Science & Technology: July 2021 Current Affair | Science & Technology for UPSC CSE

 Page 1


 
76                                                                                                                                                        
7. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 
7.1. SPACE TOURISM 
Why in news? 
Several private companies are developing plans to take paying customers to space on a regular basis leading to a 
rapid growth in space tourism industry.  
About Space Tourism  
• Space tourism is space travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. There are several different 
types of space tourism, including orbital, suborbital and lunar space tourism.  
o To date, orbital space tourism has been performed only by the Russian Aviation and Space Agency 
known as the Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities or Roscosmos.  
o Several private spaceflight companies are now working towards developing suborbital space tourism 
vehicles to take paying customers to space (Refer infographic). 
What do we call space and space travel? 
• According to the Fédération Aéronautique 
Internationale (world governing body for 
aeronautic and astronautic records), space 
starts at an altitude of 100 km (62 miles) above 
the surface of the earth.  
o This is the Karman line where atmospheric 
lift no longer supports a flying object and 
the object would need to reach orbital 
velocity or risk falling back to Earth. 
• Space travel is referred to as any flight 
operation that takes one or more passengers 
beyond the altitude of 100 km and thus into 
space.  
• The main difference between orbital and 
suborbital flight is the speed at which a vehicle 
is traveling. 
o An orbital spacecraft must achieve orbital 
velocity i.e. the speed that an object must 
maintain to remain in orbit around a planet. 
To orbit 125 miles (200 kilometers) above 
Earth for instance, a spacecraft must travel 
at a screaming 17,400 mph (28,000 km/h). 
o Suborbital flight, in contrast, requires 
much lower speeds and doesn't have the 
power to achieve orbit. Instead, it will fly up 
to a certain height that depends on its 
speed, and then come back down once its 
engines are shut off.  
o At the top of their flight arc in a suborbital flight, when the object is falling back toward Earth, passengers 
achieve a few minutes of weightlessness under zero gravity. 
Page 2


 
76                                                                                                                                                        
7. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 
7.1. SPACE TOURISM 
Why in news? 
Several private companies are developing plans to take paying customers to space on a regular basis leading to a 
rapid growth in space tourism industry.  
About Space Tourism  
• Space tourism is space travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. There are several different 
types of space tourism, including orbital, suborbital and lunar space tourism.  
o To date, orbital space tourism has been performed only by the Russian Aviation and Space Agency 
known as the Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities or Roscosmos.  
o Several private spaceflight companies are now working towards developing suborbital space tourism 
vehicles to take paying customers to space (Refer infographic). 
What do we call space and space travel? 
• According to the Fédération Aéronautique 
Internationale (world governing body for 
aeronautic and astronautic records), space 
starts at an altitude of 100 km (62 miles) above 
the surface of the earth.  
o This is the Karman line where atmospheric 
lift no longer supports a flying object and 
the object would need to reach orbital 
velocity or risk falling back to Earth. 
• Space travel is referred to as any flight 
operation that takes one or more passengers 
beyond the altitude of 100 km and thus into 
space.  
• The main difference between orbital and 
suborbital flight is the speed at which a vehicle 
is traveling. 
o An orbital spacecraft must achieve orbital 
velocity i.e. the speed that an object must 
maintain to remain in orbit around a planet. 
To orbit 125 miles (200 kilometers) above 
Earth for instance, a spacecraft must travel 
at a screaming 17,400 mph (28,000 km/h). 
o Suborbital flight, in contrast, requires 
much lower speeds and doesn't have the 
power to achieve orbit. Instead, it will fly up 
to a certain height that depends on its 
speed, and then come back down once its 
engines are shut off.  
o At the top of their flight arc in a suborbital flight, when the object is falling back toward Earth, passengers 
achieve a few minutes of weightlessness under zero gravity. 
 
