pad is being set up at SHAR launch complex on Sriharikota island on India’s eastern coast. This will mainly cater to the orbital missions of the liquid oxygen liquid hydrogen driven Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV). The maiden orbital odyssey of GSLV is expected to take place sometime early next year. Essentially, GSLV is meant to orbit INSAT class domestic satellites from the Indian soil. For currently INSAT series of satellites are being launched by means of procured boosters. While the first few flights of GSLV are being realised with the help of Russian supplied cryogenic stages, vigorous efforts are on towards the indigenous development of a cryogenic engine for the futuristic GSLV flights. The first two stages of 450 tonne GSLV are realised from the modules of the highly successful Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) which during its flight in May 1999 launched a Korean Kitsat satellite and a German tubsat scientific probe along with an Indian oceanwatch spacecraft. This was hailed a spectacular spare coup pulled off by India. And it also marked India’s successful entry into the commercial launch services market. No wonder Antrix corp, the commercial arm of the Indian space programme has already tied up with a Belgium company, Verhaert Design and Development, for the launch of its 100-kg scientific satellite PROBA. On another front Arianespace, the European space transportation company has signed up with Antrix to enlarge the launch opportunities for small satellites using European Ariane and Indian PSLV boosters. Sources in Antrix Corp have also revealed that it has successfully completed the supply of some of the critical space hardware for the front ranking American satellite builder Hughes Space Corporation. It is a tribute to the maturity that the Indian space programme has attained that Hughes has been highly appreciative of the quality of workmanship of the various products and has commended the excellent work carried out by Antrix. Dr K. Kasturirangan,
Chairman, ISRO, has stated that negotiations are underway
for marketing of telecommunications satellites jointly
with leading satellite manufacturers. Thanks to the high
quality data provided by Indian earth observation
satellites in the IRS series, today nearly one fourth of
the global market for satellite resources data is
accounted for by the IRS data. Antrix in collaboration
with Space Imaging company of USA has set up a string of
ground stations around the world to receive, process and
market the IRS data to the global clients. Apart from
promoting establishment of an international network of
IRS ground stations and sales of IRS data products,
Antrix has also been supplying hardware and software for
the effective utilisation of IRS data. |
Methane hydrates: fuel of the
future THE ever-increasing demand of energy has worried each and everyone and efforts are to find different means in terms of conventional/non-conventional/renewable sources of energy to meet the same. Methane is an exceedingly important practical fuel and is also a significant by product in many industrial processes and is produced during the combustion of most other hydrocarbons. A recent discovery of Methane Hydrates-a white, ice-like compound made up of molecules of methane gas trapped inside cages of frozen water — shows a great promise in this regard. Methane hydrates are found in deep-sea mud/sediments/limestone up to a kilometre below the seafloor.Methane hydrates are stable only at near-freezing temperatures and under the high pressure conditions generated by the weight of at least 500 meters of overlaying water. Such ice-like hydrate deposits become unstable when the surrounding temperature rises more than a few degrees above freezing or when the pressure becomes lower than that found about 500 meters below the ocean surface. As the samples of methane hydrates approached the ocean’s surface, the flow of bubbles of methane gas reported to gradually increase and burst through the water’s sparkling surface. Members of the research centre for Marine Geosciences (GEOMAR) at Christian Albrechts University in Kiel, Germany have reported (scientific American, November 1999) to manage to bring about 45 kg of methane hydrates to the surface in containers cooled with liquid nitrogen. Exposure to fire at the surface of earth inspired an impromptu fire works display. The methane hydrates burn with a reddish flame and leave only a puddle of water behind. In 1930s, laboratory researchers studied hydrate structure and composition. One type of hydrate structure consists of icy cages that can absorb small gas molecules such as methane, CO2 and hydrogen sulfide. A different type forms longer cavities that can enclose several small molecules or large hydrocarbon molecules, such as pentane. In 1960, scientists discovered that hydrates could also form in natural environments. They found the first natural deposits in the permafrost regions of Siberia and North America, where the substances were known as Marsh gas. In 1970s Geophysicists George Bryan and John Ewing of Lamont-Doherty Earth observatory of Columbia University found the earliest indication that methane hydrates also lurk beneath the seafloor. Before 1970 no one even knew that methane hydrates existed under the sea. But the searching efforts of researchers from various scientific organisations have made it clear that the methane hydrates are by no means a rarity. They are reported to be found to occur worldwide in enormous quantities. Hydrates tend to form along margins of continental slopes, where the seabed drops from the relatively shallow shelf, usually about 150 meters below the surface towards the ocean” abyss several kilometres deep. It is difficult; so far, to bring the methane hydrates from seabed to the sea floor due to some technical difficulties of digging. But the