Water Cycle In Ultrahot Jupiters

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Know About Ultrahot Jupiters And The Amazing Water Cycle Occuring In Them

The advancement in space science and technology is leading to ground breaking research and development in the field of space exploration by different space agencies worldwide. Astrophysicists are always curious to find, observe and study different exoplanets outside our solar system. In April this year, one of the leading space agency NASA launched its Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) system to study different exoplanets beyond our own solar system. Another recent achievement in the search of exoplanet by the leading space agency ISRO which made India in the list of among the top few countries to discover exoplanet beyond our own solar system. Several studies have revealed different types of exoplanets with their own unique characteristics. One new class of exoplanets spreading throughout the universe and increasingly visible to astronomers is known as 'Ultrahot Jupiter'. These immensely hot gaseous giants resemble the planet 'Jupiter' present in our solar system in shape and size but they are situated very close to their parent stars (much closer than Mercury from our sun) making them unbearably hot and thus the class name 'Ultrahot Jupiter'. One of their side face the star permanently thus having extreme weather conditions comprising of continuous sunny, extremely high temperature and no possibility of rainfall. This class of exoplanet show unique atmospheric characteristics than other classes of exoplanet due to lack of most of the necessary molecules. 

Researchers are triggered by the undeniable fact that there is no sign of water vapor in the atmospheres of the ultahot class of planets whereas similar systems which are slightly cooler shows abundance of water vapor in their atmospheres. A new theoretical study based on observations by NASA's Spitzer and Hubble space telescopes coupled with computer simulations have tried to solve the cause of this surprising scenario. They have stated that Ultrahot Jupiters do have atoms of hydrogen and oxygen required to form water vapor already present in its atmosphere. But the intense heat and radiation on the side of the planet facing the star broke apart the water molecules. Though it is difficult to observe the dark side of Ultrahot Jupiters, yet a model has been proposed on the phenomenon going on the dark side based on detail and repeated observations and analysis of the Ultrahot Jupiter known as WASP-121b. The study suggests that immensely heavy planetary winds shifts the broken atoms from the hotter to the dark cooler side where they can recombine to form vapor. This vapor waits till thrown again into the hotter side by the planetary winds where it will be broken apart again. This amazing water cycle occurs in such Ultrahot Jupiter types of planets and notable observation is that water molecule is not the only thing to recycle. Also  molecules of titanium oxide and aluminum oxide recycle in the dark side by forming vapor and raining down in liquid or fluid form. But still Ultrahot Jupiter's behavior are very much complex than their another counterpart known as 'Hot Jupiter'. 

ISRO Transfers Lithium Ion Cell Technology To Industries

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Technology Transfer of Lithium Ion Cell Developed By The Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) of The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) To Industries

Lithium ion batteries gained immense popularity as rechargeable batteries to be widely used in almost every electronic gadgets of daily life and in the field of telecommunication, electric vehicles,military and aerospace applications. It uses an intercalated lithium compound as one electrode material and lithium ions move from the negative electrode to the positive electrode during discharging and reverse during charging. Several researches are carried continuously being carried out worldwide for the development and improvement of lithium ion cell technology owing to their high energy density, high voltage, tiny memory effect, low self-discharge, long life cycle and characteristic of high storage. Recent progress in lithium ion cell technology has lead to its wide uses in electric vehicles and research was in progress for further development of lithium ion cell technology to use them in powering satellites and launch vehicles. A groundbreaking milestone has been achieved by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre of the Indian Space Research Organization which has indigenously  developed the lithium ion cell technology for its advance uses in powering satellites and launch vehicles in future. 

VSSC has indigenously developed lithium ion cells having capacities ranging from 1.5 Ah to 100 Ah to power satellites and launch vehicles in upcoming days. They are keen to transfer this technology to the industries for establishment of mass production facilities, keeping in mind the power storage requirement of the country in every aspects. Regarding technology transfer ISRO had issued the Request for Qualification (RFQ) in June 2018 which contains brief description of relevant details like qualification aspects, technology transfer process, timelines etc. In an overwhelming response 141 companies responded and 190 representatives from these 141 companies participated in the pre-application conference on 17th July 2018 to clear their query regarding RFQ. While addressing the gathering after inauguration, Dr. S. Somanath, Director of VSSC put emphasis on the role of batteries in space technology and the indigenously developed lithium ion cell technology can revolutionize the power storage system in any applications. He mentioned that VSSC have successfully developed, tested and qualified in the use of lithium ion cells in various applications and the transfer of technology is necessary for its mass production and application. He recommended that the buyers need to innovate and develop the base technology further to meet the specific requirement of the market.