In News 
NASA Satellite Technology Goes Down on the Farm
Some of the people closest to the land will be the first to benefit from a new global positioning technology developed to make NASA satellites more efficient and cost-effective. Farmers will soon get the chance to put the new system to the test through a partnership between NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Calif., and NavCom Technology Inc. Tractors will be equipped with receivers providing instant location information, which is vital for precision farming. The technology will allow farmers to navigate fields at night and when visibility is poor. More importantly, with soil sensors and other monitors, it will let them calculate and map out precisely where their fields may need more water, fertilizer or weed control, saving both time and money. The system combines software developed by JPL and real- time GPS data from the NASA Global GPS Network to produce corrections to the GPS orbits and clocks. These corrections are broadcast to people using communication satellites operated by NavCom, which has licensed the Internet-based Global Differential GPS software from JPL's parent institution, the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena.
|
Top Stories
|
Pakistan concludes Indus dolphin survey
Braving gruelling and hostile heat, a team of biologists have completed a seven-week expedition survey and spotted at least 965 Indus Dolphins in lower reaches of the Indus River in Pakistan. The team, comprising biologists from Worldwide Fund for Nature, and the government officials has concluded that there are at least 1,000 of these unique mammals left in Pakistan in the lower reaches of the Indus River. Led by WWF's cetacean (whale and dolphin) specialist, Gill Braulik, the team travelled slowly by boat down the length of the Indus River from the town of Kalabagh in Punjab to the city of Hyderabad in Sindh. They used state-of-the-art global positioning system GPS equipment and satellite images of the river system to pinpoint and record where, when and how many of the dolphins were seen. This detailed data will enable conservationists to carefully plan and implement a strategy to secure the future of the blind dolphins.
Visit: http://www.jang.com.pk
Russia still trying to restore control over four satellites
Russia had still not restored control over four military satellites on Friday, May 11, despite making contact for the first time since a devastating fire at a mission control centre of its armed forces' space division. Commander of the Russian Space Forces, General Anatoly Perminov said,
"Regular work with the satellites may be resumed shortly." A blaze broke out in the early hours of Thursday at the centre in the Kaluga region southwest of Moscow, destroying the building and severing communications links with the four satellites. The division is responsible for the launch of both military and commercial satellites. Like other sectors of Russia's armed forces, the space division has been forced by lack of funds to continue using ageing equipment well beyond its intended lifespan.
KVH TACNAV-II Selected for French Army Vehicles
KVH Industries has announced they had received a contract from Giat Industries (France) to integrate the new KVH TACNAV-II Tactical Navigation System with Giat Industries's Systeme d'Information Terminal, (SIT-VI), Battlefield Management System (BMS). Giat Industries awarded this contract to KVH as part of an upgrade project for the French Army's AMX-10RC and VBL armored vehicles. The SIT-VI system will enable the exchange of digitized data between vehicle and command forces on the battlefield. KVH's contract is worth over $2.7 million. KVH's TACNAV-II is a fiber optic gyro-based tactical navigation system that is integrated with a vehicle's odometer, GPS, and BMS. The TACNAV-II combines GPS position data with its own built-in kalman filtered dead reckoning calculation using inputs from its fiber optic gyro, optional digital compass, and the vehicle's odometer.
Visit: http://www.giat-industries.fr/ & http://www.kvh.com/
China First Satellite Guided Handheld Computer on Show
China's first satellite guided handheld computer showcased in "Haier Sci-Tech Festival", according to Chinese paper People's Daily. Haier Group, China's largest electric appliance enterprise, introduced its first satellite-guided handheld computer with independent Intellectual property rights. It is the only satellite-guided one of the country, which contains large capacity of electronic map data for practical use. As said, the new computer by combining the technology of GPS, GIS, database and handheld computer in one entity, has succeeded in solving such thorny problem as running GPS, GIS software and processing large capacity of electronic map data in handheld computers, the universally acknowledged hard-nut to crack in technology.
Alcatel, ESA bags largest single European space-science contract
The largest single European space-science contract ever awarded is about to be signed between Alcatel Space and the European Space Agency (ESA), according to Alcatel and ESA officials.
The contract, valued at 369 million euros ($332 million), is for the design, construction, launch and in-orbit testing of ESA's Herschel and Planck astronomy satellites, which will have a common design and be launched together on an Ariane 5 rocket in 2007. The Herschel space observatory will be the first space observatory covering the full far infrared and sub-millimeter waveband to study the formation and evolution of stars and galaxies and is named after Sir William Herschel, the discoverer of infrared light. Planck's mission is to study cosmic background radiation for clues to the origin of the universe and is named after physicist Max Planck. The satellites will separate once in orbit and be operated as distinct missions. Under ESA policy, the agency is responsible for construction, launch and operation of the satellites, but individual ESA member states finance and develop ESA science satellite instruments on their own.
