The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi will install a Technology Innovation Hub (TIH) under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS). The Technology Innovation Hub will be installed with the help of Rs 7.25 crore sanctioned by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) to IIT Mandi.
According to the Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Jitendra Singh, a possible schedule for the launch of Chandrayaan-3 is decided to be implemented in the first half of 2021. The preparation of Chandrayaan-3 has been done by taking lessons from the previously launched Chandrayaan-2, a Moon mission which was launched in 2019, in which the Indian Space and Research Organisation (ISRO)’s Vikram Lander lost contact following a hard landing on the Moon’s surface. Chandrayaan-3 will be designed to uplift design, capacity with a cost of around Rs 610 crore, including Rs 360 crore for the launch rocket.
An helpline number has been released for women students, researchers, entrepreneurs and scientists on international women’s day on March 8. The Helpline No. 011-2656 5285 would clear doubts cleared related to programs of Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST). Now, this Helpline will give handholding to women scientists in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and will be available during office hours (09:30 am to 05:30 pm) during working days.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) declared the name of the 5th Mars (red planet) rover as Perseverance. Previously the rover was known by its code name as Mars 2020. The name was given by Alexander Mather, 7th standard student and was declared by Nasa’s director of science, Thomas Zurbuchen at an event in Lake Braddock Secondary School in Burke, Virginia. The Perseverance rover will be the 5th exploratory vehicle after Sojourner, Spirit, Opportunity and Curiosity.
The International Advanced Research for Powder Metallurgy & New Materials (ARCI), Hyderabad has prepared a fuel cell technology called Polymer Electrolyte Membrane fuel cells (PEMFC). The Polymer Electrolyte Membrane fuel cells has been developed by ARCI in the power range of 1 to 20 kiloWatt (kW). The in-house PEMFC system has operational capability at low-temperatures with applications in decentralized power generation systems.