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

In the 'Star Trek' universe, what is the name of the Vulcan science officer who serves aboard the USS Enterprise?

  1. Spock

  2. Kirk

  3. McCoy

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

Spock is the iconic Vulcan science officer and first officer of the USS Enterprise.

Multiple choice

In the 'Star Trek' universe, what is the name of the artificial intelligence system that controls the Borg collective?

  1. Q

  2. The Borg Queen

  3. Locutus of Borg

  4. The Collective
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The Collective is the central intelligence that governs the Borg hive mind.

Multiple choice

Which space telescope is specifically designed to search for and characterize exoplanets that may be habitable?

  1. Hubble Space Telescope

  2. James Webb Space Telescope

  3. Kepler Space Telescope

  4. Spitzer Space Telescope
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The James Webb Space Telescope is specifically designed to search for and characterize exoplanets that may be habitable, with its infrared capabilities allowing it to study the atmospheres of these planets.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is a common method for attitude control of spacecraft?

  1. Reaction Wheels

  2. Magnetic Torquers

  3. Cold Gas Thrusters

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

Reaction Wheels, Magnetic Torquers, and Cold Gas Thrusters are commonly used methods for attitude control of spacecraft, each with its own advantages and applications.

Multiple choice

When was the Mars Orbiter Mission launched?

  1. November 5, 2013

  2. December 1, 2014

  3. September 24, 2015

  4. January 18, 2016
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

MOM was launched on November 5, 2013, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India.

Multiple choice

What was the name of the spacecraft that carried the Mars Orbiter?

  1. Mangalyaan-1

  2. Mangalyaan-2

  3. Mars Orbiter-1

  4. Mars Orbiter-2
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The spacecraft that carried the Mars Orbiter was named Mangalyaan-1.

Multiple choice

How many instruments were onboard the Mars Orbiter?

  1. 3

  2. 5

  3. 7

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

The Mars Orbiter carried five scientific instruments: the Mars Color Camera (MCC), the Thermal Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (TIS), the Methane Sensor for Mars (MSM), the Mars Exospheric Neutral Composition Analyzer (MENCA), and the Lyman Alpha Photometer (LAP).

Multiple choice

What was the duration of the Mars Orbiter Mission?

  1. 1 year

  2. 2 years

  3. 3 years

  4. 4 years
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The Mars Orbiter Mission was initially planned for a duration of 1 year, but it was later extended to 4 years due to its successful performance and the valuable scientific data it was collecting.

Multiple choice

What was the total cost of the Mars Orbiter Mission?

  1. $73 million
  2. $100 million
  3. $125 million
  4. $150 million
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Mars Orbiter Mission was a remarkably cost-effective mission, with a total cost of approximately $73 million, making it one of the most affordable interplanetary missions in history.

Multiple choice

Which aircraft was used by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to land on the moon in 1969?

  1. Apollo 11

  2. Apollo 12

  3. Apollo 13

  4. Apollo 14
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Apollo 11 was the mission that landed the first humans on the moon, with Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin making the historic moonwalk.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the telescope at ARIES that has been instrumental in detecting and tracking asteroids?

  1. ARIES 1.3-meter Telescope

  2. ARIES 2.3-meter Telescope

  3. ARIES 3.6-meter Telescope

  4. ARIES 4.5-meter Telescope
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The ARIES 1.3-meter Telescope is a state-of-the-art facility that has enabled the discovery of numerous asteroids and contributed to the study of their properties.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the telescope at VBO that has been extensively used for asteroid observations and discoveries?

  1. VBO 1-meter Telescope

  2. VBO 2-meter Telescope

  3. VBO 3-meter Telescope

  4. VBO 4-meter Telescope
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The VBO 2-meter Telescope is a powerful facility that has been extensively used for asteroid observations and discoveries. It has played a crucial role in advancing our understanding of asteroids.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the telescope at PRL that has been extensively used for asteroid occultation observations?

  1. PRL 1-meter Telescope

  2. PRL 2-meter Telescope

  3. PRL 3-meter Telescope

  4. PRL 4-meter Telescope
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
Correct answer
Explanation

The PRL 1.2-meter Telescope is a dedicated facility that has been extensively used for asteroid occultation observations. It has contributed to the study of asteroid sizes, shapes, and atmospheres.

Multiple choice

Which country issued the first stamp depicting a spacewalk?

  1. United States

  2. Soviet Union

  3. China

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

The Soviet Union issued the first stamp depicting a spacewalk in 1965, featuring cosmonaut Alexei Leonov's historic spacewalk.

Multiple choice

Who was the first astronaut to perform a spacewalk?

  1. Yuri Gagarin

  2. Neil Armstrong

  3. Alexei Leonov

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

Alexei Leonov, a Soviet cosmonaut, became the first person to perform a spacewalk on March 18, 1965.