Space Current Affairs 2024- Nov 17, 2024

Introduction

Space current affairs 2024 highlight pivotal global advancements, from ISRO’s landmark satellite launch to NASA’s AI-driven Earth Copilot, underscoring space’s evolving role.

Space Current Affairs 2024: One-liner Questions

1. What satellite is ISRO launching aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 in 2024?
2. Why did ISRO choose SpaceX’s Falcon 9 for the GSAT-N2 launch?
3. What is the mission of ISRO’s GSAT-N2 satellite?
4. How will GSAT-N2 enhance Internet services in India?
5. What is the unique feature of the GSAT-N2 satellite’s communication capabilities?
6. How does GSAT-N2 improve Internet access on flights over India?
7. What recent regulatory change allows in-flight Internet access over India?
8. What statement did China’s defense ministry make regarding space security threats?
9. How does China view the United States’ role in space militarization?
10. What is China’s stance on the weaponization of space?
11. Which tech company has NASA partnered with to develop the Earth Copilot?
12. What is the purpose of NASA’s Earth Copilot AI model?
13. How does Earth Copilot benefit researchers and scientists?
14. In what ways can educators utilize NASA’s Earth Copilot AI?
15. How will NASA’s Earth Copilot support policymakers?

Space Current Affairs 2024 Answers

1. ISRO is launching the GSAT-N2 satellite aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket in 2024.
2. ISRO opted for SpaceX’s Falcon 9 because GSAT-N2, weighing 4,700 kg, exceeds the payload capacity of ISRO’s own launch vehicle, Mark-3, which can only handle up to 4,000 kg for geostationary orbits.
3. The GSAT-N2 satellite aims to provide high-speed data and Internet services to remote areas, enhancing connectivity and supporting a larger user base across India.
4. GSAT-N2 will enhance Internet services in India by providing data connectivity to underserved and remote regions and enabling Internet access on flights over the Indian airspace.
5. GSAT-N2’s unique communication feature is its Ka-band high-throughput system, capable of delivering around 48 Gbps through 32 user beams, ensuring coverage over all of India, especially with focused beams over the Northeast.
6. GSAT-N2 will allow in-flight Internet access over Indian airspace, addressing the previous connectivity gap for passengers flying over India.
7. India recently amended regulations to permit Wi-Fi services on flights within Indian airspace, allowing Internet access above 3,000 meters altitude.
8. China’s defense ministry identified the United States as the main threat to space security, accusing it of escalating an arms race in space.
9. China claims that the United States views space as a “war-fighting domain,” and is deploying weapons while building alliances to militarize space, posing threats to global space security.
10. China opposes the weaponization of space and advocates for its peaceful use, urging the U.S. to halt military build-ups in space.
11. NASA has partnered with Microsoft to develop the Earth Copilot AI model.
12. The Earth Copilot is designed to provide easy access to NASA’s Earth Science data through an AI chatbot interface that answers complex data queries in plain language.
13. Earth Copilot will help researchers focus on analysis by simplifying data access and retrieval, enabling more efficient study of climate trends and environmental changes.
14. Educators can use Earth Copilot to engage students by demonstrating real-world applications of Earth Science, making scientific data more relatable.
15. Policymakers will benefit from Earth Copilot by accessing timely data on issues like climate change, urban planning, and disaster management.

Space Current Affairs 2024 Key Takeaways

1. ISRO’s GSAT-N2 launch with SpaceX reflects increasing global collaboration in space exploration.
2. GSAT-N2 will fill a critical gap in India’s in-flight Internet connectivity.
3. China expresses strong opposition to space militarization, particularly by the U.S.
4. NASA’s Earth Copilot AI model will democratize access to Earth Science data.
5. Earth Copilot leverages AI to transform complex data retrieval into simple language queries.
6. India’s updated aviation rules now allow in-flight Internet access above 3,000 meters.
7. GSAT-N2’s Ka-band technology will enhance India’s digital infrastructure, especially in remote areas.
8. Earth Copilot aims to support a broad range of users, from scientists to educators.
9. China’s advocacy for peaceful space aligns with its opposition to weaponized space conflicts.
10. ISRO’s launch represents a significant commercial milestone, being its first collaboration with SpaceX.