Carl Reed Joins OGC as Director of Specification Programs
Dr. Carl Reed has joined the Open GIS Consortium as Director of Specification Programs. Dr. Reed joins the OGC with over 30 years experience in the GIS and location services industries. Prior to joining the OGC, Dr. Reed was a senior executive at Intergraph, Genasys and Autometric. Dr. Reed will manage the OGC Technical Committee process, focusing on the mission of developing formal OpenGIS Specifications. He will also facilitate the strategic planning initiatives of the OGC Planning Committee. Dr. Reed will oversee the management and publication of technical documentation, support OGC's Interoperability Program and integrate the specification program with all other aspects of OGC business.
|
India News
|
Lack of satellite Imagery, Difficult Terrain Led to
Nandita Judge's Chopper Crash
With one of most difficult terrains to negotiate coupled with a lack of satellite imagery weather forecast service at key stations, the north east regions is a virtual hazard for flying machines.
After the recent crash of M1 17 chopper in Arunachal Pradesh, the latest victim is the twin engine French Dauphin helicopter carrying the Times of India Deputy MD Nandita Judge and State Education Minister Dera Natung.
With weather changing in the North East within minutes, it was a delayed weather forecast which probably trapped pilot VK Dhir in dense clouds and subsequently his chopper was hit by heavy rains and winds.
Experts are of the view that the pilot had two options in the given situation - either to fly above the clouds or below it. "It seems that he opted to descend, lost height and due to zero, visibility finally hit a steep hillock, observes a former Air Force helicopter pilot and colleague of Group Captian Dhir.
Sources said that when captain Dhir took off from Itanagar at 10.25 am on Tuesday, the MET office had predicted good weather. But in the North East, unlike in Delhi or Mumbai, at most of the civil stations the MET or the ATC get report at a interval of one hour due to lack of satellite in formations service.
It seems that a few minutes later the weather changed due to heavy moisture in the air resulting in thick clouds. The pilot who got stuck in the situation seems to have lost heigh and hit some object 8-10 minutes after he lost contact with Tezpur ATC. Let's wait for the DGCA enquiry," says a senior ATC official.
Regarding airworthiness of the machine, sources in the Pawan Hans said that the twin engine Dauphin, fitted with latest avionic, was in good condition, Pawan Hans which has a fleet of 20 Dauphins (now 19) had leased the helicopter to Arunachal Pradesh Government.
Besides the French machines, Pawan Hans also has a few Russian MI 17s manufactured by Kaza Helicopter Factory. "There had been shortage of spares for MI 17s but Dauphins were in good condition. The possibility of midair engine or rotor failure is ruled out," said a source.
Source : The Pioneer, 12 may, 2001
"E-governance must be rooted in reality"
New Delhi: E-governance cannot be isolated from the socio-economic and political realities existing on the ground as is being done by many State Governments, according to a leading IT expert.
"Information technology, as seen in Andhra Pradesh, is for providing leverage to the all-round development efforts being made for the people. Where the focus is not only on exports or employment generation but also on improving the quality of life of people," Mr. Srivastsa, who was behind Andhra's IT blueprint, said at a function organized by the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation on the occasion of Technology Day.
Rejecting the general perception that the Andhra Pradesh Government had spent large sums to promote the IT industry in the State, Mr. Krishna said that the key to the success was to strategic partnership with the private sector as in the case of the establish meant of Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIITs) and other educational institutions, Cyberabad and Hitec City.
"While the Government's role has been that of an enabler and a facilitator in these cases, it is definitely spending for providing welfare services to the people through e-governance which is justified," he said - Agencies.
Business Line, May 12, 2001
Team to crack down on quacks
A Task force to take action against quacks in the Capital has been formed, Delhi health and family welfare ministry Dr. A. K. Walia has announced. The task force has members of the Delhi Medical Council, Delhi Indian System of Medical Council, Homeopathic Medical Board, Drug Control Department and the Delhi Police and the Chief Medical Officer, anti-quackery cell, Directorate of Health Services is its nodal officer. Complaints against quacks can be registered at 3328143. The government has made it mandatory for doctors practicing in Delhi to register.
The Indian Express, May 12, 2001
India, France plan satellite mission
Mumbai: India and France have teamed up t execute a joint satellite mission to carry out atmospheric research, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) announced here on Friday.
ISRO would launch the satellite on its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle towards the end of 2005.
The satellite will be controlled in orbit by CNES and the scientific data will be received and distributed by ISRO.
ISRO chairman K. Kasturirangan and CNES, Bensoussan, president of the French space agency have signed a memorandum for joint satellite programme.. The satellite has been called "Megha Tropiques" to focus on the Indo-French team work
The Times of India, May 12,.2001
|
|
|
|
