Daily Quiz #19 UPSC Prelims Marathon – October 24, 2019

Explanation: Humans have not left Earth orbit since Apollo 17 returned from the Moon in 1972. NASA has been trying to change that since 14 January 2004, when then-president George W. Bush announced the Vision for Space Exploration, an initiative to send humans back to the Moon and eventually to land on Mars. Since then, NASA’s deep space efforts have had a number of names: Constellation (2004-2010, targeted lunar surface and Mars), Journey to Mars (2015-2018, targeted cislunar space, asteroid and Mars), and Moon to Mars (2018 to present, targeting lunar surface and Mars). Through its current Artemis program, NASA envisions sending astronauts to the lunar South Pole by 2024 and eventually establishing a permanent presence on the Moon. The program is a result of the Trump administration’s Space Policy Directive 1 and a 26 March 2019 speech by Vice President Mike Pence directing NASA to reach the Moon by 2024, 4 years earlier than its previous goal.

Explanation: A patent is granted for an invention which is a new product or process that meets conditions of novelty, non-obviousness and industrial use. Patents in India are governed by “The patent Act 1970” which was amended in 2005 to make it compliant with TRIPS.

Explanation: ASTROSAT is India’s first dedicated multi wavelength space observatory. This scientific satellite mission endeavours for a more detailed understanding of our universe. One of the unique features of ASTROSAT mission is that enables the simultaneous multi-wavelength observations of various astronomical objects with a single satellite. ASTROSAT observes universe in the optical, ultraviolet, low and high energy X-ray regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, whereas most other scientific satellites are capable of observing a narrow range of wavelength band. Multi-wavelength observations of ASTROSAT can be further extended with co-ordinated observations using other spacecraft and ground based observations. All major astronomy Institutions and some Universities in India are participating in these observations. Astrosat launched in 2015 is India’s first dedicated multi wavelength space observatory. It enables the simultaneous multi-wavelength observations of various astronomical objects with a single satellite.

Explanation: 5G is a wireless communication technology using radio waves or radio frequency (RF) energy to transmit and receive data. It is the next generation mobile networks technology after 4G LTE networks. 5G technologies will enter services gradually, beginning in 2019 and advance to a full range of services by 2024. 5G connections in India are forecasted to reach 88 million by 2025, equivalent to around 7% of the total connections base in the country. 5G will underwrite USD 12.3 trillion of global economic output by 2035, with investment in the value chain expected to generate a further USD 3.5 trillion in output and provide support for 22 million jobs by 2035.

Explanation: CPS is an interdisciplinary field that deals with the deployment of computer-based systems that do things in the physical world. It integrates sensing, computation, control and networking into physical objects and infrastructure, connecting them to the Internet and to each other. Examples of cyber physical systems are Smart Grid Networks, Smart Transportation System, Enterprise Cloud Infrastructure, Utility Service Infrastructure for Smart Cities, etc. CPS and its associated technologies, like Artificial Intelligence (Al), Internet of Things (loT), Machine Learning (ML), Deep Learning (DP), Big Data Analytics, Robotics, Quantum Computing, Quantum Communication, Quantum encryption (Quantum Key Distribution), Data Science & Predictive analytics, Cyber Security for physical infrastructure and other infrastructure plays a transformative role in almost every field of human endeavor in all sectors.