77                                                                                                                                                        
 
Key market drivers for space tourism  
• The space tourism market is forecast to reach $1.3bn by 2025, 
growing at a CAGR 12.4% during forecast period, 2020-2025. 
Major factors accounting for the same are: 
o Decline in the cost of space tourism: The total cost of a trip 
into space has reduced significantly from the initial price 
level of about $600 000 to $250,000 estimated to decline 
further to $2000 per kilogram over coming years. 
o Technological advancements: such as development of 
suborbital reusable launch vehicles that is also the key to 
Lowering Spaceflight Costs. Companies such as Virgin 
Galactic and Blue Origin are testing suborbital flights that 
can carry space tourists and researchers at altitudes 
between 50 and 68 miles.  
o International Interest in Space Tourism: While the bulk of 
space tourism industry activities is centered in the United 
States, several countries are looking to tap into the market. 
o Development of space accommodations: In June 2019, 
NASA announced plans to allow private citizens to fly to the 
ISS with stay for short visits. Many private entities are also 
developing hotels in space for tourists’ stay. 
? For instance, Orion Span has announced a plan to build world’s first luxury hotel in space Aurora 
Station to be built by 2021.  
Issues with respect to emerging space tourism industry 
Space tourism is a unique venture, and thus, the legality of activities around the proliferation of individuals in 
space for recreation is yet to be formulated. The current treaties relating to space are extremely outdated and 
fail to copiously deal with the legal challenges imposed by the space tourism industry. Various issues that arise 
are:  
Page 3


 
76                                                                                                                                                        
7. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 
7.1. SPACE TOURISM 
Why in news? 
Several private companies are developing plans to take paying customers to space on a regular basis leading to a 
rapid growth in space tourism industry.  
About Space Tourism  
• Space tourism is space travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. There are several different 
types of space tourism, including orbital, suborbital and lunar space tourism.  
o To date, orbital space tourism has been performed only by the Russian Aviation and Space Agency 
known as the Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities or Roscosmos.  
o Several private spaceflight companies are now working towards developing suborbital space tourism 
vehicles to take paying customers to space (Refer infographic). 
What do we call space and space travel? 
• According to the Fédération Aéronautique 
Internationale (world governing body for 
aeronautic and astronautic records), space 
starts at an altitude of 100 km (62 miles) above 
the surface of the earth.  
o This is the Karman line where atmospheric 
lift no longer supports a flying object and 
the object would need to reach orbital 
velocity or risk falling back to Earth. 
• Space travel is referred to as any flight 
operation that takes one or more passengers 
beyond the altitude of 100 km and thus into 
space.  
• The main difference between orbital and 
suborbital flight is the speed at which a vehicle 
is traveling. 
o An orbital spacecraft must achieve orbital 
velocity i.e. the speed that an object must 
maintain to remain in orbit around a planet. 
To orbit 125 miles (200 kilometers) above 
Earth for instance, a spacecraft must travel 
at a screaming 17,400 mph (28,000 km/h). 
o Suborbital flight, in contrast, requires 
much lower speeds and doesn't have the 
power to achieve orbit. Instead, it will fly up 
to a certain height that depends on its 
speed, and then come back down once its 
engines are shut off.  
o At the top of their flight arc in a suborbital flight, when the object is falling back toward Earth, passengers 
achieve a few minutes of weightlessness under zero gravity. 
 
