Threshold in orbit (Mint)

Mains Paper 3: Science and Tech
Prelims level:Reusable rocket system
Mains level:Reusable rocket system and its key benefits

Context:

• A rocket system that can ferry people back and forth between earth and orbit is the threshold for the leap to the planets and the stars.

Background:

• Space entrepreneur Elon Musk, long criticised for setting unrealistic deadlines, and then criticised some more for trying to meet them with an inhuman work schedule, has done it again.
• He threatens to put a prototype of his heavy and reusable rocket Starship into orbit in six months. It’s a deadline that even the engineers of the Apollo 11 mission, who won the race to space, would have balked at, and they had a government budget and a huge space industry at their command.

Reusable rocket system:

• A reusable rocket system — rather than single-use rockets for every flight — is the Holy Grail of space exploration.
• A rocket system that .............................................

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Why is Musk in such a hurry to extend consciousness beyond earth?

• It is because he believes that consciousness is up to no good down here.
• Musk has repeatedly sounded warnings about artificial intelligence, currently the Holy Grail of communications technology, running wild.
• Even if the AIs don’t get us, climate change will. It appears certain that extreme events at shorelines will be experienced by people alive today.
• Against this grim backdrop, the sands of Mars as depicted by Edgar Rice Burroughs may seem inviting, and reaching earth orbit would be the first leg of the journey to safety.

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  General Studies Pre. Cum Mains Study Materials

Prelims Questions:

Q.1)With reference to the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), consider the following statements:
1. It is an intergovernmental organization that is composed of all African nations.
2. It was created in 1982 and was institutionalized in 1984 by the Victoria Agreement.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: ...............................................

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Mains Questions:
Q.1) Define reusable rocket system. Why is Musk in such a hurry to extend consciousness beyond earth?