US military secret spaceplane launched from Florida for possible high orbit mission (GS Paper 3, Science and Technology)
Why in news?
- The US military's secretive X-37B robot spaceplane blasted off from Florida on its seventh mission, the first launched atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket capable of delivering it to a higher orbit than ever before.
- It came after China's own robot spaceplane, known as the Shenlong, or "Divine Dragon," was launched on its third mission to orbit since 2020, adding a new twist to the growing US-Sino rivalry in space.
X-37B mission:
- The X-37B mission is conducted by the US Space Force under the military's National Security Space Launch program.
- The Boeing-built vehicle, roughly the size of a small bus and resembling a miniature space shuttle, is built to deploy various payloads and conduct technology experiments on long-duration orbital flights.
- At the end of its mission, the craft descends back through the atmosphere to land on a runway much like an aeroplane.
- It has flown six previous missions since 2010, the first five of them carried to orbit by Atlas V rockets from United Launch Alliance, a joint venture of Boeing (BA.N) and Lockheed Martin (LMT.N), and most recently, in May 2020, atop a Falcon 9 booster furnished by Elon Musk's SpaceX.
- The current mission marked the first launched aboard SpaceX's more powerful Falcon Heavy rocket, capable of carrying payloads even heavier than the X-37B farther into space, possibly into geosynchronous orbit, more than 35,000 km above the Earth.
- The X-37B, also called the Orbital Test Vehicle, has previously been confined to flights in low-Earth orbit, at altitudes below 2,000 km.
Crop cultivation:
- The X-37B is also carrying a NASA experiment to study how plant seeds are affected by prolonged exposure to the harsh environment of radiation in space.
- The ability to cultivate crops in space has major implications for keeping astronauts nourished during future long-term missions to the moon and Mars.
What’s next?
- The X-37B mission will presumably run until June 2026 or later, given the prevailing pattern of successively longer flights.
- Its last mission remained in orbit for well over two years before a return landing in November 2022.
Houthi attacks, a threat to global shipping
(GS Paper 2, International Relation)
Why in news?
- Recently, the crisis in the Red Sea reached Indian waters as Liberian-flagged merchant vessel Chem Pluto heading to Mangalore port was hit by a projectile about 271 miles from Porbandar in Gujarat, just outside the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
- This comes in the backdrop of a sharp rise in missile and drone attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea by Houthi rebels in Yemen following Israel’s offensive against Hamas in Gaza.
What is the latest on M.V. Chem Pluto?
- The vessel with 21 Indians and one Vietnamese crew managed to sail on its power after the attack and reached Mumbai escorted by the Indian Coast Guard Ship (INGS) Vikram.
- Upon arrival, a Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal team carried out a preliminary assessment of Chem Pluto and analysis of the area of attack and debris found on the ship points towards a drone attack.
- In another instance, Gabon-flagged, Indian crewed vessel M. V. Sai Baba reported a drone attack in the Southern Red Sea and is now on its way to India.
- The twin attacks on M.V. Sai Baba and Norwegian-flagged M. V. BLAAMANEN, represent the 14th and 15th attacks on commercial shipping by Houthi militants since October 17.
How do these events impact India and the world?
- Threats to shipping in the Gulf of Aden and the region are not new as seen with episodes of Somalian pirates and the global anti-piracy efforts by several countries.
- However, the recent events represent a serious escalation that can potentially disrupt supply chains and impact economics. The Red Sea is a key shipping artery for global commerce and the Bab el-Mandeb is a critical choke point.
- Following the October 7 terror attacks on Israel by Hamas and the subsequent offensive by Israeli Defence Forces, the Houthi rebels have declared they would target all maritime commerce linked to Israel.
- What is especially worrying is their sophisticated arsenal of ballistic missiles and long range drones that are threatening maritime traffic far from the shores. The U.S. Navy has been shooting down missiles and drones in the region almost daily.
Shift in transit passage:
- About 12% of global trade passes through the Red Sea, which accounts for billions of dollars of goods and about 30% of the world’s container shipping. Access to the Red Sea requires passage through the Bab el-Mandeb, a narrow strait about 20 miles wide with Djibouti to the west and Yemen to the east.
- Following the attacks, several global shipping majors have announced their decision to avoid the route and take a longer route through the Southern Indian Ocean adding to both fuel and operating costs in addition to the time.
- For instance, shipping industry giant Maersk had begun re-routing vessels around Africa via the Cape of Good Hope.
