Why in the News?
Polaris Dawn is set to be the first privately-funded mission to conduct a spacewalk, aiming to reach an altitude of about 700 kilometers above Earth, the highest altitude for a human space mission to date.
What is Polaris Dawn Mission?
- Polaris Dawn is a privately-funded space mission led by billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, in collaboration with SpaceX.
- It is set to be the first non-government mission to conduct a spacewalk.
- This 700km altitude will surpass the current record held by NASA’s Gemini 11 mission in 1966.
- The mission will test new spacesuits designed by SpaceX to protect astronauts from high radiation levels encountered in the Van Allen Belts.
What are the Van Allen Belts?
- The Van Allen Belts are two zones of charged particles that surround Earth, held in the magnetosphere.
- These belts were discovered in 1958 by American physicist James Van Allen.
- Inner Belt: This belt is located approximately 680 to 3,000 km above Earth’s surface and is primarily composed of high-energy protons. It is formed by cosmic rays interacting with Earth’s atmosphere.
- Outer Belt: Located about 15,000 to 20,000 km above Earth’s surface, the outer belt mainly consists of high-energy electrons captured from solar wind.
Why are the Van Allen Belts dangerous for Humans?
- The Van Allen Belts are dangerous for humans because they contain high levels of radiation that can pose significant health risks to astronauts.
- The belts are filled with charged particles that can cause radiation sickness, damage human tissues, and increase the risk of cancer.
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PYQ:
[2011] What is the difference between asteroids and comets?
- Asteroids are small rocky planetoids, while comets are formed of frozen gases held together by rocky and metallic material.
- Asteroids are found mostly between the orbits of Jupiter and Mars, while comets are found mostly between Venus and Mercury.
- Comets show a perceptible glowing tail, while asteroids do not.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3 |