countries mostly dependent on foreign fossil fuels are making efforts in this direction. It is estimated that marine gas hydrates collectively harbour twice as much carbon as do all known natural gas, crude oil and coal deposits on the earth. The energy stored in methane hydrates could potentially fuel our energy-hungry world in the future if practical mining techniques are devised. But as long as relatively cheap and oil remain available, most industrial countries are unlikely to invest heavily in the technologies needed to harvest hydrates efficiently. However, with the world’s other energy reserves diminishing, mining companies may find themselves compelled to invest in technologies for exploiting this great reserve of carbon-based fuel. Besides, the hydrates also have a worrisome aspect: methane escaping from disturbed undersea hydrates may be an ecological threat. If even a small portion of these deposits decomposes through natural processes, astonishing quantities of methane will be set free to exacerbate the greenhouse effect and global warning. Methane hydrate is not
completely out of reach now. Yet, the pressure of the
overlaying water and rock is too low to expel methane at
a sufficient rate but technologies can be developed to
extract it at a higher rate. Steam or hot water could be
pumped down a drill hole to melt the hydrate and release
more methane to escape and thus, pumping the escaping
methane to the surface of the seafloor through another
drill hole. So, technologies have to be developed to see
the gas hydrates becoming a meaningful and environmental
friendly resource of energy in the next century. |
Science Quiz 1. “Dream, Dream, Dream; convert these dreams into thoughts; and then transform them into action.” This is a quotation from a book by the architect of missile technology in India, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam (with Arun Tiwari). Name the book. 2. Can you think of a relation between solar activity and a disease? Scientists at the University of Wales. UK, have predicted that increased sunspot activity in the coming weeks may drive the virus of a disease from the atmosphere into our bodies, resulting in an epidemic. Which disease? 3. A satellite of the size of a cellular phone and weighing less than half a pound! The USA recently launched two such satellites with a view to conducting an experiment for communications in future. Can you name these satellites? 4. A combination of a number of solar cells is called a module and a combination or such modules forms a panel. What is an assembly of such solar panels called? 5. These microbes are found inside oil wells, solid rock and near the ocean floor. What is the general name of these one-celled microbes that can survive in the most inhospitable environment and may in future find some industrial uses? 6. Loudness of sound is generally expressed in ‘decibels’. What is measured in ‘phones’? 7. PET has physical properties similar to those of PVC (polyvinyl chloride), but contains no chlorine and has less environmental hazards.’ What is the full form of PET? 8. The production of nuclear energy is based on nuclear fission reaction. What is another name for this type of reaction? What is the minimum mass of a fissionable material called in which such a reaction can be sustained? 9. This protein substance is present in wheat but not in maize, barley etc. It provides elasticity to the wheat flour dough due to which it is easier to cook wheat ‘chapatis’. Can you name this substance? 10. In which town of Punjab is a Technology Park being set up? Answers 1. Wings of Fire: An
Autobiography 2. Flu 3. “Picosats” 4. Solar
array 5. Extremophiles 6. Intensity of sound 7.
Polyethylene terephthalate 8. Chain reaction; critical
mass 9. Gluten 10. Mohali (SAS Nagar). |
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Service delivery
solution This proposed solution is expected to provide a standards-based framework for the fully-integrated delivery of next-generation applications and services. ISPs and ASPs face significant challenges to meet customer and market demand using today’s rigid and fragmented service delivery infrastructure. With no shared concept of a user, it is difficult and expensive to offer tailored packages and bring new services to market quickly. The proposed solution will be designed to give service providers more control over the content and delivery of their service packages so that they can attack new markets, respond more quickly and effectively to market dynamics and offer their customers greater choice. Combined
Internet, voice services The multi-service Universal Edge will enable bundled services such as data, video, fax and voice to be delivered over conventional copper telephone lines to their consumers. Linked to high-speed optical networks, the Universal Edge will provide scalable capacity to accommodate voice and data traffic. By using technologies such as ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) and SDSL (Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line) this platform is capable of delivering true e-commerce and multimedia applications. PwC, Bharti BT
sign WAN agreement — R.
Suryamurthy and Gaurav Choudhry |
New products & discoveries
The pen is a constant embarrassment for smokers as it has a small rotating fan on top of the cap specially designed to get rid of cigarette smoke. The ball-point pen comes in two strengths — the normal “Fan Ball-point” which will retail at around 500 yens ($ 5) and the “Knock Fan Ball-point” pen ($ 8), which whirs at a greater speed and dispels the smoke faster. The normal one spins for 20 seconds and the knock fan spins for 40 seconds — enough of a reminder that smoking is injurious for the health of people sitting near a cancer-stick puffer! Diamond
telephone |
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Anti-smoking pen