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 Andrei Tarkovsky's science fiction masterpiece, a group of astronauts embark on a journey to a distant planet to investigate a mysterious signal. What is the title of this film?

  1. Solaris

  2. Stalker

  3. Andrei Rublev

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

Solaris is a 1972 Soviet science fiction drama film directed by Andrei Tarkovsky. The film follows the story of Kris Kelvin, a psychologist who is sent to a space station orbiting the planet Solaris to investigate a strange phenomenon that is affecting the crew.

Multiple choice

Which country was the first to successfully launch an artificial satellite into orbit?

  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 launched Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite, into orbit in 1957, sparking the Space Race.

Multiple choice

Which country was the first to put a man into space?

  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 launched Yuri Gagarin into space in 1961, making him the first human to travel into space.

Multiple choice

Which country was the first to successfully launch a human into space?

  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 launched Yuri Gagarin into space in 1961, making him the first human to travel into space.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the telescope that was launched in 1990 to study the cosmic microwave background radiation?

  1. Hubble Space Telescope

  2. Chandra X-ray Observatory

  3. Spitzer Space Telescope

  4. Cosmic Background Explorer
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) was a NASA satellite launched in 1990 to study the cosmic microwave background radiation.

Multiple choice

When was the Hubble Space Telescope launched into orbit?

  1. 1989

  2. 1990

  3. 1991

  4. 1992
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Hubble Space Telescope was launched into orbit on April 24, 1990, aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery.

Multiple choice

What is the primary mirror of the Hubble Space Telescope made of?

  1. Glass

  2. Gold

  3. Silver

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

The primary mirror of the Hubble Space Telescope is made of beryllium, a lightweight and strong metal.

Multiple choice

What was the name of the first servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope?

  1. STS-31

  2. STS-41

  3. STS-51

  4. STS-61
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The first servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope was STS-31, which took place in December 1993.

Multiple choice

How many times has the Hubble Space Telescope been serviced by astronauts?

  1. 4

  2. 5

  3. 6

  4. 7
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Hubble Space Telescope has been serviced by astronauts on five separate occasions, with the last servicing mission taking place in 2009.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the Hubble Space Telescope's successor?

  1. James Webb Space Telescope

  2. Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope

  3. Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope

  4. Vera C. Rubin Observatory
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Hubble Space Telescope's successor is the James Webb Space Telescope, which was launched in December 2021.

Multiple choice

What is the Hubble Space Telescope's current status?

  1. It is still operational and taking images.

  2. It has been decommissioned and is no longer in use.

  3. It is undergoing repairs and will be relaunched.

  4. It has been replaced by the James Webb Space Telescope.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

As of 2023, the Hubble Space Telescope is still operational and continues to take images and collect data.

Multiple choice

In the futuristic world of Isaac Asimov's 'Foundation' series, what is the name of the organization tasked with preserving human knowledge and culture during a period of galactic decline?

  1. The Galactic Empire

  2. The Foundation

  3. The Second Foundation

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

The Foundation is a group of scientists and intellectuals who are entrusted with the responsibility of safeguarding human knowledge and ensuring the survival of civilization.

Multiple choice

In the science fiction world of Kim Stanley Robinson's 'Aurora', what is the name of the generation ship that embarks on a centuries-long journey to a distant star system?

  1. Aurora

  2. Godspeed

  3. Ares

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

Aurora is the name of the spaceship that carries a diverse group of colonists on a multi-generational journey to Tau Ceti.

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.