What’s in Today’s Article?

• Key Highlights of the ISRO’s CROPS Mission
• What is the POEM-4 Platform?
• What is the SpaDeX Mission?
• Conclusion

Why in News?

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has achieved a groundbreaking milestone in space agriculture with its Compact Research Module for Orbital Plant Studies (CROPS) aboard the PSLV-C60 mission.
• The successful germination of cowpea seeds in space marks a major step in understanding plant biology in microgravity conditions.

Key Highlights of the ISRO’s CROPS Mission:

• About: The CROPS payload, developed by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), is envisioned as a multi-phase platform to develop and evolve ISRO’s capabilities for growing and sustaining flora in extra-terrestrial environments.
• Successful germination in space:
  • Launch details: The CROPS experiment was launched on December 30, 2024, aboard ISRO's PSLV-C60 mission.
  • Experiment setup: Cowpea seeds were housed in the POEM-4 platform, which repurposes the PSLV rocket’s fourth stage for scientific research.
  • Results: Within four days of launch, eight cowpea seeds sprouted their first leaves, demonstrating plant growth potential in space.
• Significance of the CROPS experiment:
  • Understanding microgravity effects: The experiment provides crucial insights into how plants adapt and grow in the unique environment of space.
  • Supporting deep space exploration: Insights from the CROPS experiment are essential for long-duration missions, such as those to Mars, by helping develop sustainable life support systems.
  • Contributions to astrobotany: The successful sprouting of seeds enhances global research on growing food in extraterrestrial environments.
• Broader implications: (POEM-4 and collaborative research)
  • Payload diversity: The POEM-4 module carries 24 payloads, including experiments from ISRO and academic institutions.
  • Public-private collaboration: The mission underscores the importance of cooperation between government and private entities to advance space science.
• Future applications:
  • Ensuring food security in space: The data from this experiment could pave the way for sustainable agricultural systems in space, ensuring food availability for astronauts on extended missions.
  • Deep space mission readiness: Research like CROPS is instrumental for humanity’s ambitious goals of Mars colonization and beyond.

What is the POEM-4 Platform?

• About:
  • Also known as PSLV Orbital Experiment Module (POEM)-4, it is a space research platform that uses the spent fourth stage of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) to conduct experiments in microgravity.
  • It is part of the ISRO SpaDeX Mission, and is the fourth deployment of the POEM platform. It has a capacity that is three times greater than the previous POEM-3 platform.
• Other facts:
  • Experiments: Includes experiments on robotics, sensors, space science, and proof-of-concept technologies.
  • Benefits: Helps validate technologies for future missions, and provides data for space medicine and Earth applications.
  • Payloads: 24 payloads from ISRO, start-ups, and educational institutions.
• Some of the payloads on the POEM-4 platform include:
  • Walking Robotic Arm (RRM-TD): A robotic manipulator that can move in an inchworm-like motion for inspection and servicing.
  • Debris Capture Robotic Manipulator: A VSSC innovation that can capture and manipulate debris to help with space clean-up.
  • Gradient Control Reaction Wheel Assembly (RWA): An IISU payload that uses reaction wheels to improve the POEM platform's attitude stabilization.

What is the SpaDeX Mission?

• SpaDeX mission is a cost-effective technology demonstrator mission for the demonstration of in-space docking using two small spacecraft launched by PSLV.
• This technology is essential for India’s space ambitions such as Indian on Moon, sample return from the Moon, the building and operation of Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS), etc.
• In-space docking technology is essential when multiple rocket launches are required to achieve common mission objectives.
• Through this mission, India is marching towards becoming the fourth country in the world to have space docking technology.

Conclusion:

• ISRO’s CROPS experiment represents a significant leap in space research, demonstrating India's capability in astrobotany and its commitment to addressing the challenges of long-term space exploration.
• The successful germination of cowpea seeds aboard the PSLV-C60 mission sets the stage for further advancements in sustainable space agriculture and deep-space missions.

Q.1. What are the effects of microgravity in space?

Microgravity refers to the condition where gravity seems to be very small. In microgravity, astronauts can float in their spacecraft – or outside, on a spacewalk.

Q.2. What is the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS)?

The BAS is India's first modular space station, which will be operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The station will be used for scientific research, including life sciences, medicine, and space technology.

Source: TH | ToI | ISRO

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in News?
• Unexpected Water Flow in Jaisalmer During Tube Well Drilling
• Understanding Artesian Aquifers
• Artesian Aquifers in the Desert Region

Why in News?

