General Awareness ยท Physics

Space Exploration and Astronomy

3,952 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 ISRO spacecraft was the first to be launched using the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)?

  1. Aryabhata

  2. INSAT-1A

  3. Bhaskara-1

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

Aryabhata was India's first satellite, launched in 1975 using the PSLV. It was designed to study the Earth's atmosphere and ionosphere.

Multiple choice

Which ISRO spacecraft was the first to be launched using the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV)?

  1. GSAT-1

  2. INSAT-2A

  3. EDUSAT

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

GSAT-1 was India's first satellite to be launched using the GSLV. It was launched in 2001 and is used for communication purposes.

Multiple choice

Which ISRO spacecraft was the first to be launched using the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV)?

  1. EOS-01

  2. EOS-02

  3. Microsat-R

  4. RISAT-2BR1
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

EOS-01 was India's first satellite to be launched using the SSLV. It was launched in 2022 and is used for Earth observation purposes.

Multiple choice

Which ISRO spacecraft was the first to be launched using the Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV)?

  1. RLV-TD

  2. RLV-NT

  3. RLV-BN

  4. RLV-AG
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

RLV-TD was India's first spacecraft to be launched using the RLV. It was launched in 2016 and is used to test the technologies required for reusable launch vehicles.

Multiple choice

Which ISRO spacecraft was the first to be launched using the Semi-Cryogenic Engine (SCE)?

  1. GSLV Mk III

  2. GSLV Mk II

  3. PSLV

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

GSLV Mk III was India's first spacecraft to be launched using the SCE. It was launched in 2017 and is used to launch heavy satellites into orbit.

Multiple choice

Which asteroid is the target of the Dawn mission, launched in 2007?

  1. Vesta

  2. Ceres

  3. Pallas

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

The Dawn mission was launched in 2007 to study the asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres. It arrived at Vesta in 2011 and Ceres in 2015.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the asteroid that was visited by the Hayabusa spacecraft in 2005 and returned samples to Earth in 2010?

  1. Itokawa

  2. Ryugu

  3. Bennu

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

The Hayabusa spacecraft visited the asteroid Itokawa in 2005 and returned samples to Earth in 2010.

Multiple choice

Which asteroid is known for its high metal content and is considered a potential source of valuable metals?

  1. Psyche

  2. Vesta

  3. Ceres

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

The asteroid Psyche is known for its high metal content and is considered a potential source of valuable metals, such as iron and nickel.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the asteroid that was visited by the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft in 2018 and is scheduled to return samples to Earth in 2023?

  1. Bennu

  2. Ryugu

  3. Itokawa

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

The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft visited the asteroid Bennu in 2018 and is scheduled to return samples to Earth in 2023.

Multiple choice

Which asteroid is known for its rapid rotation, completing one full rotation in just 4.3 hours?

  1. Eros

  2. Ida

  3. Gaspra

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

The asteroid Eros is known for its rapid rotation, completing one full rotation in just 4.3 hours.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the asteroid that was visited by the NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft in 1997 and became the first asteroid to be orbited by a spacecraft?

  1. Eros

  2. Ida

  3. Gaspra

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

The NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft visited the asteroid Eros in 1997 and became the first spacecraft to orbit an asteroid.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the asteroid that was visited by the Dawn mission in 2015 and is the largest object in the asteroid belt?

  1. Ceres

  2. Vesta

  3. Pallas

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

The Dawn mission visited the asteroid Ceres in 2015, which is the largest object in the asteroid belt.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the asteroid that was visited by the Hayabusa2 spacecraft in 2018 and is scheduled to return samples to Earth in 2020?

  1. Ryugu

  2. Bennu

  3. Itokawa

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

The Hayabusa2 spacecraft visited the asteroid Ryugu in 2018 and is scheduled to return samples to Earth in 2020.

Multiple choice

Which observatory was used to discover the first exoplanet orbiting a Sun-like star?

  1. Hubble Space Telescope

  2. Keck Observatory

  3. Very Large Telescope

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

The first exoplanet orbiting a Sun-like star, 51 Pegasi b, was discovered in 1995 using the Hubble Space Telescope.

Multiple choice

Which observatory was used to discover the first pulsars?

  1. Arecibo Observatory

  2. Hubble Space Telescope

  3. Very Large Telescope

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

The first pulsars were discovered in 1967 using the Arecibo Observatory.