General Awareness · 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

On May 23, 2014, the International Institute for Species Exploration (IISE) declared Tersicoccus phoenicis as one of its 'Top 10 New Species of 2014'. This bacterium was identified in which of the following?

  1. Spacecraft

  2. Space station

  3. Mars

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

Tersicoccus phoenicis was identified in the clean room facilities of the spacecraft. They are able to survive the hard sterilisation procedures used to sterilise the clean rooms of the spacecraft.

Multiple choice

NASA stands for

  1. National Aeronautics and Space Administration

  2. Northern Aeronautics and Space Administration

  3. National Aeronautics and Space Academy

  4. National Aeronautics and Social Administration
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Correct answer is (1). 

Multiple choice

Nasa' s Cassini spacecraft has found evidence that points to the existence of an underground ocean of water and ammonia on this moon of Saturn. Which is the moon in question?

  1. IO

  2. Charon

  3. Titan

  4. Titania
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

NASA's Cassini spacecraft discovered compelling evidence of an underground ocean of water and ammonia on Titan, Saturn's largest moon. The findings, announced in 2008, were based on Titan's rotation characteristics and the presence of ammonia, which acts as antifreeze allowing liquid water to exist beneath the icy surface. Io is a moon of Jupiter, Charon is Pluto's moon, and Titania is a moon of Uranus - none of which were discovered by Cassini to have this specific ocean composition.

Multiple choice

The name of the spaceship in which Kalpana Chawla performed her last journey is:

  1. Columbia

  2. Voyager

  3. Discoverer

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

Kalpana Chawla, the first Indian-born woman in space, died during her final mission on the Space Shuttle Columbia (STS-107). The shuttle disintegrated upon re-entry on February 1, 2003, killing all seven crew members. Columbia was the oldest orbiter in NASA's fleet and had completed 27 previous missions before the fatal disaster.

Multiple choice

The use of laser technology is not as simple as it sounds; it has proved very ________ to use satellites to position equipment in space that can destroy the ________ controls of enemy aircraft.

  1. Herculean; random

  2. difficult; steering

  3. facile; navigating

  4. serendipitous, exigent

  5. cretinous; stipendiary
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The first part of the sentence gives the clue for the first blank, which implies that laser technology has proved to be difficult. Therefore, we are left with 2 options: (1) and (2). 'Steering' means to direct the course of, whereas 'random' is haphazard movement, thus steering controls gives sense to the sentence. Hence, (2) is the answer.

Multiple choice

The Hubble Telescope should be ________ even if that means diverting the shuttle from other tasks and slowing plans to send astronauts to the Moon and Mars.

  1. cloistered

  2. winked at

  3. squired

  4. preserved

  5. kippered
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

NASA's most important scientific instrument, the Hubble space telescope would begin to fail a few years from now, hence this sentence emphasizes on its need to preserve this instrument. The clue comes from the word 'even', the clause that follows it provides an explanation to the blank. This implies that though tough tasks have to be undertaken, Hubble Telescope has to be preserved. 'Kippered' is to cure (herring, salmon, etc.) by cleaning, salting, and drying or smoking, thus (5) is ruled out. Hence, (4) is the answer.

Multiple choice

Which one of the following is not true about Scramjet?

  1. It can cheaper and efficient satellite launches

  2. It burns oxygen scooped up from atmosphere rather than carried on board

  3. It does not carry any fuel

  4. More payload is possible
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

A scramjet carries fuel (usually hydrogen) but scoops oxygen from the atmosphere instead of carrying it onboard, making it more efficient than rockets which must carry both. Option C states scramjets carry no fuel at all, which is false - they eliminate carrying oxygen, not fuel. Since the question asks which statement is NOT true, C is the correct choice.

Multiple choice

The first human to journey into outer spaxce was

  1. Valentina Tereshkova

  2. Yuri Gagarin

  3. Alan Shepard

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

Yuri Gagarin (Soviet cosmonaut) became the first human to journey into outer space on April 12, 1961, aboard Vostok 1. Valentina Tereshkova was the first woman in space (1963), Alan Shepard was the first American in space, and Dennis Tito was the first space tourist (2001).

Multiple choice

Directions: Complete the following sentence by using the best option from the given choices so that the sentence makes coherent sense. All along., space explorations have meant studying the planets, the Moon and looking for __________ life.

  1. terrestrial

  2. extraterrestrial

  3. heavenly

  4. planetary

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Extraterrestrial means outside Earth or from outer space, which is the logical opposite of terrestrial. Space exploration specifically looks for life beyond Earth, making extraterrestrial the precise scientific term.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is not a difference between terrestrial aviation and space tourism as per the passage?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question that follows:

Dennis Tito surprised the world when he paid $20 million to the Russian space agency to enjoy the adventure of the space flight. Some reporters denounced his profligacy while others eulogised his adventurous spirit. Whatever be the social or moral constraints, his private visit created sensation in the world. Many others also expressed their willingness to visit space and soon the agency got fully booked until 2009. Space tourism was once considered a dream of the lunatics. Today, however, it is no longer an outlandish vision from the realm of science fiction. The days are not far off when it would be a lucrative industry in the world of business. Several space tourism companies are planning to build suborbital vehicles and orbital cities within the next two decades. Very shortly, orbital flights will depart from many different airports and orbital facilities will grow, making space tourism popular and affordable. As in the case of tourism on Earth, there will be a small high-end segment for the rich, but the greater majority of space tourists will be middle class customers. Like any other business, once the industry gets started, it will develop progressively. It is now passing through high priced pioneering phase. After some years the prices are bound to get slashed as the number of tourists rise.

