Man made object which exited solar system

With recent news that “Voyager 1” left the solar heliosphere and entered the interstellar space is very interesting. It is very exciting to hear that a “manmade” object had travelled more than 21 billion KM away from the earth. Recently NASA scientists officially announced that Voyager I had entered the interstellar medium[ISM]. Interstellar region is the region which is between stars, containing ions, dust, cosmic rays. Scientists confirmed this through the density of plasma present in the path where currently the Voyager 1 is travelling. Plasma consists of charged particles and is more prevalent in the extreme cold of interstellar space than in the hot bubble of solar wind that permeates the solar system Though the Plasma measuring equipment inside the voyager 1 became defunct some 30 years ago, solar flare from the sun acted as “Blessing in Disguise” for the scientists. Solar flares are ejected often from the sun during solar cycle which happens every 11 years. In Aug 2012, When Voyager I encountered solar flare in ISM which contained high density Plasma, it echoed back to the base station some unknown high spike sound. With this huge spike of sound, NASA scientists concluded that Voyager 1 had left the solar system.

The two Voyager probes, which were launched in 1977 to study the outer planets of the solar system especially the gaseous planets like Jupiter, Saturn. Initially the voyager I was intended for just 5 years, but thanks to its reprogramming capabilities from earth made it survive more than 36 years and still functioning. Most iconic image Voyager 1 captured was presumed to be “Pale Blue Dot”. When Voyager was some 4 billion miles away from earth completing all its mission objectives, Carl Sagan the astrophysics professor (who spearheaded the project) encouraged NASA to picture the earth from that distance. Voyager 1 photographed the earth which showed earth as tiny dot of 0.12 pixels in size against vast space in background. 

Voyager 1 data functions operate with onboard memory of 66Kilobytes, which is state of art in 1977.In contrast to this, current lower end iPhone comes with 16 gigabytes of memory (a gigabyte is 1 million kilobytes), roughly 240,000 times more powerful. When Voyager 1 was launched, scientists predicted that the magnetic field of sun ends by few hundred million miles, but when voyager was travelling further and further they found it is between 10 billion and 16 billion miles.

Voyager 1 also contains gold phonographic records etched with music, greetings, sounds and images from Earth. These records are sent with intention that in future if any intelligent alien species may discover it and feel that some life is there beyond few billion miles away.Indians also should feel proud for the record as it contained the Indian classical music, the raga, Jaat Kahan Ho, sung by Surshri Kesar Bai Kerkar.

Though Voyager I power source is expected to get completely exhausted by 2025, it may still reach nearby star which is 40,000 billions away. Also chances are there that it orbit at the center of the galaxy. Apart from outer planet space mission like voyager, NASA also  launched a spacecraft namely “New Horizons” to study the Pluto in 2006. It is still travelling and some 10AU        from Pluto. In future the “New Horizons” may accomplish same feat i.e. exiting the solar heliosphere. Currently “New Horizon is travelling at the speed of 15Km/s. But Voyager rocket technology which is older in comparison to current standards travels more speed than “New Horizons” at 17Km/s. This speed it achieved because of the gravitational push it got from Saturn when it was closely inspecting the Saturn.

Voyager, 11 Billion Miles Later: Photos from the Depths of Our Solar System
http://science.time.com/2012/12/07/voyager-6-billion-miles-later-photos-from-the-depths-of-our-solar-system/photo/the-rings-of-jupiter-photographed-by-voyager-2-1979/#ixzz2fe5MMAqf

Useful Video: http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid760102458001?bckey=AQ~~,AAAAAGhEzEA~,gimxaULoaz9FgSvQK3Fpq2dT5uZsLeMs&bctid=2513635033001

Courtesy: Wikipedia,other science magazines

Line of Blood aka Line of Control

India -Pakistan relations often appears to sand house under construction in seashore. If a rogue sea wave appears in middle of house construction, entire structure is demolished without traces. Construction had to begin again from square one. After nuclear tests by India and Pakistan, whenever their respective governments reach some progress in their talks, rogue elements inside ISI and some military officials sympathized to Kashmir militants start making inroads into the peace. With Aug first week incident of killing of five Indian soldiers along the LoC, again governments of both countries  start issuing the statements that blame each other.

