THE HINDU Editorial Vocabulary- September 12, 2016- Topic 2
The
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) crossed an important milestone with
the successful launch of weather satellite INSAT-3DR using a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle
equipped with the INDIGENOUS CRYOGENIC upper stage. The successful launch marks
a departure from the long history of failures with the GSLV; except for the
first, every launch of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), the WORKHORSE of ISRO, has been a success. That
September 8 launch marks the third consecutive
success; the fact that it is the first operational flight by the GSLV carrying
the indigenous cryogenic upper stage is confirmation that India now belongs to
the elite club of countries that have mastered the cryogenic technology.
Maintaining structural and thermal INTEGRITY
of the engine at very high temperatures during COMBUSTION just a few centimetres away from – 250° C, a temperature
at which materials behave very differently, is a huge challenge. Likewise, IGNITING a cryogenic fuel and sustaining the
combustion for a prolonged period is a DAUNTING
task. The Thursday launch had fully utilised the maximum payload carrying
capacity of the GSLV-Mk II by carrying the heaviest satellite (2,211 kg) ever
from Indian soil. This became possible only because the cryogenic upper stage
was used. Unlike solid and liquid PROPELLANTS,
the specific impulse or THRUST
provided by a cryogenic rocket stage is much higher and is therefore more
efficient to carry heavier payloads.
Unlike
in the case of the PSLV where industry participation is around 80 per cent, it
is only about half in the case of the GSLV. ISRO is a research and development
organisation and not a production organisation, but the lack of greater
industry participation has resulted in it being unable to launch more
satellites in a year using the GSLV. However, efforts are under way to change
this and ISRO has set a target of two GSLV launches in a year by 2018-2019.
Even as the GSLV-Mk II has completed its first operational flight, ISRO is busy
preparing for a ground qualification test of a more powerful GSLV-Mk III launch
vehicle in about two months. The first experimental flight using the GSLV-Mk
III is SCHEDULED to take place by the end of this year
and will use a new cryogenic engine. With an ability to provide double the thrust
compared with the current cryogenic technology, the vehicle would be able to
carry payloads up to four tonnes. This would mean that the GSLV-Mk III, when
fully operational after three-four launches, will make ISRO truly independent
by not having to RELY
on facilities abroad for launching heavier payloads. Besides independence, the
country would stand to gain TREMENDOUSLY
through cheaper launches.
::::::::::::::::::::::Meanings with example
and Synonyms::::::::::::::::::::::
Indigenous: originating or occurring
naturally in a particular place; native.
Example: The indigenous peoples of Siberia
Synonyms: native, original, aboriginal, autochthonous, local, domestic
Workhorse: a horse used for work on a farm.
Example: We experimented with teams of Percheron and Belgian workhorses
Integrity: the state of being whole and undivided.
Example: Upholding territorial integrity and national sovereignty
Synonyms: unity, unification, coherence, cohesion, togetherness
Combustion: the process of burning
something.
Example: The combustion of fossil fuels
Synonyms: burning, kindling, ignition
Igniting: catch fire or cause to catch fire.
Example: Furniture can give off lethal fumes when it ignites
Synonyms: catch fire, burst into flames, combust, be set off, explode; light
Daunting: seeming difficult to deal with in anticipation;
intimidating.
Example: A daunting task
Synonyms: intimidating, formidable, disconcerting, unnerving, unsettling
Propellants: a thing or substance that
causes something to move or be driven forward or outward, in particular.
Example: Liquid helium from a tank in the lunar module was used to assure a steady
flow of propellants to the descent engine.
Thrust: a sudden or violent lunge with a pointed weapon or a
bodily part.
Example: He drove the blade upward with one powerful thrust
Synonyms: shove, push, lunge, poke
Scheduled: arrange or plan (an event) to take place at a particular
time.
Example: The release of the single is scheduled for April
Synonyms: arrange, organize, plan, program, timetable, set
up, calendarize
Rely: depend on with full trust or confidence.
Example: I know I can rely on your discretion
Synonyms: depend on, count on, bank on, place reliance on, reckon
on
Tremendously: very great in amount, scale,
or intensity.
Example: Penny put in a tremendous amount of time
Synonyms: huge, enormous, immense, colossal, massive