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 journal publishes research on the dynamics and control of tethered spacecraft systems?

  1. Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics

  2. Acta Astronautica

  3. Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets

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

The Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics publishes research on all aspects of astrodynamics, including the dynamics and control of tethered spacecraft systems.

Multiple choice

Which journal publishes research on the dynamics and control of spacecraft in proximity operations?

  1. Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics

  2. Acta Astronautica

  3. Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets

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

The Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics publishes research on all aspects of astrodynamics, including the dynamics and control of spacecraft in proximity operations.

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, which is a lightweight and stiff metal.

Multiple choice

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

  1. 5

  2. 7

  3. 9

  4. 11
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Hubble Space Telescope has been serviced by astronauts five times, in 1993, 1997, 1999, 2002, and 2009.

Multiple choice

What is the expected lifespan of the Hubble Space Telescope?

  1. 10 years

  2. 20 years

  3. 30 years

  4. 40 years
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Hubble Space Telescope was originally designed to have a lifespan of 15 years, but it has been extended to 30 years through servicing missions.

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

The James Webb Space Telescope is the Hubble Space Telescope's successor, and it is scheduled to launch in 2022.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the scientific collaboration that operates the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO)?

  1. The Gravitational Wave International Collaboration (GWIC)

  2. The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory Collaboration (LIGO Collaboration)

  3. The Virgo Collaboration

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

The LIGO Collaboration is a scientific collaboration of over 1,300 scientists from universities and research institutions around the world.

Multiple choice

Which space mission was specifically designed to search for evidence of past or present life on Mars?

  1. Voyager 1

  2. Cassini-Huygens

  3. Curiosity

  4. Hubble Space Telescope
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Curiosity rover mission was specifically designed to search for evidence of past or present life on Mars.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the radio telescope array used to search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI)?

  1. Allen Telescope Array

  2. Very Large Array

  3. Atacama Large Millimeter Array

  4. Square Kilometer Array
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Allen Telescope Array is a radio telescope array used to search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI).

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the search for extraterrestrial intelligence?

  1. Astrobiology

  2. SETI

  3. Xenobiology

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

SETI stands for Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence.

Multiple choice

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

  1. Viking 1

  2. Spirit

  3. Opportunity

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

Viking 1 was the first space probe to successfully land on Mars.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the mission that successfully landed the first humans on the Moon?

  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 successfully landed the first humans on the Moon.

Multiple choice

Which space telescope is known for its ability to detect 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 is known for its ability to detect exoplanets.

Multiple choice

What is the primary source of orbital debris?

  1. Abandoned satellites

  2. Rocket boosters

  3. Fragments from collisions

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

Orbital debris originates from various sources, including abandoned satellites, rocket boosters, fragments from collisions, and other spacecraft components.

Multiple choice

What is the estimated number of pieces of orbital debris larger than 10 centimeters in Earth's orbit?

  1. 100,000

  2. 1 million

  3. 10 million

  4. 100 million
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

It is estimated that there are approximately 100,000 pieces of orbital debris larger than 10 centimeters in Earth's orbit.