 India-Pakistan talks often appear to be cycle, ending in a place where it started. After 2001 India-Pakistan standoff, Musharraf and  Vajapayee reached a landmark agreement, through which they agreed to halt 14 years of cross-border gun battles in the disputed Kashmir region. This agreement applied to the 450-mile-long Line of Control, as well as the international border between India and Pakistan and the Siachen Glacier. India benefited sufficiently from this ceasefire agreement. It fortified the line of control with fencing along 550Km.Network of thermal imaging devices, motion sensors, alarms were installed to stop the infiltration attempts by militants across the border. With laying of thousands of mines along this fencing, it made near impossible for the militants who tried to sneak into Indian Kashmir. Indian army proudly said in 2005 that they are able to contain 80% of infiltration after this installation.

Though this ceasefire agreement was in place, there were few ceasefire violations happened every year as it appeared the Pakistan army tried to provide cover for the militants who try to sneak to other side of Loc. These incidents appeared to be very few every year. But year of 2013 happened to be different.

With India – Pakistan friendship series going to be concluded in first week of Jan 2012 ,some odd  news of Indian army unit killed a Pakistan soldier entering into their territory appeared in the Pakistan news lets. After the day cricket series finished, some really disturbing news of killing of 2 Indian soldiers  with bad mutilation started to appear in the Indian media. After that few Indian media went jingoistic, without showing what had actually happened in last few months in LoC, they sparked the  nationalistic passions of people. Facebook, twitter flooded with messages to attack Pakistan. Opposition party leader issuing some war mongering statement happened thereafter. 

A news story written by Praveen swami which appeared  in “The Hindu” magazine in second week of Jan 2012, appeared to show some dirty facts in this secret LoC war. There was a big interesting story behind these entire incidents which started from Sept 2012. Early in September 2012, 70-year old Reshma Bi, left the village of Charonda, near Uri, to live with her sons and grandchildren across the Line of Control covertly without being noticed by the security forces. When the  JK Police  came across this incident they alarmed the security forces indicating this  vulnerable loophole  may assist militants in successful infiltration into Indian side. Security forces understanding the situation started building a bunker at the vulnerable place to monitor the point. Pakistan army enraged and issued condemnation  after seeing the bunker construction as there was a some words in ceasefire agreement that “No” new bunkers will build along the border. With Indian army doesn’t care  about the Pakistan concern, was  in process of  construction of new bunker. With patience lost, Pakistan army started shelling along the Uri border which killed 3 villagers , 25-year-old Mohammad Shafi Khatana, 20-year-old Shaheena Bano, and a ninth-grade school student, Liaqat Ali.

On January 6, 19 Infantry Division commander Gulab Singh Rawat sought  aggressive action as Pakistan troops keep on bombarding their posts. It appears that he got the  permission as Pakistan insists its post, Sawan Patra, was raided by Indian troops next day killing its soldier. Deceided to retialite against Indian forces Pakistan chose one of the few sectors on the Line of Control where its troops have a relative tactical advantage. i.e  Krishna Ghati sector, on the southern end of the Haji Pir pass. In the  Pakistan raid, 2 indian soldiers had been killed apparently 2 bodies found to be mutilated and one body decapitated. With this dirty skirmishes happening along the border, we can understand only half truth appears across the media of respective countries.

With guns along the LoC felling silent from Feb 2013, it was again roaring  from July 2013 with killing of 1  pakistani soldier and critically injuring another. Cross border skirmishes start again with a Indian army porter killed in cross fire in July end. The incident which added further fuel to the fire was killing of 4 civilians in Pakistani side by Indian forces. Pakistan argues that they are innocent herb collectors who strayed into the other side, but Indian army argues that they are porters who help militants to cross the LoC. With this, Pakistan border action team raided across poonch sector with killing of 5 Indian soldiers widening further fissures.

After every terrorist incidents like 2001 Parliament attack, 2006 Mumbai Train attacks, 2008 Mumbai attack, Indian government is confined to option of attacking the neighboring country as it is also armed with nuclear weapons.  Opposition parties and few media in India demand stiff action against the Pakistan, without practically understanding the complex nature of the problem.               So much of blood is spilled in last years for this secret war along LoC. Let the politicians should try pragmatically to resolve the current tension without flaring further passions among the public. Mindless national Jingoism propagated by few media channel will end nowhere destining to collateral damage.Let soldiers too live in peace.Let their families too live in peace without constantly worrying for them.One of the oldest and most complex conflict  lies in the subcontinent, so its hard to expect  time bounded solution for this.

