SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
China launched 20th Satellite for its Navigation system
China on 30 September 2015 launched a 20th new generation satellite for the BeiDou Navigation system (BDS) into orbit that will support it’s global navigation and positioning network. The satellite was launched from Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in the South Western Province of Sichuan. A Long March-3 B carrier rocket carried the satellite. It was the first time that the satellite featured a hydrogen atomic clock.
NASA’s New Horizons found blue skies and water ice on Pluto
The first colour images of Pluto’s atmosphere returned by NASA’s New Horizon Spacecraft has revealed a blue skies and numerous small exposed regions of water ice. Scientists say a blue sky often results from scattering of sunlight by very small particles. On Earth those particles are very tiny nitrogen molecules. On Pluto they appear to be larger but still relatively small soot-like particles. The Haze particles are grey or red, but the way they scatter, the blue light attracted the attention of the New Horizon.
ARSAT2 is a second communication satellite launched by Argentina
ARSAT2 is a second communication satellite launched by Argentina. The country’s previous telecommunications satellite, ARSAT1, was sent up nearly a year ago, when Argentina became the first Latin American country to develop and launch a telecommunications satellite into orbit.