NASA to launch Peregrine Lander to Moon in December (GS Paper 3, Science and Technology)
Why in news?
- Astrobotic Technology, a Pittsburgh-based space robotics company, is set to launch its Peregrine Lander to the Moon on United Launch Alliance's (ULA) new Vulcan rocket.
- The spacecraft will launch from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. This will mark the inaugural flight of ULA's Vulcan rocket.
Peregrine Mission One:
- The Peregrine Mission One aims to land on the Moon in early 2024, carrying a variety of payloads from NASA and commercial entities.
- These payloads are designed to advance scientific knowledge, exploration capabilities, and commercial development of the Moon.
- The mission is part of NASA’s Artemis program, which seeks to return humans to the lunar surface and establish a sustainable presence there.
Instruments onboard:
- The Peregrine Lander is equipped with a next-generation propulsion system that includes five main engines responsible for all major spacecraft maneuvers, including trans-lunar injection, trajectory correction, lunar orbit insertion, and powered descent.
- Additionally, four clusters of attitude control thrusters maintain the lander's orientation throughout the mission.
- The lander has been designed to deliver payloads precisely and safely to both lunar orbit and the lunar surface.
- Payloads can be mounted in various configurations according to their specific needs, either above or below the decks, inside or outside of enclosures, and can remain attached or be deployed upon reaching the lunar surface.
CLPS Initiative:
- This mission is part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative, which works with several American companies to deliver science and technology to the lunar surface.
- Companies of varying sizes bid on delivering payloads for NASA, encompassing everything from payload integration and operations to launching from Earth and landing on the Moon's surface.
- Under the Artemis program, commercial deliveries will perform science experiments, test technologies, and demonstrate capabilities to help NASA explore the Moon and prepare for future human missions.
- CLPS contracts are indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contracts with a cumulative maximum contract value of $2.6 billion through 2028.
Fossil fuel plans of major producers not aligned with Paris Agreement goals, warns UNEP Report
(GS Paper 3, Environment)
Why in news?
- None of the 20 major fossil fuel-producing countries, including India, have committed to cutting down on their dependence on coal, oil and gas production to align with the goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, according to a new United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report.
- Major producer governments are planning on producing around 110 per cent and 69 per cent more fossil fuels in 2030 than would be consistent with the goal of limiting warming to 1.5°C and 2°C, respectively, it stated. Of the 20 such governments, 17 have pledged to go Net Zero.
Details:
- More than 80 experts assessed the fossil fuel production gap, the difference between governments’ planned or projected fossil fuel production and the actual global production levels consistent with limiting global warming to 1.5°C or 2°C.
- The report looked at the production gap of 20 major producer countries responsible for 82 per cent of production and 73 per cent of consumption of the world’s fossil fuel supply.
- These include Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Germany, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Mexico, Nigeria, Norway, Qatar, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US).
India’s pledge:
- India has pledged to achieve Net-Zero emissions by 2070. India expects to see a planned increase of 10.7 exajoules or EJ (an EJ is equal to 277.8 terawatt hours) in national coal production for 2030 relative to 2021. No data was available for oil and gas generation in the country.
- India also has plans for significant increases in coal production through 2030 and will prioritise self-reliance, viewing the coal industry as key to generating income and employment
- The US is expected to decrease coal production for 2030 relative to 2021 by 5.1 EJ. Planned oil and gas generation are projected to go up by 5.2 EJ and 2.5 EJ by the end of the decade compared to 2021 levels, respectively.
Natural Gas:
- Developed countries view natural gas as a bridge fuel for electricity generation, as it could reduce greenhouse gas emissions if it replaced coal.
- However, experts have warned that natural gas does not guarantee zero emissions and, in most places, it will be more expensive than renewable energy.
- Countries overlook upstream emissions from gas extraction and transport, such as fugitive emissions (leaks and irregular releases of gas) and venting (intentional releases). Together, they account for about 25 per cent of the full life-cycle emissions of natural gas.
China’s coal production:
- China is projected to see a 5.3 EJ decline in planned coal production in 2023 relative to 2021.
- The long-term decline in global coal production is led by China, whose domestic coal production is estimated to decrease steeply between 2030 and 2050 in alignment with the country's 2060 carbon-neutrality goal.
- China is on track to double its wind and solar energy capacity by 2025 instead of 2030, and India earmarked over $4 billion for clean energy in its national budget.
Risks of relying on technologies:
- The report also warned of the risks of relying on technologies such as carbon capture and storage (CCS) and carbon dioxide removal.
- The former deals with capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) at emission sources, such as power stations and then storing it underground, while the latter involves using technologies to remove the greenhouse gas from the atmosphere.
- Further, around 80 per cent of pilot projects involving these technologies have ended in failure over the past three decades. Even if all the planned global CCS facilities become operational, they can lower less than a per cent of 2022 global CO2 emissions.
- Given these uncertainties, the report called for a near-total phase-out of coal production and use by 2040 and a combined reduction in oil and gas production and use by 75 per cent by 2050 from the 2020 levels.
Way Forward:
- The authors of the report urged nations to phase out all fossil fuels at the 28th Conference of Parties (COP28) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Dubai.
- They stressed the need to establish near- and long-term targets to reduce the use of three fossil fuels. COP 26 and COP 27 focussed only on coal.