Why Maniratnam and Kamalhassan?

Recently I watched a Biographical Hindi movie namely bhaag Milkha bhaag. As I have more love for the films based on real events and biographical films, I watched this film with more zeal and passion. Film showed painful days of subcontinent partition and milkha’s determination towards the goal, though he faces many hurdles in his life. Taking a biographical or real event film involves lot of research on the topic. If any inaccuracy depicting event or person happens in the film, it will lead to big chaos and heavy criticism.Worldwide, films based on biographies or real event had increased from the last decade. In India there are very few film makers who have guts to take a historical or biographical films.

In Tamil cinema, there are 2 men whose film subjects differ from traditional subjects like Love, Action, Masala, Comedy. These 2 persons had acted as pioneers in taking the films into real time events and biographies.  One person directed a film which was listed in Time’s All-Time 100 Greatest Movies  compiled between 1923 and 2005.Another person, known for having acted in the most number of films submitted by India in contest for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. He also acted in the above movie mentioned. Yes, the 2 personalities are Mr.ManiRatnam and Mr.Kamalhassan.                    Almost like everyone, these are the 2 persons I admire most in film making in tamil cinema. These are the reasons why these people attract me 

Maniratnam started his career with films based on love initially. Though “Mouna Raagam”,another critically acclaimed love film brought his prominence to Tamil cinema, I believe It is godfathersque  “Nayagan”, which made this talented film director foray into world cinema. Nayagan is based on life of bombay underworld  don namely “Varadaraja Mudaliyar” depicting him as savior for poor south Indian  people struggling in Mumbai dharawi slums. Film was rated by Time’s All-Time 100 Greatest Movies  compiled between 1923 and 2005.

When the Kashmir was in flames in late 80’s, he is earliest person to take celluloid to the valley depicting the blood flowing in the beautiful snowy mountains. With hindu mythology of sathiyavan and savithri embedded in the story, film “Roja” one of the first conflict based film in india, showed the brilliance of Indian films in par with international conflict stories. His film named “Bombay”, showed the non sense emotions of the subcontinent people which often fells as prey to religious zealots and end in macabre killings and loss of property. I believe it is one of the bravest attempt by any Indian director at that time. Story of this film is centered around “Babri masjid” demolition happened in 1992 and riots which happened thereafter.Dil se another conflict based story happening in heartland of Northeastern corridor of india.It depicted  a female militant’s love with a reporter. Though film bombed at the box office, film garnered wide positive response abroad.

After these conflict trilogy,I think he suddenly felt that he forget some important human conflict happening nearby his birth place ie srilankan conflict. His film namely “Kannathil muthamittal” is made at the time when Srilankan tamil rebels(LTTE) were controlling one third of vast swathe of srilankan territory. In the film, he slammed the rebels at one point saying the violence is not solution for any  vexed conflict. Few months after the film was released, rebel leader “Prabhakaran” lamented that maniratnam should not have hurted our struggle as he don’t know the happenings here. But ultimately the rebels faced complete annihilation under the srilankan forces in 2009 ending the 26 year old insurgency.The violence in the end killed nearly 70,000 innocent lives.

Another most inspiring film based upon real time event is “Guru”. This film is a biographical one loosely based on Indian industrialist Dhirubai Ambani. Though this film controversially encouraged the capitalism frauds, film’s stiffen message of lion hearted individual with confidence and hardwork can’t be stopped by anyone for reaching the top of the ladder.

                                   

Iruvar, another real event film, showing the relationship between 2 political leaders of tamilnadu. Film is still a cult status film in Tamil Cinema. Other films like thalapathi, anjali appears as zenith of his crown.

Another film maker who has proven his prowess in film making is Kamalhassan.He is India’s best method actor, but  I will say he is a best film maker.One of my favourite film is “Hey Ram”. The film was critically acclaimed worldwide of its portrayal of angry young man whose family destroyed in Naohkali riots, planning to kill Gandhi feeling he is responsible for the carnage. Finally understanding the good nature of Gandhi ,plans to meet him.. But fate makes him to see the killing of gandhi in his own eyes. One of the best dialogues of the film coming in the last ie when Hindu and muslim riots happening in a city because of Babri Masjid demolition, hearing on the bullet sounds while travelling in ambulance asks to his neighbor “Innuma” is really heart touching moment in the film.

