Current Affairs - Technology

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) signed a Framework Memorandum of Understanding with All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, to advance research in space medicine for upcoming human space missions. The agreement was signed by Dinesh Kumar Singh, Director of the Human Space Flight Centre, and Srinivas M, Director of AIIMS, in the presence of ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan. The collaboration will focus on studying human health challenges in microgravity, including musculoskeletal atrophy, neuroscience, nutrition, immunity, and metabolic health. This partnership supports India’s long-term goals, such as developing the Bharatiya Antariksh Station and preparing for future crewed missions to the Moon.

Van Allen Probe A, part of NASA’s Van Allen Probes mission, re-entered Earth’s atmosphere on March 11 after nearly 14 years since its launch in 2012. The mission was conducted by NASA and managed by the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. The spacecraft studied the Van Allen radiation belts, which are regions of charged particles trapped by Earth’s magnetic field. One of the mission’s major discoveries was the identification of a temporary third radiation belt formed during intense solar activity. The data collected helps scientists understand space weather and its effects on satellites, astronauts, communication systems, and power grids on Earth.

Bharat Forge inaugurated a specialised Landing Gear Components Machining Facility in Mundhwa, a locality in Pune, Maharashtra. The facility has been developed in collaboration with Liebherr-Aerospace & Transportation SAS and represents a significant advancement in India’s aerospace manufacturing capabilities. It is among the first facilities in the country to operate OEM-approved landing gear machining at scale. Equipped with high-precision machining centres, the plant will manufacture critical aerospace components. This development strengthens India’s position in the global aerospace supply chain. With this facility, Bharat Forge expands its aerospace portfolio, which already includes aero-engine components, airframe structures, and landing-gear sub-systems, with future plans for an advanced aerospace ring-mill.

Bellatrix Aerospace, a Bengaluru-based space startup, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) in March 2026 to collaborate on the development of satellite systems and payloads designed for Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO). This partnership focuses on building advanced satellite platforms capable of operating at altitudes between 100 and 450 kilometers above Earth. Satellites operating in VLEO offer several advantages, including higher-resolution Earth observation, lower communication latency, and improved atmospheric and climate data collection. Additionally, the natural orbital decay in VLEO reduces long-term space debris risks and lowers launch and operational costs compared to traditional orbits like LEO, MEO, and GEO.

The municipal corporation of Thiruvananthapuram introduced the AI-powered “G-SPIDER” robotic system to carry out hazardous canal maintenance and eliminate manual scavenging. Developed by Genrobotic Innovations, the robot operates using Cable-Driven Parallel Robotics along with a biomimetic claw that can grasp and remove irregular debris from canals. The initiative is part of the Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban 2.0, aiming to achieve completely human-free cleaning of the Amayizhanchan canal. The robot is equipped with artificial intelligence that identifies different types of waste in real time and transfers the extracted materials directly to collection vehicles, ensuring safer and more efficient waste management while preventing human exposure to toxic substances.