General Awareness ยท Physics

Space Exploration and Astronomy

4,144 Questions

Review significant milestones in space exploration, including artificial satellites, reusable space shuttles, and historic lunar landings. This topic also covers astronomical phenomena and telescopic observations. Such scientific general knowledge is commonly tested in SSC, railways, and banking examinations.

Space shuttle missionsArtificial satellitesLunar and planetary landingsSpace telescopes and observatories

Space Exploration and Astronomy Questions

Multiple choice

Which comet is known for its exceptionally long tail, which can sometimes stretch across the entire sky?

  1. Hale-Bopp

  2. Hyakutake

  3. Kohoutek

  4. Lovejoy
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Comet Hale-Bopp, discovered in 1995, is renowned for its extraordinarily long and bright tail, which was visible to observers around the world.

Multiple choice

Which comet is known for its extremely short orbital period, completing one orbit around the Sun in just 76 years?

  1. Halley

  2. Encke

  3. Swift-Tuttle

  4. Giacobini-Zinner
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Comet Encke has the shortest orbital period of any known comet, taking only 76 years to complete one orbit around the Sun.

Multiple choice

Which comet is known for its distinctive greenish coma and two prominent tails?

  1. Hale-Bopp

  2. Hyakutake

  3. Kohoutek

  4. Lovejoy
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Comet Hyakutake, discovered in 1996, is known for its bright greenish coma and two prominent tails, one of which was exceptionally long.

Multiple choice

Which space agency is responsible for the International Space Station (ISS)?

  1. NASA

  2. ESA

  3. JAXA

  4. Roscosmos
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

NASA is the space agency responsible for the International Space Station (ISS). The ISS is a joint project of five space agencies: NASA, ESA, JAXA, Roscosmos, and CSA.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the largest space telescope currently in operation?

  1. Hubble Space Telescope

  2. James Webb Space Telescope

  3. Spitzer Space Telescope

  4. Chandra X-ray Observatory
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The James Webb Space Telescope is the largest space telescope currently in operation. It was launched on December 25, 2021.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the spacecraft that landed on Mars in 2012 and is still operational today?

  1. Curiosity

  2. Opportunity

  3. Spirit

  4. Sojourner
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Curiosity is the spacecraft that landed on Mars in 2012 and is still operational today. It is a car-sized rover that has been exploring the surface of Mars for over 10 years.

Multiple choice

Which asteroid is the target of NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission?

  1. Didymos

  2. Eros

  3. Psyche

  4. Vesta
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Didymos is the target of NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission. DART is a mission to test a new technology for deflecting asteroids that could pose a threat to Earth.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the first private company to launch a crew of astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS)?

  1. SpaceX

  2. Blue Origin

  3. Virgin Galactic

  4. Boeing
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

SpaceX was the first private company to launch a crew of astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). The Crew Dragon spacecraft, carrying two NASA astronauts, docked with the ISS on May 31, 2020.

Multiple choice

Which space agency is responsible for the development of the Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon by 2025?

  1. NASA

  2. ESA

  3. JAXA

  4. Roscosmos
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

NASA is the space agency responsible for the development of the Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon by 2025.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the first all-civilian crew to orbit Earth?

  1. Inspiration4

  2. Blue Origin NS-18

  3. Virgin Galactic Unity 22

  4. SpaceX Crew-1
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Inspiration4 was the first all-civilian crew to orbit Earth. The mission launched on September 16, 2021, and lasted for three days.

Multiple choice

Which asteroid is the target of NASA's Lucy mission, which aims to study the Trojan asteroids?

  1. Eurybates

  2. Polydamas

  3. Menoetius

  4. Orus
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Eurybates is the target of NASA's Lucy mission, which aims to study the Trojan asteroids. Lucy is scheduled to launch in October 2021 and will visit six Trojan asteroids over the course of 12 years.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the first space telescope to be launched into space?

  1. Hubble Space Telescope

  2. James Webb Space Telescope

  3. Spitzer Space Telescope

  4. Chandra X-ray Observatory
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Hubble Space Telescope was the first space telescope to be launched into space. It was launched on April 24, 1990, and has revolutionized our understanding of the universe.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the first spacecraft to land on Venus?

  1. Venera 3

  2. Venera 4

  3. Venera 7

  4. Venera 9
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Venera 3 was the first spacecraft to land on Venus. It was launched by the Soviet Union on November 16, 1965, and landed on Venus on March 1, 1966.

Multiple choice

What is the primary source of space debris?

  1. Abandoned satellites

  2. Rocket boosters

  3. Collision fragments

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Space debris includes abandoned satellites, rocket boosters, collision fragments, and other objects that remain in orbit around Earth or other celestial bodies.

Multiple choice

What is the primary method for removing space debris from orbit?

  1. Using lasers to vaporize the debris

  2. Using nets to capture the debris

  3. Using harpoons to drag the debris down to Earth

  4. Using magnets to attract the debris
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

One proposed method for removing space debris from orbit is to use nets to capture the debris and then deorbit it.