Residents of Taranagar village in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, experienced a unique phenomenon from December 27 to December 29, when large amounts of water unexpectedly gushed out from underground. The flow stopped naturally without any external intervention. 

Social media speculated the event's connection to the Saraswati River, referenced in ancient texts like the Rig Veda and believed to have flowed through the region in the past. Experts do not consider this to be linked with the Saraswati River. They believe that this water is millions of years old and in no way linked with the river.

Unexpected Water Flow in Jaisalmer During Tube Well Drilling

• Incident Details
  • In the Mohangarh area of Jaisalmer, a farmer hired a firm to dig a tube well on December 27. 
  • After reaching a depth of 850 feet, water began gushing out at high pressure, trapping a truck and a drilling machine. 
  • Around 25 bighas of land nearby were submerged due to the water flow, which also created a large pit.
• Gas Release
  • A small amount of non-inflammable gas accompanied the water flow.
• Experts Explanation
  • Geologists at Rajasthan's State Ground Water Department, explained the phenomenon as an "artesian condition," where water flows naturally due to underground pressure.

Understanding Artesian Aquifers

• Definition of Artesian Aquifer:
  • According to the United States Geological Survey, an artesian aquifer stores water under pressure between impermeable layers of sediment and soil below the Earth's surface. 
  • It is also referred to as “confined” water due to the presence of hardy materials above and below it.
• Key Characteristics:
  • Confined Water: The water is confined in layers of rock or soil, creating pressure that forces it to the surface when tapped.
  • Natural Flow: Due to the underground pressure, water can flow freely from the well once it is drilled, often without the need for a pump.
  • Depth: Artesian wells typically tap into deeper underground sources compared to regular wells.
• Formation
  • Artesian wells are formed when water from a higher elevation is trapped between two impermeable layers, and the pressure from the surrounding rock forces it upward when a hole or well is drilled.
  • Artesian wells are commonly found in areas with specific geological conditions, and they can provide a steady flow of water for various uses, including irrigation and drinking water.
• Difference from Normal Wells
  • Unlike regular tube wells or wells, artesian water can naturally sprout from underground due to high pressure. 
  • This water is located deeper below the surface and is surrounded by poorly permeable rocks that trap the pressure. 
  • Drilling or rupturing the confining layers releases this pressure, forcing water upward.

Artesian Aquifers in the Desert Region

• Water Confined Under Sandstone Layers
  • In desert areas, water is trapped beneath a geological layer of sandstone. 
  • When this top layer is punctured, water flows upward due to intense underground pressure.
• Unique Observation in Taranagar
  • While this phenomenon has been seen in places like Mohangarh and Nachana Samiti Panchayat in Rajasthan, the intensity of water flow observed in Taranagar was unprecedented.
• Global Occurrence of Artesian Phenomena
  • Similar artesian conditions have been documented in desert regions of Australia and Africa.

Q.1. What caused the water to gush out in Taranagar, Rajasthan?

The water flow in Taranagar was caused by an artesian condition, where pressurized underground water naturally surged upwards after drilling punctured the sandstone layers beneath the surface.

Q.2. How does an artesian aquifer work?

Artesian aquifers store water under pressure between impermeable layers. When a well is drilled, the pressure forces the water to the surface without needing a pump.

Source: IE

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in News?
• Key Legal Barriers to Indo-US Civil Nuclear Deal
• Indo-US Civil Nuclear Collaboration: Opportunities
• US eases curbs to push nuclear deal – Key highlights

Why in News?

The US is finalizing measures to ease regulations hindering civil nuclear cooperation with India, as part of advancing the Indo-US nuclear deal. 

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan announced plans to remove Indian government entities, including Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Indira Gandhi Atomic Research Centre (IGCAR), and Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL), from the US entity list. 

This move aims to facilitate collaboration between India's nuclear institutions and US companies.

What is US Entity List?

• About
  • The US Entity List includes foreign individuals, businesses, and organizations subject to export restrictions and licensing requirements for specific goods and technologies.
• Purpose of the List
  • Compiled by the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) under the U.S. Department of Commerce, it aims to prevent unauthorized trade that could support:
    • Terrorism
    • Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) programs
    • Activities against US foreign policy or national security interests.

