SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. Milestone in cryogenic engine test paves way for GSLV -MK3
· The cryogenic stage and the entire launch vehicle’s readiness is closer to fruition after the engine, technically called CE20, passed the ‘high altitude flight acceptance test’ lasting about 25 seconds at Mahendragiri in mid-December.
· The ISRO plans to fly its new launch vehicle powered by this new engine around March, and send the 3,200 kg GSAT-19 communication satellite to space on it. The launch was earlier slated for December 2016.
· MkIII, when it completes trials and commences functioning in the coming years, will double ISRO’s lifting power for communications satellites to 4,000 kilos.
Vital stage
· In a few days from now, the rocket’s complete cryogenic third stage, replete with fuel tanks and systems built around the engine, will undergo its qualifying test
· The cryogenic stage is vital for a GSLV rocket as it gets its final and biggest push in space from this stage; it can take a big communications satellite to higher reaches of 36,000 km above ground. The C25 cryogenic stage was approved at an estimated ?600 crore as part of the overall H 2,500-crore MkIII launcher project.
2. Indian now an associate member of CERN
· India became an Associate member of CERN on Monday with the Indian government completing its internal approval procedures in respect of the agreement it had signed with CERN on November 21, 2016.
· As an Associate member India will have full access to all data generated at CERN. As there are many experiments in CERN, there will be plenty of information available. When we were not an Associate member, India could data only from those experiments where we were participating
· India can now participate in all experiments. We may have to pay additional charges for participating in the experiments. We can choose the experiments where India wants to participate.
· Whenever any CERN facilities get upgraded and go through maintenance, it will provide opportunities for Indian industries to participate.
· Indian industry will be entitled to bid for CERN contracts, which will allow it to work in areas of advanced technology.
· So the “Make in India” will get a boost due to CERN,
· Since Indian scientists will become eligible for staff appointments, it will enhance the participation of young scientists and engineers in operation and maintenance of various CERN projects.
· “Indian scientists and engineers working in CERN will learn how to operate and maintain the facilities. So when they return it will be useful for India
· India has to pay about Rs. 40 crore a year as an Associate member. It is a small fee compared to the huge scientific and commercial benefits that India will stand to gain.
· India has been actively involved in CERN’s scientific activities for over 50 years. “Indian physicists, engineers and technicians have made substantial contributions to the construction of the LHC accelerator and to the ALICE and CMS experiments, as well as to accelerator R&D projects
· In 1991, India and CERN signed a Cooperation Agreement, setting priorities for scientific and technical cooperation. India and CERN have signed several other protocols since then.
· But India’s involvement in CERN began in the 1960s with researchers from the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai participating in experiments at CERN. In the 1990s scientists from Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology, Indore too got involved in CERN experiment. Researchers from TIFR, Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology and other institutes built components for an accelerator (LEP) and detectors (L3, WA93 and WA89). India was granted Observer status to the CERN Council in 2002.
· The CERN convention was signed in 1953 by the 12 founding state. Currently, CERN has 22 member states. Besides India, Turkey, Pakistan, Ukraine are Associate members and Serbia and Cyprus are associate members in the pre-stage to membership.
MISCELLANEOUS
1. Centre allows girls access to life saving TB drugs
· The teenage girl suffering from life-threatening Tuberculosis will finally get access to the life-saving drug Bedaquiline (BDQ).
· The 18-year-old will now be administered Bedaquiline
· The government will make available a full course of BDQ through KEM Hospital, Mumbai, which is one of the six sites in India for drug administration. Following the decision, Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva disposed of the petition while accepting the order reached by the parties.
· The Centre made it clear that the drug would be administered under the supervision of the girl's personal physician who would be monitoring her situation for any cardio-toxicity.
Administrative process
· Despite the consensus reached, the patient and her doctor will still need to go through administrative processes before the treatment can begin. As per the agreement, though the Centre has agreed to provide a full course of BDQ to the girl, her doctor or the family will first need to make an application before the Drug Controller General of India to obtain/ import BDQ from the U.S. firm under the Compassionate Use basis.
· The Drug Controller will then process the same, following which the girl's doctor will make a request to the U.S. firm, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a unit of Johnson & Johnson, for importing BDQ
· The parties agreed that since the drug is available with the government in a limited quantity and given on a case-by-case basis, as and when BDQ is sent by Janssen Pharmaceuticals to Dr. Udwadia, it will be handed over to KEM Hospital for replenishment of its stock.
· Meanwhile, the National Institute of TB and Respiratory Diseases (NITRD) clarified before the court that domicile or the residence of the patient was not and has never been a criterion for turning away a TB patient in need of BDQ.
· Dr. Udwadia had suggested a regimen of BDQ, capreomycin, Moxiflocin, Clofazimine, Thioridazine, Linezolid and delamanid. The NITRD, however, said the regimen was not effective.
· Initially the NITRD had refused to administer BDQ without proper tests but the girl's deteriorating condition didn't allow waiting for the test results which would have taken over a month. Later, NITRD agreed on giving the drug but by then, the girl had been shifted to Mumbai.
