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

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 successfully launched into orbit on April 24, 1990, aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery.

Multiple choice

Which space agency is responsible for the Hubble Space Telescope?

  1. NASA

  2. ESA

  3. JAXA

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

The Hubble Space Telescope is a joint project between NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA), with NASA being the primary agency responsible for its operation and maintenance.

Multiple choice

How many servicing missions have been conducted on the Hubble Space Telescope?

  1. 3

  2. 5

  3. 7

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

There have been five successful servicing missions conducted on the Hubble Space Telescope, allowing astronauts to repair and upgrade its instruments and systems.

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 James Webb Space Telescope is the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope, designed to study the universe in infrared light and explore the earliest galaxies and stars.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the Hubble Space Telescope's primary camera?

  1. Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2 (WFPC2)

  2. Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS)

  3. Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3)

  4. Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2 (WFPC2) was the Hubble Space Telescope's primary camera from 1993 to 2009, capturing iconic images like the Hubble Deep Field.

Multiple choice

What is the Hubble Space Telescope's expected operational lifespan?

  1. 10 years

  2. 15 years

  3. 20 years

  4. 25 years
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The Hubble Space Telescope was initially designed for a 15-year lifespan, but thanks to successful servicing missions, it has exceeded this and is expected to continue operating for at least 25 years.

Multiple choice

Which comet is known for its exceptionally long tail?

  1. Hale-Bopp

  2. Hyakutake

  3. Shoemaker-Levy 9

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

Hale-Bopp is known for its exceptionally long tail, which was visible in the night sky for 18 months.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is NOT a type of spacecraft attitude control system?

  1. Three-axis stabilization

  2. Spin stabilization

  3. Gravity gradient stabilization

  4. Reaction wheel control
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Gravity gradient stabilization is not a type of spacecraft attitude control system. It is a passive attitude control technique that uses the gravity gradient between the spacecraft and the Earth to maintain the spacecraft's orientation.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the NASA mission that was launched in 2020 to search for signs of life on Mars?

  1. Perseverance

  2. Curiosity

  3. Opportunity

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

The Perseverance mission was launched in 2020 with the goal of searching for signs of ancient life on Mars and collecting samples for return to Earth.

Multiple choice

Which space telescope is primarily designed to search for exoplanets?

  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
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Kepler Space Telescope was specifically designed to search for exoplanets, or planets outside our solar system, by detecting the slight dimming of stars as planets pass in front of them.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the mission that was launched in 2018 to study the habitability of Jupiter's moon Europa?

  1. Europa Clipper

  2. Juno

  3. Galileo

  4. Cassini-Huygens
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Europa Clipper mission was launched in 2018 to study the habitability of Jupiter's moon Europa, which is thought to have a subsurface ocean that could potentially support life.

Multiple choice

Which space probe was the first to successfully land on the surface of Mars?

  1. Viking 1

  2. Mariner 9

  3. Curiosity

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

Viking 1 was the first space probe to successfully land on the surface of Mars in 1976. It conducted a variety of experiments and sent back valuable data about the Martian environment.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the space probe that was sent to study the dwarf planet Pluto and its moon Charon?

  1. New Horizons

  2. Voyager 1

  3. Cassini-Huygens

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

New Horizons was the first space probe to visit Pluto and its moon Charon. It flew by the dwarf planet in 2015 and sent back stunning images and data.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the space telescope that was launched in 1990 and has revolutionized our understanding of the universe?

  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
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Hubble Space Telescope was launched in 1990 and has revolutionized our understanding of the universe. It has provided stunning images and data that have helped us learn more about the age, size, and composition of the universe.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the space probe that was sent to study the planet Jupiter and its moons?

  1. Juno

  2. Galileo

  3. Cassini-Huygens

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

Juno was a space probe that was sent to study the planet Jupiter and its moons. It arrived at Jupiter in 2016 and spent several years studying the planet's atmosphere, interior, and magnetic field.