Another interesting  film is “Kuruthipunal” which is taken way back in 1995, Though the film is based on agenda that Spies becoming double agents because of uncertain circumstances. In real time, we had seen many double agents in CIA,RAW, destroying their own masters because of compulsions.

His recent work “Viswaroopam” based on Afghan insurgency, made him to face enormous hardships. Though there were critics that the film in some parts targeted a particular community, showing their worship place as den of terrorism, film is definitely brave attempt. Personally my expectations were not satisfied with this film after the hype they gave for this film. His stalled project “Maruthanayagam” is a story about a muslim freedom fighter namely “Yousuf khan” from tamilnadu. Lets Hope that he will reboot this project in near future.

Tamil cinemas had very few biographical films like “Veerapandiya kattabomman, kappalottiya tamilan, Bharathi, Periyar” . Film makers who plan to do biographical films should be encouraged, as seeing the great leaders in silver screen will impress many youth to take their path of goodwill.

There are still many good films from many tamil directors in various topics nowadays. But here i tried to analyse about the biographical and real event stories.

The Legacy of V2 Rocket and Werner Von Braun

Vijayabvharathi C

Today if India and Pakistan beat their chest and say they have nuclear tipped missiles to protect themselves from each other, they should thank the Germans who laid the base for modern rockets in 20th Century. If the Americans feel they are first to place a human being in moon, they also should acknowledge the base of the Apollo mission. Today PSLV,Ariane,Atlas,Shenzhou can trace their roots back to "Peenemunde", a village in North Germany. In mid of 1938, When Hitler was searching for a weapon that will devastate enemy in the battlefield, an young scientist namely "Wernher von Braun" approached and proposed the idea of using long range rockets in the battle. Hitler initially was not impressed by V2 design saying "It’s another long range artillery weapon with very high cost of production".  Even though with German higher command showing no interest, confident Braun proceeded with his V2 research and further honed the capabilities of the V2.Seeing the enthusiasm of the engineers who involved in V2 as well to create some psychological fear among the enemies, Hitler finally approved the V2 into the production phase in 1942. With Hitler’s army already started to taste the bitterness of defeat in the theatre of Eastern Europe, they started their propaganda warfare of saying that they had an X weapon which will scorch the enemy. Germans started to attack the allied forces with their newly invented weapon creating enormous property destruction and loss of lives. Nations that bore the brunt of V2 were Belgium, United Kingdom, France, Netherlands and few others.

Peenemünde Museum replica of V-2

In 1945, with Germans routed out in the World War II, US and Soviet establishment were searching for the scientists of this deadly weapon. As Nazi establishment already ordered the scientists of V2 to destroy all precious documents to ashes maintaining confidentiality of their innovation.U.S and Soviet spy agents were searching for one man largely behind this innovation ie Braun. Braun already feeling the heat of defeat of Nazis, made backup of all important research papers of V2, started moving from Peenemunde, a village where factory used for production of V2 lied. Knowing the cruelty of soviet for the captured prisoners, braun made his mind to surrender to U.S, the nation he felt which runs under the policy of holy bible. American establishment captured Braun and few other bright german scientists under name of “Operation Paperclip”.

The first photo from space was taken from a V-2 launched by US scientists on 24 October 1946.

They planned to use the services of braun to create their own V2. Initially braun and his team were kept in refugee camp in Texas. Even under these circumstances, braun calmly lectured young researchers in U.S about space travel, space vehicles. Even booed few times by racist researchers, braun continued his passion. Braun and his team  made V2, American copy in 1948.He made further milestone in missile history by making Jupiter rocket. His ultimate innovation was invention of Saturn space vehicle, which launched the Apollo vehicle and it landed man in the moon.Soviet also built their own copy of V2 with few captured engineers of V2, naming it as R-1. Their Luna program is from base of V2.

Though devastating V2 resulted in huge human losses during world war II, it laid the foundation stone for innovation in modern rocket history. Another sad thing is nearly 12000 people perished when Nazi regime used refugees in concentration camps as slave laborers for V2 production. Current innovations in rocket science were made from the V2 and its researcher braun & team. He is now rightly called as “Father of modern rocket science”

Sources:Wikipedia, Other science magazines