Daily Prelims 27th February 2024

PRELIMS BOOSTER 

1. ISRO’s CE-20 cryogenic engine:

Description– It is an indigenous cryogenic engine developed by ISRO that powers the cryogenic stage of the human-rated LVM3 launch vehicle for Gaganyaan mission. 

Features-
1) It is the first cryogenic engine to use the gas-generator cycle. This discards the exhaust from the pre-burner instead of sending it to the combustion chamber.  It reduces fuel efficiency. However, it makes the CE-20 engine easier to build and test. 

2) It is a vital component, serving as the powerhouse of the Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS) responsible for propelling the upper stage (C25) of the LVM3 vehicle. 

3) It achieves a higher maximum thrust (~200 kilonewton v. 73.5 kilonewton) with a shorter burn duration. 

4) It has demonstrated its capability by successfully operating at a thrust level of 19 tonnes in six successive LVM3 missions, including the Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3, and two commercial OneWeb missions. 

What does human rating of CE20 engine mean? 

Rockets that carry humans to space require ‘human-rating’. This entails testing particular components repeatedly to ensure failures happen at less than a particular rate. 

What are the highlights of ground qualification tests for the human rating of the CE20? 

1) Comprehensive evaluation– It includes life demonstration tests, endurance tests, and performance assessment under nominal operating conditions as well as off-nominal conditions relative to thrust, mixture ratio, and propellant tank pressure.
2) Hot firing test– Four CE-20 engines had been hot-fire tested for a cumulative 8,810 seconds against the minimum human rating qualification standard requirement of 6,350 seconds. 

2. Grey Zone Warfare :

1. Grey Zone Warfare is a strategy where a country tries to gain an advantage without openly going to war. 

2. It involves tactics like cyberattacks, misinformation, and economic pressure to weaken an opponent. 

3. China has been skillfully using this strategy, especially against India and neighboring countries. 

What are China’s Grey Zone Tactics against India? 

1. South China Sea Activities- China employs naval and civilian vessels to assert its control over the South China Sea. It causes tensions with neighboring countries, including India.

2. Constructing infrastructure in border areas– China builds infrastructure and establishes villages close to India’s borders. It reinforces its territorial assertions and gains strategic benefits.

3. Investments in digital technologies- China directs investments into apps, media, and various digital platforms within India. This presence in the digital sphere holds the potential to mold public perceptions and narratives.

3. Edwards Syndrome : It is also known as trisomy 18.

• It is an autosomal chromosomal disorder due to an extra copy of chromosome 18.  
• It is a very severe genetic condition that affects a child’s body development and growth. 
• Symptoms: Children diagnosed with trisomy 18 have a low birth weight, multiple birth defects and defining physical characteristics. 
• There are three types of Edwards syndrome 
• Complete trisomy 18: 

• • It is the most common form (94%). 
  • In this type, every cell contains three complete copies of chromosome 18. 
  • The extra chromosome is most often of maternal origin. 

• Mosaic trisomy 18: 

• • It is the second most common type (less than 5%). 
  • In this type, both a complete trisomy 18 and a normal cell line exist. 

• Partial trisomy 18: 

• • In this type, only a partial segment of chromosome 18 is present in triplicate. 
  • The partial triplicate often results from a balanced translocation or inversion carried by one of the parents. 

• Treatment: There are no specific treatments for trisomy 18. Treatment will focus on the symptoms of the condition, such as heart conditions, breathing difficulties and infections. 

Places In News  

1. Almora Fault:

• It is a geological fault located in Western Nepal and extends to the Uttarakhand region in India. 
• It lies on the Main Boundary Thrust (MBT) in the Himalayan fault zone.  
• There are two thrusts in Kumaon, Uttarakhand: One is the South Almora Thrust and the other is the North Almora Thrust  
• MBT (Main Boundary Thrust): It is a significant fault in the Himalayas, marking the boundary between the Lesser Himalayas and the Sub-Himalayas.