77                                                                                                                                                        
 
Key market drivers for space tourism  
• The space tourism market is forecast to reach $1.3bn by 2025, 
growing at a CAGR 12.4% during forecast period, 2020-2025. 
Major factors accounting for the same are: 
o Decline in the cost of space tourism: The total cost of a trip 
into space has reduced significantly from the initial price 
level of about $600 000 to $250,000 estimated to decline 
further to $2000 per kilogram over coming years. 
o Technological advancements: such as development of 
suborbital reusable launch vehicles that is also the key to 
Lowering Spaceflight Costs. Companies such as Virgin 
Galactic and Blue Origin are testing suborbital flights that 
can carry space tourists and researchers at altitudes 
between 50 and 68 miles.  
o International Interest in Space Tourism: While the bulk of 
space tourism industry activities is centered in the United 
States, several countries are looking to tap into the market. 
o Development of space accommodations: In June 2019, 
NASA announced plans to allow private citizens to fly to the 
ISS with stay for short visits. Many private entities are also 
developing hotels in space for tourists’ stay. 
? For instance, Orion Span has announced a plan to build world’s first luxury hotel in space Aurora 
Station to be built by 2021.  
Issues with respect to emerging space tourism industry 
Space tourism is a unique venture, and thus, the legality of activities around the proliferation of individuals in 
space for recreation is yet to be formulated. The current treaties relating to space are extremely outdated and 
fail to copiously deal with the legal challenges imposed by the space tourism industry. Various issues that arise 
are:  
 
78                                                                                                                                                        
India’s venture into space tourism 
• The Indian Space Research Organization’s Gaganyan 
mission (primary manned mission to space) has the 
potential to grease the wheels for India to enter the 
space tourism market and open the avenues for 
mammoth commercial opportunities. 
• India’s endeavour with space tourism would have 
numerous positive effects, including the creation of 
employment and sizeable revenues and investments.  
• However, where India is excelling at technology and 
low costs, it lags behind with respect to the express 
laws and legislations to govern outer space activities 
including space tourism. 
• Unclear status of Space tourist: No international space law has defined space tourists. Existing space treaties 
such as Outer Space Treaty, 
Rescue Agreement etc. are 
only applicable to astronauts, 
envoys of mankind, or 
personnel of a spacecraft. 
Since recreational space 
tourists do not fall in the 
realm of the treaties, they 
are not rendered with these 
rights and states have no 
obligation to assist them.  
• Authorization issues: To send 
a vehicle to space, it is 
compulsory for the national 
and international space law 
to authorize it according to 
Article VI of the Outer Space 
Treaty. However, the national 
and international legislations 
and regulations are reticent 
on the subject of 
authorization of space travel with tourists aboard. 
• Passenger Liability: International treaties and conventions are aimed at regulating the signatory states and 
are bereft of the provisions to handle the liability of private entities in space. For instance, according to 
Article VII of the Montreal convention, the international liability for any damage incurred by a space object is 
imposed on the launching State, regardless of the space object being a public or a private entity. 
• Space insurance: It is an excruciatingly technical issue and requires expert knowledge of the launch vehicles, 
satellites, and other issues. However, the current regime for space insurance provides the insurance covers 
merely for the astronauts and personnel of a spacecraft and does not include any provisions of passenger 
liability for space tourists. 
• Environment impact: Although the carbon 
dioxide emissions from space-flights are 
negligible compared to other human activities 
or commercial aviation, there is a potential for 
longer term harm of the carbon emissions from 
the spacecrafts particularly to the ozone layer.  
• Ethical issues: Many health risks associated with 
space flight are still not well understood, and 
very little research has been done on medical 
consequences of such flights on the health of 
participants. National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration (NASA) recommended medical 
screening standards for tourist space flight participants in 2012, but these guidelines are not binding on 
companies that provide launch or accommodation for space travelers. 
Way ahead 
• With the space tourism industry inching closer to launch every day, there emerges a dire need to formulate 
laws and legislations that shall regulate issues of space tourism including the regulation of private players.  
• The role of the government includes a legal responsibility to authorize and supervise private activities in 
space, while ensuring that it gives the private sector enough levy to develop technologically and 
commercially and enhance their growth. 
For more details on Space Explorations, Space treaties for regulation of space activities and other related 
issues, kindly refer to our Weekly Focus document “Space Exploration: Changing Dynamics and Pathway to the 
Future”. 
Page 4


