Current Affairs 6th August 2017

Current Affairs 6th August 2017 - Important Points

• First environmental research satellite launched by Israel on - 2nd August 2017
• India’s first private missile production facility unveiled in Hyderabad on - 3rd August 2017

Current Affairs 6th August 2017 - Details

First environmental research satellite launched by Israel on - 2nd August 2017

Venus, the first Israeli satellite for environmental research was launched on 2nd August 2017 from the European spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.
It is a joint effort of the Israel Space Agency and the French Space Agency (CNES). The Israel Aerospace Industries built this satellite in Israel.
Venus is considered the smallest satellite of its kind on the planet, crafted to survey and monitor large areas to study vegetation,soil, forests, water, agriculture and air quality and other aspects of the environment.

Important highlights of Venus

• Venus (265 kilograms)is for Vegetation and Environment monitoring on a New (µ) Micro-Satellite launched on a Vega platform.
• The satellite took one hour, 37 minutes and 18 seconds to reach orbit, and two days to reach sun-synchronized orbit at an altitude of 720 kilometers.
• The first images captured by the satellite was received in a week after its launching.
• The satellite is meant to remain in operation for four and a half years, after which it will be shifted to a lower orbit.
• Venus will be orbiting the earth 29 times in 48 hours.
• It will also be capturing dozens of photographs every day, each one covering 730 square kilometers.

India’s first private missile production facility unveiled in Hyderabad on - 3rd August 2017

India’s first private sector missile sub-systems manufacturing facility, Kalyani Rafael Advanced Systems (KRAS) plant was
inaugurated at the Hardware Park in Rangareddy district near Hyderabad on 3rd August 2017.
The facility is a joint venture between Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defence Systems Ltd. and India’s Kalyani Group. It has been established in line with the Union government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative and the policy to encourage private sector participation in defense production.

Important Highlights

• Kalyani Groups holds 51 percent stake in the project while the Israel-based company owns 49 percent stake.
• The joint venture will going to invest in developing, designing and manufacturing of weapon systems including ATGM (Anti-Tank Guided Missile) systems and remote weapon systems.
• Covering an area of 24 thousand square feet, the unit is set to roll out tandem warhead, portable anti-tank missile systems and also Spike missiles, where its range lies between 2 km and 10 km depending on the mode of transportation.
• The unit also has a night vision capacity making the weapon deadly accurate even at night time.
• In addition to supplying help to the Indian Army, the unit is aiming to extend support to the South East Asian countries.
• Telangana Industries and IT Minister K.T. Rama Rao inaugurated the facility in the presence of Israeli Ambassador Daniel Carmon.