Space Current Affairs 2024: Additional One-liner Questions

16. What is the weight of the GSAT-N2 satellite being launched by ISRO?
17. Who operates the GSAT-N2 satellite and under which department does it function?
18. What are the primary benefits of using Ka-band technology in GSAT-N2?
19. How long is the expected mission life of GSAT-N2?
20. What makes GSAT-N2 India’s highest throughput satellite?
21. Why did flights have to turn off Internet services over Indian airspace before?
22. How will GSAT-N2’s spot beams contribute to India’s connectivity needs?
23. What comments did Dr. M Sankaran make about GSAT-N2’s impact?
24. What role do hub stations play in GSAT-N2’s mission?
25. What kind of queries can NASA’s Earth Copilot AI answer for users?
26. How does the Earth Copilot AI model leverage Microsoft’s technology?
27. In what way will Earth Copilot democratize space-borne data?
28. What types of users will benefit from NASA’s Earth Copilot AI platform?
29. How can agricultural experts use data from Earth Copilot?
30. What did Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella say about Earth Copilot’s impact on data accessibility?
31. What are some of the complex issues policymakers can address using Earth Copilot?
32. How will Earth Copilot change how people interact with NASA’s geospatial data?
33. Why does China view the United States as a threat in the space domain?
34. How does China propose to foster peaceful space development?

Space Current Affairs 2024: Additional Answers

16. The GSAT-N2 satellite weighs 4,700 kilograms, which necessitated the use of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 for its launch.
17. The GSAT-N2 satellite is operated by NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), under the Department of Space and ISRO’s commercial arm.
18. The Ka-band technology in GSAT-N2 provides high-throughput communication, offering faster data rates and extensive coverage, making it ideal for high-density Internet applications.
19. The expected mission life of GSAT-N2 is 14 years, ensuring long-term service for data and Internet connectivity across India.
20. GSAT-N2 is considered India’s highest throughput satellite due to its capacity to provide approximately 48 Gbps data throughput using Ka-band frequencies.
21. Previously, international flights had to turn off Internet services over India because Indian regulations did not permit in-flight Internet access.
22. GSAT-N2’s 32 spot beams will enhance connectivity by providing focused coverage, with narrow spot beams in the Northeast and wider beams for the rest of India.
23. Dr. M Sankaran stated that GSAT-N2 will fill a major gap in providing in-flight Internet over India and enhance the country’s Internet connectivity.
24. Hub stations on the Indian mainland will support GSAT-N2’s beams, ensuring smooth data transfer and connectivity for users.
25. NASA’s Earth Copilot AI can respond to complex questions on topics like climate trends, disaster monitoring, and urban planning using plain language.
26. Earth Copilot leverages Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform to process complex queries and make geospatial data more accessible.
27. The AI model will democratize access to space-borne data by making it usable for a wider audience beyond traditional researchers.
28. Researchers, educators, policymakers, and scientists are among the many users who will benefit from NASA’s Earth Copilot platform.
29. Agricultural experts can access data on soil moisture levels to optimize crop management and increase agricultural efficiency.
30. Satya Nadella emphasized that Earth Copilot makes NASA’s geospatial data more accessible by transforming how users search, analyze, and interact with it.
31. Policymakers can use Earth Copilot’s data insights for issues like climate change response, disaster preparedness, and urban development.
32. Earth Copilot simplifies interaction with complex NASA geospatial data through intuitive AI-driven responses and analytics.
33. China sees the U.S. as a space threat due to its military build-up and establishment of alliances for space dominance.
34. China proposes fostering a community of shared space interests and opposes the weaponization of space, emphasizing peaceful cooperation.

Space Current Affairs 2024: Additional Key Takeaways

11. GSAT-N2’s high throughput capacity enhances India’s digital capabilities for years to come.
12. The use of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 marks a milestone in ISRO’s commercial ventures.
13. Ka-band frequencies offer significant data transmission improvements over conventional satellite bands.
14. Earth Copilot will empower non-specialist users with simplified data access tools.
15. NASA’s collaboration with Microsoft highlights AI’s growing role in scientific data management.
16. China continues to challenge the militarization of space, emphasizing diplomacy.
17. ISRO’s technological strides demonstrate India’s commitment to connectivity innovation.
18. The partnership between NASA and Microsoft signals expanding AI applications in public data access.
19. In-flight connectivity over India showcases regulatory progress to accommodate modern needs.
20. Space security issues underscore growing geopolitical tensions and their impact on global cooperation.

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