 
76                                                                                                                                                        
7. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 
7.1. SPACE TOURISM 
Why in news? 
Several private companies are developing plans to take paying customers to space on a regular basis leading to a 
rapid growth in space tourism industry.  
About Space Tourism  
• Space tourism is space travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. There are several different 
types of space tourism, including orbital, suborbital and lunar space tourism.  
o To date, orbital space tourism has been performed only by the Russian Aviation and Space Agency 
known as the Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities or Roscosmos.  
o Several private spaceflight companies are now working towards developing suborbital space tourism 
vehicles to take paying customers to space (Refer infographic). 
What do we call space and space travel? 
• According to the Fédération Aéronautique 
Internationale (world governing body for 
aeronautic and astronautic records), space 
starts at an altitude of 100 km (62 miles) above 
the surface of the earth.  
o This is the Karman line where atmospheric 
lift no longer supports a flying object and 
the object would need to reach orbital 
velocity or risk falling back to Earth. 
• Space travel is referred to as any flight 
operation that takes one or more passengers 
beyond the altitude of 100 km and thus into 
space.  
• The main difference between orbital and 
suborbital flight is the speed at which a vehicle 
is traveling. 
o An orbital spacecraft must achieve orbital 
velocity i.e. the speed that an object must 
maintain to remain in orbit around a planet. 
To orbit 125 miles (200 kilometers) above 
Earth for instance, a spacecraft must travel 
at a screaming 17,400 mph (28,000 km/h). 
o Suborbital flight, in contrast, requires 
much lower speeds and doesn't have the 
power to achieve orbit. Instead, it will fly up 
to a certain height that depends on its 
speed, and then come back down once its 
engines are shut off.  
o At the top of their flight arc in a suborbital flight, when the object is falling back toward Earth, passengers 
achieve a few minutes of weightlessness under zero gravity. 
 
77                                                                                                                                                        
 
Key market drivers for space tourism  
• The space tourism market is forecast to reach $1.3bn by 2025, 
growing at a CAGR 12.4% during forecast period, 2020-2025. 
Major factors accounting for the same are: 
o Decline in the cost of space tourism: The total cost of a trip 
into space has reduced significantly from the initial price 
level of about $600 000 to $250,000 estimated to decline 
further to $2000 per kilogram over coming years. 
o Technological advancements: such as development of 
suborbital reusable launch vehicles that is also the key to 
Lowering Spaceflight Costs. Companies such as Virgin 
Galactic and Blue Origin are testing suborbital flights that 
can carry space tourists and researchers at altitudes 
between 50 and 68 miles.  
o International Interest in Space Tourism: While the bulk of 
space tourism industry activities is centered in the United 
States, several countries are looking to tap into the market. 
o Development of space accommodations: In June 2019, 
NASA announced plans to allow private citizens to fly to the 
ISS with stay for short visits. Many private entities are also 
developing hotels in space for tourists’ stay. 
? For instance, Orion Span has announced a plan to build world’s first luxury hotel in space Aurora 
Station to be built by 2021.  
Issues with respect to emerging space tourism industry 
Space tourism is a unique venture, and thus, the legality of activities around the proliferation of individuals in 
space for recreation is yet to be formulated. The current treaties relating to space are extremely outdated and 
fail to copiously deal with the legal challenges imposed by the space tourism industry. Various issues that arise 
are:  
 
