Space – MCQ – GK Questions

Q: The Gaganyaan Crew Module adopts a sphere-cone configuration primarily because its blunt base generates which effect to manage re-entry heating?

Detached bow shockwave – The blunt base of the sphere-cone configuration creates a detached bow shockwave that stands off from the vehicle surface, pushing intense re-entry heating away from the capsule, while the conical section provides aerodynamic lift for a controlled descent.

Q: Which country recently made progress with its reusable rocket programme, the Long March 10B, as part of global reusable launch vehicle developments?

China – Current affairs coverage for 13 July 2026 highlighted China's reusable Long March 10B rocket as part of ongoing developments in global space and reusable-launch-vehicle technology.

Q: Japan's JAXA conducted the first test flight of its experimental reusable rocket, RV-X, at which facility on 11 July 2026?

Noshiro Testing Center – Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) conducted the first test flight of its experimental reusable rocket, Reusable Vehicle eXperiment (RV-X), on 11 July 2026 at the Noshiro Testing Center.

Q: India's space economy is targeted to grow to how much by 2040 under ISRO's long-term plan?

$44 billion – India's space economy, currently around $8 billion, is targeted to reach $44 billion by 2033-2040, driven by private sector participation and government ambition.

Q: ISRO's Gaganyaan mission aims to send Indian astronauts to space. What is the planned crew size for the mission?

3 – Gaganyaan is planned to send a crew of 3 Indian astronauts (Gaganauts) to a low earth orbit of 400 km for 3 days, making India the 4th country to independently achieve crewed spaceflight.

Q: ISRO's Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) successfully demonstrated docking in January 2025, making India the ___ country to achieve this.

4th – With SpaDeX's successful docking, India became the 4th country after USA, Russia, and China to demonstrate space docking technology.

Q: CubeSat standard defines unit size as 10 cm cube (~1 kg); 6U CubeSat volume is approximately _______ liters.

6 – 6U = 6 × (10 cm)³ = 6000 cm³ = 6 liters; standardized form factor enables rapid development/access to space for universities/startups/agencies.

Q: Shapiro delay measures general relativistic time dilation of signals passing near massive bodies.

True - confirmed by Cassini/radar ranging – Signals traversing curved spacetime experience extra delay proportional to gravitational potential; Cassini solar conjunction test verified GR to 10⁻⁵ precision.

Q: The first woman to conduct a spacewalk was Svetlana Savitskaya in which year?

1984 – Savitskaya performed EVA outside Salyut 7 on Jul 25, 1984, conducting metal cutting/welding experiments; preceded Kathryn Sullivan's US EVA by months.

Q: Which space agency operates the COSMO-SkyMed radar satellite constellation?

ASI – COSMO-SkyMed (Italian Space Agency) provides dual-use X-band SAR imagery for civilian/security applications; second generation enhances revisit/capability.