Indo-US Civil Nuclear Deal

• About
  • The Indo-US Civil Nuclear Deal, signed in 2008, marked a watershed moment in India-US relations. 
  • It allowed India to engage in nuclear trade despite not being a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). 
  • The agreement granted India access to nuclear fuel, reactors, and technology for civilian purposes while committing to the separation of its civilian and military nuclear programs under IAEA safeguards.
• Progress
  • The deal received initial enthusiasm, leading to amendments in US laws like the Hyde Act to accommodate India's unique status.
  • India signed agreements with several countries for nuclear fuel and reactor technologies.
  • However, the operationalization of the agreement has been slow, with limited progress in the construction of nuclear reactors or the flow of significant US investments.
• Why Progress Has Been Slow
  • Key Legal Barriers (discussed separately in following sections)
  • High Costs: Setting up nuclear reactors involves significant costs, making nuclear energy less competitive.
  • Regulatory and Bureaucratic Hurdles: Long-standing regulatory issues, including delays in clearances and approvals, have hindered progress.
  • Public Opposition: Concerns over nuclear safety, particularly after incidents like the Fukushima disaster (2011), have slowed reactor projects due to protests and resistance.
  • Geopolitical Factors: Divergences over non-proliferation commitments and strategic priorities, as well as legacy issues in bilateral relations, have created friction.
• Technological Constraints in India’s Nuclear Programme
  • India’s civil nuclear programme primarily relies on Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) using heavy water and natural uranium.
  • PHWRs are becoming outdated compared to the more widely adopted Light Water Reactors (LWRs), where the US, Russia, and France lead in technology.

Key Legal Barriers to Indo-US Civil Nuclear Deal

• US Regulatory Impediments (10CFR810):
  • Part 810 of Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, under the US Atomic Energy Act of 1954, restricts US nuclear vendors from manufacturing equipment or performing nuclear design work in India.
  • This limitation hinders India’s aspiration to participate in the manufacturing value chain and co-produce nuclear components for joint projects.
• India’s Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010:
  • The Act holds suppliers liable for damages in case of a nuclear accident, deterring foreign vendors like GE-Hitachi, Westinghouse, and Orano from investing in India’s nuclear sector.
  • Concerns about future liability remain a significant hurdle for international players.

Indo-US Civil Nuclear Collaboration: Opportunities

• The Role of iCET in Strengthening Collaboration
  • The US-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) aims to address these barriers by fostering innovation and enabling joint manufacturing of nuclear components.
  • A breakthrough under iCET could facilitate deployment of American atomic reactors in India and enhance mutual cooperation.
• India’s Push for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)
  • India is positioning itself as a manufacturing hub for nuclear reactors, particularly SMRs with capacities between 30 MWe and 300 MWe.
  • SMRs are cost-effective and scalable, making them attractive for global markets, especially in the Global South.
  • China, however, is actively working to dominate the SMR industry, posing stiff competition to India and the US.
• Collaboration in Light Water Reactors (LWRs)
  • India could gain access to advanced LWR technology, addressing its technological constraints.
  • The US could leverage India’s cost-efficient manufacturing ecosystem to offset its high labour costs and protectionist policies.
  • Collaboration could strengthen both nations’ ability to compete with China in the global nuclear reactor market.

US eases curbs to push nuclear deal – Key Highlights

• Challenges in Bilateral Relations
• Sullivan acknowledged challenges in trade, human rights, and rule of law but emphasized long-term strategic alignment between the two nations.
• Reducing Dependency on China
• Sullivan criticized China’s “predatory industrial strategies” in sectors like chip manufacturing and clean energy.
• US companies, including Apple, are diversifying supply chains and expanding into India, with over 25% of iPhones expected to be made in India soon.
• Sullivan stressed the importance of India-US collaboration to safeguard critical supply chains and technologies.
• Ensuring Dual-Use Technologies’ Security
• Sullivan highlighted the need to prevent advanced technologies from falling into the wrong hands, referencing Russia and its S-400 air defence system.
• He underscored India-US cooperation for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Q.1. Why is the US easing restrictions on India's nuclear sector?

The US is removing key Indian entities from its entity list to promote collaboration in nuclear technology and reactors, advancing the Indo-US civil nuclear deal and facilitating joint ventures in the nuclear sector.

Q.2. What are the key barriers to Indo-US nuclear cooperation?

Key barriers include US regulations on nuclear exports (10CFR810) and India's Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, which deters foreign investment due to concerns about potential liability in case of accidents.

Source: IE | IE | IT