78                                                                                                                                                        
India’s venture into space tourism 
• The Indian Space Research Organization’s Gaganyan 
mission (primary manned mission to space) has the 
potential to grease the wheels for India to enter the 
space tourism market and open the avenues for 
mammoth commercial opportunities. 
• India’s endeavour with space tourism would have 
numerous positive effects, including the creation of 
employment and sizeable revenues and investments.  
• However, where India is excelling at technology and 
low costs, it lags behind with respect to the express 
laws and legislations to govern outer space activities 
including space tourism. 
• Unclear status of Space tourist: No international space law has defined space tourists. Existing space treaties 
such as Outer Space Treaty, 
Rescue Agreement etc. are 
only applicable to astronauts, 
envoys of mankind, or 
personnel of a spacecraft. 
Since recreational space 
tourists do not fall in the 
realm of the treaties, they 
are not rendered with these 
rights and states have no 
obligation to assist them.  
• Authorization issues: To send 
a vehicle to space, it is 
compulsory for the national 
and international space law 
to authorize it according to 
Article VI of the Outer Space 
Treaty. However, the national 
and international legislations 
and regulations are reticent 
on the subject of 
authorization of space travel with tourists aboard. 
• Passenger Liability: International treaties and conventions are aimed at regulating the signatory states and 
are bereft of the provisions to handle the liability of private entities in space. For instance, according to 
Article VII of the Montreal convention, the international liability for any damage incurred by a space object is 
imposed on the launching State, regardless of the space object being a public or a private entity. 
• Space insurance: It is an excruciatingly technical issue and requires expert knowledge of the launch vehicles, 
satellites, and other issues. However, the current regime for space insurance provides the insurance covers 
merely for the astronauts and personnel of a spacecraft and does not include any provisions of passenger 
liability for space tourists. 
• Environment impact: Although the carbon 
dioxide emissions from space-flights are 
negligible compared to other human activities 
or commercial aviation, there is a potential for 
longer term harm of the carbon emissions from 
the spacecrafts particularly to the ozone layer.  
• Ethical issues: Many health risks associated with 
space flight are still not well understood, and 
very little research has been done on medical 
consequences of such flights on the health of 
participants. National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration (NASA) recommended medical 
screening standards for tourist space flight participants in 2012, but these guidelines are not binding on 
companies that provide launch or accommodation for space travelers. 
Way ahead 
• With the space tourism industry inching closer to launch every day, there emerges a dire need to formulate 
laws and legislations that shall regulate issues of space tourism including the regulation of private players.  
• The role of the government includes a legal responsibility to authorize and supervise private activities in 
space, while ensuring that it gives the private sector enough levy to develop technologically and 
commercially and enhance their growth. 
For more details on Space Explorations, Space treaties for regulation of space activities and other related 
issues, kindly refer to our Weekly Focus document “Space Exploration: Changing Dynamics and Pathway to the 
Future”. 
 
79                                                                                                                                                        
 
7.2. BIOTECH-PRIDE GUIDELINES 
Why in news? 
“Biotech-PRIDE (Promotion 
of Research and 
Innovation through Data 
Exchange) Guidelines” 
developed by Department 
of Biotechnology (DBT), 
Ministry of Science and 
Technology were released 
recently. 
About Guidelines 
• Biotech-PRIDE 
guidelines have been 
formulated in 
conformity with the 
principles of NDSAP 
(National Data Sharing 
and Accessibility 
Policy) 2012, for enabling the sharing, access and storage of 
biological data. 
o At present, in India the biological data is deposited in 
International Repositories and there are no guidelines for 
sharing it. 
• Under the guidelines, it is the responsibility of the data-
generator/ producer/submitter to deposit data in an 
appropriate database in the notified Data Repository. 
• Data withdrawal may be granted if the individual or the 
organization, whose data have been placed on a publicly 
accessible database, make a justified request either directly 
or through the submitter, with valid claims to the data. 
• These Guidelines will be implemented through Indian 
Biological Data Centre (IBDC) at Regional Center for 
Biotechnology supported by Department of Biotechnology. Other datasets/ data centres will be bridged to 
the IBDC which will be called Bio-Grid. 
o The Bio-Grid will be a National Repository for all biological knowledge, information and data generated 
through research within the country and will be responsible for: 
? Enabling its exchange to facilitate the Research and Innovation,  
? Developing measures for safety, standards and quality for datasets and  
? Establishing detailed modalities for accessing data. 
Biological data 
Term biological data includes, inter alia, DNA sequence data, RNA sequence 
transcriptomic data, Genotype data, Epigenomic data and protein structure data. 
Characteristics of Biological Data 
• It is highly complex when compared with most other applications. 
• The amount and range of variability in data is high.  
Benefits of sharing data 
• Optimal usage of resources: Generation of data entails large amount of public 
funds apart from significant time and other resources. Thus, sharing will help in 
obtaining maximal benefits from investment made in generating data. It will also 
prevent duplicate efforts. 
• Opens new avenues for research 
• Reduces unintentional errors: When preparing the data for sharing, providing 
detailed documentation will eliminate guesswork, lost details, and maintain tacit 
knowledge that might otherwise remain unrecorded. 
• Ease in Finding: Posting data on public repositories with links to the publication 
and links to data deposited ensures findability of data. 
• Social Benefits: It will enable understanding of molecular and biological processes 
that will contribute to areas like agriculture, animal husbandry etc.  
• Data sharing is imperative to ensure transparency and reproducibility of data. 
Page 5


