Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE): It is a first-of-its-kind NASA experimental attempt aimed at studying the interactions between terrestrial and space weather. It is planned under NASA’s Heliophysics Explorers Programme. This mission will study the links between how waves in the lower layers of the atmosphere impact the upper atmosphere and, thus, space weather. It will be launched and mounted on the exterior of the Earth-orbiting International Space Station (ISS).From the vantage point, it will look down at the Earth and record the colourful light bands, commonly known as airglow. The new NASA mission will try to understand the combination of forces that drive the Space weather in the upper atmosphere. It will measure the airglow at mesopause (about 85 to 87 km above the Earth’s surface), where the atmospheric temperatures dip to minus 100 degrees Celsius. At this altitude, it is possible to capture the faint airglow in the infrared bandwidth, which appears to be the brightest, enabling easy detection. It will be able to resolve waves at finer horizontal scales than what satellites can usually see at those altitudes, which is part of what makes the mission unique. The health of the ionosphere, whose lower layers sit at the edge of space, is important for maintaining seamless communication.
Exercise VAJRA PRAHAR: It is a joint exercise conducted between the Indian Army and the US Army Special Forces. It aims at sharing best practises and experiences in areas such as joint mission planning and operational tactics. It is the 14th Edition of the Indo-US Joint Special Forces exercise “VAJRA PRAHAR 2023,” which commenced at the Joint Training Node, Umroi. The US contingent is represented by personnel from the 1st Special Forces Group (SFG) of the US Special Forces. The Indian Army contingent is led by Special Forces personnel from the Eastern Command. The first edition was conducted in 2010 in India, and the 13th edition of the Indo-US Joint Special Forces exercise was conducted at the Special Forces Training School (SFTS), Bakloh (HP).The current edition is being conducted in Umroi Cantonment, Meghalaya from 21st November to 11th December 2023.It is also a platform to enhance inter-operability and strengthen defence cooperation between the armies of India and the United States of America
SATHEE (Self Assessment Test and Help for Entrance Exams) Portal: It is a new initiative by the Ministry of Education to provide a free learning and assessment platform for students. It will help students gain access to training and coaching for competitive examinations for free. The platform aims to bridge the gap for students in society who are not able to afford the costly entrance exam guidance and coaching. It will have preparation materials for students in English, Hindi, and other regional languages of India so that students can prepare for exams like JEE and NEET. It will be useful for candidates who will be preparing for CAT, GATE, UPSC, etc. It will also allow candidates to gain experience in coaching centres. The platform will have videos made by the faculty members of IITs and IISC to help students prepare for the competitive examinations. The videos would also help students learn concepts and revise topics they are weak at. It makes use of an indigenously developed AI programme called Prutor, which was developed by IIT-Kanpur. Features include: Preparation material for entrance exams, including JEE and NEET, Video solutions in regional languages for entrance exams, JEE and NEET entrance exam preparation ideas webinars Students’ stories of struggles and achievement and Solve with me sessions.