- Recent data indicates a notable shift in transit passage in the Suez and Red Sea as Israel-flagged and owned ships increasingly avoid transiting the Red Sea due to heightened security concerns.
What is being done to address this?
- To counter the attacks and protect the free flow of commerce in the Red Sea, U.S. Secretary of Defence Lloyd J. Austin announced the establishment of Operation Prosperity Guardian (OPS), an “important new multinational security initiative under the umbrella of the Combined Maritime Forces and the leadership of its Task Force 153, which focuses on security in the Red Sea.
- Since the announcement of OPS, several companies in the last few days announced their decisions to review the re-routing.
Assistance by Indian Navy:
- From the Indian side, both the Navy and Coast Guard have increased their presence and surveillance in the region.
- Navy presently has four destroyers of Project 15B and 15A class deployed to counter piracy and drone attacks on merchant shipping.
- Further, P8I long range patrol aircraft, Dorniers, Sea Guardian Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, helicopters and Coast Guard ships are all deployed jointly to counter these threats.
- Since October 2008, the Indian Navy has continuously deployed at least one ship on anti-piracy patrol in the Gulf of Aden and since 2017 under Mission Based Deployments has deployed one capital warship each at all the critical maritime choke points into the IOR.
- Indian Navy’s Information Fusion Centre for Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) located in Gurugram is actively monitoring the region and coordination in the back end to facilitate communication where required, like between the Navy and the company when M. V. Ruen was hijacked recently in the Gulf of Aden.
Concerns:
- Indians constitute close to 15% of commercial sailors while Indian owned vessels are very few and a lot of Indian crude and cargo is carried by foreign ships.
- The fact remains that a shock to global economies in terms of delays and price rises due to the regional crisis is looming on the horizon.
PM eBus Sewa scheme and push for EVs
(GS Paper 3, Science and Technology)
Why in news?
- The government is planning to replace 800,000 diesel buses, or a third of the buses on road, with their electric substitutes in the next seven years.
- The primary objective is to substantially lower carbon emissions, fostering a shift towards sustainable and eco-friendly public transportation.
- This is a part of the government’s push to increase the number of e-buses on Indian roads.
PM-eBus Sewa Scheme:
- The Government of India rolled out the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme on August 16 with the ambitious goal of enhancing bus operations by introducing 10,000 electric buses through a public-private partnership (PPP) model.
- Priority seating and designated spaces for passengers with reduced mobility, clear pictograms for easy boarding, and the integration of wheelchair spaces with standard symbols are some of the key features under the scheme.
- Additionally, 25 percent of the buses will be equipped with hydraulic lift/ramp mechanisms for wheelchair accessibility, ensuring a safe and inclusive travel experience.
- Other features include handrails at door entrances, a passenger information system (PIS), and compliance with safety standards.
Global collaboration for eBus deployment:
- India was aiming to deploy 50,000 electric buses on its roads by 2027, and it is set to achieve this goal with the support of a collaborative financial approach with the US.
- A $390-million fund will serve as a guarantee for manufacturers seeking loans to expand their production capabilities.
- India has a fleet of only 12,000 electric buses in operation. This financial mechanism, backed by $150 million from the US government and philanthropic groups, along with $240 million from the Indian government, is hailed as a crucial element in risk management for setting up a robust financial infrastructure for large-scale electric mobility in India.
Regional rollout:
- States and Union Territories such as Maharashtra, Gujarat, Bihar and Jammu and Kashmir will be among the first to benefit from the PM-eBus Sewa scheme.
- The Centre has issued the first Request for Proposal (RFP) for the procurement, supply, operation, and maintenance of 3,600 electric buses.
- Maharashtra is slated to receive 1,453 eBuses, followed by Gujarat (425), Bihar (400), Odisha (350), Punjab (347), Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana (200 each), Chandigarh (100), Puducherry (75), and Meghalaya (50).
- The allocation is based on population density, with cities of different sizes eligible for varying numbers of eBuses.
Financial assistance:
- The Centre will provide a 10-year operational cost assistance, and funds worth Rs 6,400 crore will be allocated by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs for this initiative.
- The RFP document also outlines plans for the development of electric charging infrastructure and bus depots.
Way Forward:
- As India embarks on this transformative journey, these strategic measures not only address the pressing need for sustainable transportation but also will place the country in a leading position in the adoption of electric buses.