 
76                                                                                                                                                        
7. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 
7.1. SPACE TOURISM 
Why in news? 
Several private companies are developing plans to take paying customers to space on a regular basis leading to a 
rapid growth in space tourism industry.  
About Space Tourism  
• Space tourism is space travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. There are several different 
types of space tourism, including orbital, suborbital and lunar space tourism.  
o To date, orbital space tourism has been performed only by the Russian Aviation and Space Agency 
known as the Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities or Roscosmos.  
o Several private spaceflight companies are now working towards developing suborbital space tourism 
vehicles to take paying customers to space (Refer infographic). 
What do we call space and space travel? 
• According to the Fédération Aéronautique 
Internationale (world governing body for 
aeronautic and astronautic records), space 
starts at an altitude of 100 km (62 miles) above 
the surface of the earth.  
o This is the Karman line where atmospheric 
lift no longer supports a flying object and 
the object would need to reach orbital 
velocity or risk falling back to Earth. 
• Space travel is referred to as any flight 
operation that takes one or more passengers 
beyond the altitude of 100 km and thus into 
space.  
• The main difference between orbital and 
suborbital flight is the speed at which a vehicle 
is traveling. 
o An orbital spacecraft must achieve orbital 
velocity i.e. the speed that an object must 
maintain to remain in orbit around a planet. 
To orbit 125 miles (200 kilometers) above 
Earth for instance, a spacecraft must travel 
at a screaming 17,400 mph (28,000 km/h). 
o Suborbital flight, in contrast, requires 
much lower speeds and doesn't have the 
power to achieve orbit. Instead, it will fly up 
to a certain height that depends on its 
speed, and then come back down once its 
engines are shut off.  
o At the top of their flight arc in a suborbital flight, when the object is falling back toward Earth, passengers 
achieve a few minutes of weightlessness under zero gravity. 
 
77                                                                                                                                                        
 
Key market drivers for space tourism  
• The space tourism market is forecast to reach $1.3bn by 2025, 
growing at a CAGR 12.4% during forecast period, 2020-2025. 
Major factors accounting for the same are: 
o Decline in the cost of space tourism: The total cost of a trip 
into space has reduced significantly from the initial price 
level of about $600 000 to $250,000 estimated to decline 
further to $2000 per kilogram over coming years. 
o Technological advancements: such as development of 
suborbital reusable launch vehicles that is also the key to 
Lowering Spaceflight Costs. Companies such as Virgin 
Galactic and Blue Origin are testing suborbital flights that 
can carry space tourists and researchers at altitudes 
between 50 and 68 miles.  
o International Interest in Space Tourism: While the bulk of 
space tourism industry activities is centered in the United 
States, several countries are looking to tap into the market. 
o Development of space accommodations: In June 2019, 
NASA announced plans to allow private citizens to fly to the 
ISS with stay for short visits. Many private entities are also 
developing hotels in space for tourists’ stay. 
? For instance, Orion Span has announced a plan to build world’s first luxury hotel in space Aurora 
Station to be built by 2021.  
Issues with respect to emerging space tourism industry 
Space tourism is a unique venture, and thus, the legality of activities around the proliferation of individuals in 
space for recreation is yet to be formulated. The current treaties relating to space are extremely outdated and 
fail to copiously deal with the legal challenges imposed by the space tourism industry. Various issues that arise 
are:  
 