There are conservatives who say developing space tourism is very difficult and will take a long time. They also express their apprehensions and ask why would anyone want to go to orbit? There is nothing there, no air, no shops; it is just cold, dark nothing. But for those who have been to orbit, there are spectacular scenes of wonder, mystery and romance. In the space, stars do not twinkle, they are much brighter and closer and their colours are clearer.

Some companies are planning to build hotels in the space that could act as temporary space stations for the space tourists. The service will be nearer to adventure travel and orbital accommodation will be safe. Hotels in orbit would offer two unique experiences, splendid romantic view of the Earth and space, and the endless entertainment of living in zero gravity. It is a mind boggling experience of thrill and awe to look at the Earth from space and to enjoy weightlessness. Space walking will be another thrilling experience. The small gravitational pull created by the rotating space city would allow space tourists to walk around and function normally within the structure. Those who wish to stay longer in space can become passenger workers. Many producers of the Hollywood film industry are planning to shoot films in space; the space criminal stories, the space love stories will add new flavor and are likely to be box office hits.

Ironically few people are aware of how much work has been done to show that space tourism is a realistic goal and how the private companies are seriously engaged to boost space tourism industry. Space is no longer confined to research or military activities and the day is not far off when space tourism would become popular like the aviation industry; and equally affordable. It is estimated that by 2020 the space tourism will be as affordable as aviation flights.

  1. The latter is yet to become a common place and affordable.

  2. The space tourist will experience weightlessness as there will be no gravitational pull involved in the spacecraft.

  3. The latter is in an experimental stage whereas the former is highly competitive and routine.

  4. The latter is nearer to adventure travel than the former.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Option (2) relates only to space travel and there is no mention of weightlessness on the space craft. Hence, there is no comparison of features.

Multiple choice

What is the prediction of the skeptics about space tourism?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question that follows:

Dennis Tito surprised the world when he paid $20 million to the Russian space agency to enjoy the adventure of the space flight. Some reporters denounced his profligacy while others eulogised his adventurous spirit. Whatever be the social or moral constraints, his private visit created sensation in the world. Many others also expressed their willingness to visit space and soon the agency got fully booked until 2009. Space tourism was once considered a dream of the lunatics. Today, however, it is no longer an outlandish vision from the realm of science fiction. The days are not far off when it would be a lucrative industry in the world of business. Several space tourism companies are planning to build suborbital vehicles and orbital cities within the next two decades. Very shortly, orbital flights will depart from many different airports and orbital facilities will grow, making space tourism popular and affordable. As in the case of tourism on Earth, there will be a small high-end segment for the rich, but the greater majority of space tourists will be middle class customers. Like any other business, once the industry gets started, it will develop progressively. It is now passing through high priced pioneering phase. After some years the prices are bound to get slashed as the number of tourists rise.

There are conservatives who say developing space tourism is very difficult and will take a long time. They also express their apprehensions and ask why would anyone want to go to orbit? There is nothing there, no air, no shops; it is just cold, dark nothing. But for those who have been to orbit, there are spectacular scenes of wonder, mystery and romance. In the space, stars do not twinkle, they are much brighter and closer and their colours are clearer.

Some companies are planning to build hotels in the space that could act as temporary space stations for the space tourists. The service will be nearer to adventure travel and orbital accommodation will be safe. Hotels in orbit would offer two unique experiences, splendid romantic view of the Earth and space, and the endless entertainment of living in zero gravity. It is a mind boggling experience of thrill and awe to look at the Earth from space and to enjoy weightlessness. Space walking will be another thrilling experience. The small gravitational pull created by the rotating space city would allow space tourists to walk around and function normally within the structure. Those who wish to stay longer in space can become passenger workers. Many producers of the Hollywood film industry are planning to shoot films in space; the space criminal stories, the space love stories will add new flavor and are likely to be box office hits.

Ironically few people are aware of how much work has been done to show that space tourism is a realistic goal and how the private companies are seriously engaged to boost space tourism industry. Space is no longer confined to research or military activities and the day is not far off when space tourism would become popular like the aviation industry; and equally affordable. It is estimated that by 2020 the space tourism will be as affordable as aviation flights.

  1. Space tourism will remain outside the human reach.

  2. The space is cold, weightless, airless, dark and uninteresting.

  3. The journey to make it a commercial success is arduous and sluggish.

  4. This should best be left in the domain of the governments since investments needed are huge.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Options (1) and (2) can be easily marked as incorrect as conservatives only say that developing space tourism is difficult and time taking. Option (1) is negated by the contents of the passage because it cites an example of at least one space tourist. Option (2) does not present a prediction, but merely a statement of fact. Option (4) cannot be derived from the passage.