TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
THE CONTEXT: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has organized the Bhartiya Antariksh Hackathon in celebration of National Space Day 2024.
EXPLANATION:
- This hackathon features 12 problem statements focused on Geo-Spatial Applications and invites participation from students across various educational levels.
Bhartiya Antariksh Hackathon
- The Bhartiya Antariksh Hackathon aims to foster innovation and problem-solving skills among Indian students by addressing real-world challenges in Geo-Spatial Applications.
- The problem statements have been developed by ISRO’s centers, including the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC), Space Physics Laboratory (SPL), and Space Applications Centre (SAC).
- The hackathon is open to teams of 3-4 students from undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD programs.
- This inclusive approach encourages a wide range of students to apply their knowledge and creativity to the challenges posed.
- ISRO has outlined a two-level screening process for selecting the participating teams.
- Initially, 100 teams will be shortlisted based on their ideation and relevance to the problem statements provided.
- From the shortlisted teams, an expert committee will further select 30 teams to advance to the grand finale.
- This rigorous selection process ensures that the most promising and innovative ideas are brought forward.
- The grand finale of the Bhartiya Antariksh Hackathon is scheduled to be a 30-hour marathon event.
- It will take place at the NRSC Outreach Facility in Jeedimetla, Hyderabad, starting at 10:00 hrs IST on August 13, 2024.
- Students interested in participating must submit their proposals through a dedicated web portal by July 26, 2024.
- The teams selected for the grand finale will be announced on August 2, 2024.
Aditya L1 Mission Update
- In addition to the hackathon, ISRO has provided an update on India’s first solar mission, Aditya-L1.
- The Aditya-L1 spacecraft successfully completed its first halo orbit around the Sun-Earth L1 point on July 2, 2024.
- The mission, launched on September 2 of the previous year, aims to study solar phenomena from a unique vantage point.
- The Aditya-L1 spacecraft was inserted into its targeted halo orbit on January 6, 2024.
- The spacecraft takes 178 days to complete a revolution around the L1 point.
- Throughout its journey, it encounters various perturbing forces that cause it to deviate from its targeted orbit, requiring ongoing adjustments.
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
- Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is the space agency of India.
- The organisation is involved in science, engineering and technology to harvest the benefits of outer space for India and mankind.
- ISRO is a major constituent of the Department of Space (DOS), Government of India. The department executes the Indian Space Programme primarily through various Centres or units within ISRO.
- ISRO was previously the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR), set up by the Government of India in 1962, as envisioned by Dr. VikramA Sarabhai.
- ISRO was formed on August 15, 1969, and superseded INCOSPAR with an expanded role to harness space technology. DOS was set up, and ISRO was brought under DOS in 1972.
- The prime objective of ISRO/DOS is the development and application of space technology for various national needs.
- To fulfil this objective, ISRO has established major space systems for communication, television broadcasting and meteorological services; resources monitoring and management; space-based navigation services.
- ISRO has developed satellite launch vehicles, PSLV and GSLV, to place the satellites in the required orbits.