78                                                                                                                                                        
India’s venture into space tourism 
• The Indian Space Research Organization’s Gaganyan 
mission (primary manned mission to space) has the 
potential to grease the wheels for India to enter the 
space tourism market and open the avenues for 
mammoth commercial opportunities. 
• India’s endeavour with space tourism would have 
numerous positive effects, including the creation of 
employment and sizeable revenues and investments.  
• However, where India is excelling at technology and 
low costs, it lags behind with respect to the express 
laws and legislations to govern outer space activities 
including space tourism. 
• Unclear status of Space tourist: No international space law has defined space tourists. Existing space treaties 
such as Outer Space Treaty, 
Rescue Agreement etc. are 
only applicable to astronauts, 
envoys of mankind, or 
personnel of a spacecraft. 
Since recreational space 
tourists do not fall in the 
realm of the treaties, they 
are not rendered with these 
rights and states have no 
obligation to assist them.  
• Authorization issues: To send 
a vehicle to space, it is 
compulsory for the national 
and international space law 
to authorize it according to 
Article VI of the Outer Space 
Treaty. However, the national 
and international legislations 
and regulations are reticent 
on the subject of 
authorization of space travel with tourists aboard. 
• Passenger Liability: International treaties and conventions are aimed at regulating the signatory states and 
are bereft of the provisions to handle the liability of private entities in space. For instance, according to 
Article VII of the Montreal convention, the international liability for any damage incurred by a space object is 
imposed on the launching State, regardless of the space object being a public or a private entity. 
• Space insurance: It is an excruciatingly technical issue and requires expert knowledge of the launch vehicles, 
satellites, and other issues. However, the current regime for space insurance provides the insurance covers 
merely for the astronauts and personnel of a spacecraft and does not include any provisions of passenger 
liability for space tourists. 
• Environment impact: Although the carbon 
dioxide emissions from space-flights are 
negligible compared to other human activities 
or commercial aviation, there is a potential for 
longer term harm of the carbon emissions from 
the spacecrafts particularly to the ozone layer.  
• Ethical issues: Many health risks associated with 
space flight are still not well understood, and 
very little research has been done on medical 
consequences of such flights on the health of 
participants. National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration (NASA) recommended medical 
screening standards for tourist space flight participants in 2012, but these guidelines are not binding on 
companies that provide launch or accommodation for space travelers. 
Way ahead 
• With the space tourism industry inching closer to launch every day, there emerges a dire need to formulate 
laws and legislations that shall regulate issues of space tourism including the regulation of private players.  
• The role of the government includes a legal responsibility to authorize and supervise private activities in 
space, while ensuring that it gives the private sector enough levy to develop technologically and 
commercially and enhance their growth. 
For more details on Space Explorations, Space treaties for regulation of space activities and other related 
issues, kindly refer to our Weekly Focus document “Space Exploration: Changing Dynamics and Pathway to the 
Future”. 
 
