SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY jan 2017

Two NASA missions to study early Solar system

NASA has announced two ambitious missions that will look towards asteroids to unlock some of the secrets of the formation of the solar system. The new Discovery missions Lucy and Psyche are expected to launch early next decade. These missions will study such objects which are relics left over from the early beginnings of the solar system, providing new clues as to how planets and other bodies formed.

Astronomers discover powerful cosmic double Whammy

Astronomers have discovered a cosmic one-two- punch unlike any ever seen before. Two of the most powerful phenomena in the Universe, A supermassive black hole, and the collision of giant galaxy clusters, have combined to create a stupendous cosmic particle accelerator. This double Whammy is found in a pair of colliding galaxy clusters called Abell 3411 and Abell 3412 located about two billion light years from earth.

Agni-IV Missile Successfully test fired

The flight- trial of India’s long range, strategic ballistic missile, Agni-IV, on Monday from a road – mobile launcher on Abdul Kalam Island, off odisha coast, was a grand success. Agni-IV is a two stage, surface to surface missile that can travel 4,000 km and can carry a nuclear warhead weighing one tonne. Agni-V has a range more than 5000 km. The Strategic Forces Command of the Army fired the Agni – IV.