UPSC Current Affairs
Square Kilometer Array project
Context: Recently, India had decided to formally join the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) project, an international scientific collaboration working to build the world’s largest radio telescope. India has approved nearly Rs 1,250 crore for the project, which includes its funding contribution for the construction phase. About the Square Kilometer Array: The Square Kilometer Array will not be a single large telescope but a collection of thousands of dish antennas operating as a single unit.
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Context: Recently, India had decided to formally join the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) project, an international scientific collaboration working to build the world’s largest radio telescope. India has approved nearly Rs 1,250 crore for the project, which includes its funding contribution for the construction phase. About the Square Kilometer Array: The Square Kilometer Array will not be a single large telescope but a collection of thousands of dish antennas operating as a single unit.
Context:
- Recently, India had decided to formally join the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) project, an international scientific collaboration working to build the world’s largest radio telescope.
- India has approved nearly Rs 1,250 crore for the project, which includes its funding contribution for the construction phase.
About the Square Kilometer Array:
- The Square Kilometer Array will not be a single large telescope but a collection of thousands of dish antennas operating as a single unit.
- The name, Square Kilometer Array, comes from the original intention to create one square kilometre (one million square metre) of effective area for collecting the radio waves.
- This was meant to be achieved by installing thousands of smaller antennas in a specific array design that would make them function like a single radio telescope.
- The antennas, about 200 of them are in South Africa and more than 130,000 are in Australia, being installed in sparsely populated locations.
- The sites are chosen to ensure they are as far away from human activities as possible.
- This has been done in order to minimise signal interference from undesirable Earth-based sources.
- Once operational, SKA would be between 5 to 60 times more powerful than the most advanced existing radio telescopes functioning in comparable range of frequencies.
Benefits that would flow for India:
- Even though none of the SKA facilities would be located in India, there are immense science and technology gains for the country by participating in the project as a full member.
- In this regard, SKA offers opportunities similar to the LHC or the ITER, which too are located on foreign soil but have brought rich benefits to the Indian scientific community.
- A full member status would provide India preferential access to the SKA facilities.
- The SKA would work on highest-end technologies, including electronics, software, material science and computing.
- The intellectual properties generated by the project, though owned by the SKA Observatory, would be accessible to all the member countries.
- This can offer huge learning opportunities for scientists, academics and even private industry.
- Prelims: Key facts, institutions, locations and terminology in the article.
- Mains: Connect the topic with International Relations, Polity & Governance, Science & Technology.
- Revision: Use the article headings to prepare concise notes and answer-writing points.
Test your understanding
Questions from this article
Prelims practiceWith reference to Square Kilometer Array project, consider the following statements:
- Recently, India had decided to formally join the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) project, an international scientific collaboration working to build the world’s largest radio telescope.
- India has approved nearly Rs 1,250 crore for the project, which includes its funding contribution for the construction phase.
- The Square Kilometer Array will not be a single large telescope but a collection of thousands of dish antennas operating as a single unit.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
View answer
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3. All three statements are drawn from the article.
Mains practiceDiscuss the background, key issues and significance of Square Kilometer Array project for India.
Answer in 250 words.
View answer approach
- Context:
- About the Square Kilometer Array:
- Benefits that would flow for India:
Frequently asked questionsFrequently asked questions
Why is Square Kilometer Array Project in the news?
Context: Recently, India had decided to formally join the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) project, an international scientific collaboration working to build the world’s largest radio telescope. India has approved nearly Rs 1,250 crore for the project, which includes its funding contribution for the construction phase.
What are the key facts about Square Kilometer Array Project?
About the Square Kilometer Array: The Square Kilometer Array will not be a single large telescope but a collection of thousands of dish antennas operating as a single unit. The name, Square Kilometer Array, comes from the original intention to create one square kilometre (one million square metre) of effective area for collecting the radio waves. This was meant to be achieved by installing thousands of smaller antennas in a specific array design that would make them function like a single radio telescope.
Why is Square Kilometer Array Project important for UPSC preparation?
The topic connects current developments with International Relations, Polity & Governance, Science & Technology and is relevant for both objective revision and analytical answer writing.