79                                                                                                                                                        
 
7.2. BIOTECH-PRIDE GUIDELINES 
Why in news? 
“Biotech-PRIDE (Promotion 
of Research and 
Innovation through Data 
Exchange) Guidelines” 
developed by Department 
of Biotechnology (DBT), 
Ministry of Science and 
Technology were released 
recently. 
About Guidelines 
• Biotech-PRIDE 
guidelines have been 
formulated in 
conformity with the 
principles of NDSAP 
(National Data Sharing 
and Accessibility 
Policy) 2012, for enabling the sharing, access and storage of 
biological data. 
o At present, in India the biological data is deposited in 
International Repositories and there are no guidelines for 
sharing it. 
• Under the guidelines, it is the responsibility of the data-
generator/ producer/submitter to deposit data in an 
appropriate database in the notified Data Repository. 
• Data withdrawal may be granted if the individual or the 
organization, whose data have been placed on a publicly 
accessible database, make a justified request either directly 
or through the submitter, with valid claims to the data. 
• These Guidelines will be implemented through Indian 
Biological Data Centre (IBDC) at Regional Center for 
Biotechnology supported by Department of Biotechnology. Other datasets/ data centres will be bridged to 
the IBDC which will be called Bio-Grid. 
o The Bio-Grid will be a National Repository for all biological knowledge, information and data generated 
through research within the country and will be responsible for: 
? Enabling its exchange to facilitate the Research and Innovation,  
? Developing measures for safety, standards and quality for datasets and  
? Establishing detailed modalities for accessing data. 
Biological data 
Term biological data includes, inter alia, DNA sequence data, RNA sequence 
transcriptomic data, Genotype data, Epigenomic data and protein structure data. 
Characteristics of Biological Data 
• It is highly complex when compared with most other applications. 
• The amount and range of variability in data is high.  
Benefits of sharing data 
• Optimal usage of resources: Generation of data entails large amount of public 
funds apart from significant time and other resources. Thus, sharing will help in 
obtaining maximal benefits from investment made in generating data. It will also 
prevent duplicate efforts. 
• Opens new avenues for research 
• Reduces unintentional errors: When preparing the data for sharing, providing 
detailed documentation will eliminate guesswork, lost details, and maintain tacit 
knowledge that might otherwise remain unrecorded. 
• Ease in Finding: Posting data on public repositories with links to the publication 
and links to data deposited ensures findability of data. 
• Social Benefits: It will enable understanding of molecular and biological processes 
that will contribute to areas like agriculture, animal husbandry etc.  
• Data sharing is imperative to ensure transparency and reproducibility of data. 
 
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Working of Nucleic Acid Vaccines 
 
• The modalities for data sharing shall be managed by IBDC under three categories as follows: 
o Open access: Open access data are those which are intended to be shared openly by the data provider. 
All data, under ‘open access’ category, generated from public-funded research will be available to 
everyone (larger scientific community and public) under FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable and 
reusable) principles. 
o Managed access: Managed access data are those which are shared with specific restrictions imposed by 
the data producer/generator/submitter. In case of data generated using public funds, restrictions to 
access and use of such data are to be established by the funding agency before its deposition. 
o No access: Access to ‘sensitive data’ shall not be permitted, even if generated using public funds. 
7.3. NUCLEIC ACID VACCINES 
Why in News? 
Recently, Zydus Cadilla, a pharmaceutical company, has approached 
Drug Controller General of India for restricted emergency approval for 
ZyCov-D, its plasmid DNA vaccine against COVID-19. 
More on News 
• If approved for use, this would be the world’s first DNA vaccine 
against COVID-19.  
• Both DNA and RNA are types of Nucleic acid vaccines (also known 
as gene-based vaccines). 
About Nucleic Acid vaccines 
• Instead of injecting a weakened form of a virus or bacteria into the 
body, Nucleic acid vaccines use genetic 
material from a disease-causing virus or 
bacterium (a pathogen) to stimulate an 
immune response against it.  
o That immune response, which produces 
antibodies, is what protects us from 
getting infected if the real virus enters 
our bodies. 
• Depending on the vaccine, the genetic 
material could be DNA or RNA.  
o DNA and RNA are the instructions our 
cells use to make proteins. In our cells, 
DNA is first turned into messenger RNA 
(m RNA), which is then used as the 
blueprint to make specific proteins.  
o mRNA teaches cells how to make a 
protein that triggers an immune response 
inside human bodies. 
• In the case of DNA vaccines, a piece of DNA 
encoding the antigen is first inserted into a 
bacterial plasmid.  
o A plasmid is a small, often circular DNA 
molecule found in bacteria and other 
cells. They generally carry only a small 
number of genes, notably some 
associated with antibiotic resistance.  
• DNA plasmids carrying the antigen are usually injected into the muscle and then driven into cells with the 
help of technologies like electroporation (short pulses of electric current are used to create temporary pores 
in patients’ cell membranes).  
• RNA vaccines encode the antigen of interest in mRNA.