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Which space telescope discovered the first confirmed exoplanet orbiting a sun-like star (51 Pegasi b)?
- Hubble
- Kepler
- Ground-based ELODIE spectrograph
- TESS
Answer: Ground-based ELODIE spectrograph
51 Pegasi b was discovered in 1995 using radial velocity method with ground-based ELODIE spectrograph at Observatoire de Haute-Provence, not a space telescope. Note: Question tests precision—no space telescope made this discovery.
Which ISRO launch vehicle was retired after its final flight in 2022?
- ASLV
- PSLV
- GSLV Mk II
- LVM3
Answer: GSLV Mk II
GSLV Mk II flew its last mission (EOS-03) in 2021/2022 era before being phased out in favor of LVM3 and upcoming NGLV for heavier payloads.
Which constellation contains the star Vega, the fifth-brightest in the night sky?
- Lyra
- Cygnus
- Aquila
- Boötes
Answer: Lyra
Vega is the brightest star in Lyra and part of the Summer Triangle asterism. It was once the North Star and will be again in ~12,000 years.
Which component of Chandrayaan-3 remained functional in lunar orbit after the landing?
- Vikram lander
- Pragyan rover
- Propulsion Module
- All components ceased operation
Answer: Propulsion Module
After separating Vikram, the Propulsion Module continued orbiting the Moon, hosting the SHAPE experiment to observe Earthshine for exoplanet habitability studies.
Which planet has supersonic winds exceeding 2,000 km/h, the fastest in the solar system?
- Jupiter
- Saturn
- Uranus
- Neptune
Answer: Neptune
Neptune exhibits the strongest sustained winds in the solar system, reaching speeds up to 2,100 km/h near the Great Dark Spot, driven by internal heat despite minimal solar input.
Who was the first person to perform a spacewalk (extravehicular activity)?
- Alexei Leonov
- Ed White
- Neil Armstrong
- Bruce McCandless
Answer: Alexei Leonov
Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov conducted the first EVA on March 18, 1965, spending 12 minutes outside Voskhod 2, tethered to the spacecraft.
The Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) for Gaganyaan is being developed with assistance from which country?
- USA
- Russia
- France
- Japan
Answer: Russia
ISRO collaborated with Roscosmos/Glazkosmos for ECLSS technology transfer, critical for maintaining breathable air, temperature, and humidity in the crew module.
Which asteroid was visited by NASA's Dawn spacecraft, orbiting both Vesta and Ceres?
- Eros
- Itokawa
- Bennu
- Vesta and Ceres
Answer: Vesta and Ceres
Dawn orbited protoplanet Vesta (2011-2012) and dwarf planet Ceres (2015-2018), studying early solar system differentiation and water-rich bodies.
Dark energy is hypothesized to be responsible for which phenomenon?
- Galaxy rotation curves
- Accelerating expansion of the universe
- Cosmic microwave background
- Stellar nucleosynthesis
Answer: Accelerating expansion of the universe
Dark energy constitutes ~68% of the universe's energy content and drives the observed acceleration in cosmic expansion, opposing gravitational attraction.
Which mission performed the first asteroid deflection test by kinetic impact in 2022?
- OSIRIS-APEX
- DART
- Lucy
- Psyche
Answer: DART
NASA's DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) successfully impacted Dimorphos in September 2022, altering its orbit around Didymos, proving planetary defense capability.
Which frequency band does NavIC use for messaging services in addition to positioning?
- L1
- L5
- S-band
- C-band
Answer: S-band
NavIC transmits navigation signals in L5 and S-bands; the S-band also supports messaging/alert dissemination for disaster management and maritime safety.
Which type of galaxy lacks distinct spiral arms or elliptical shape and appears irregular?
- Spiral
- Elliptical
- Lenticular
- Irregular
Answer: Irregular
Irregular galaxies have chaotic shapes without defined structure, often resulting from gravitational interactions or mergers with other galaxies.
Which stage of GSLV Mk III (LVM3) uses solid propellant?
- Core stage only
- Strap-on boosters only
- Upper stage only
- Both strap-ons and core
Answer: Strap-on boosters only
LVM3 uses two large S200 solid rocket boosters for initial thrust. The core L110 stage uses liquid UDMH/N2O4, and the C25 upper stage uses cryogenic LH2/LOX.
The Kuiper Belt is a region beyond Neptune populated primarily by which type of objects?
- Rocky asteroids
- Icy bodies and dwarf planets
- Gas giants
- Metallic meteoroids
Answer: Icy bodies and dwarf planets
The Kuiper Belt contains remnants from solar system formation, including icy bodies, comets, and dwarf planets like Pluto, Haumea, and Makemake.
Which gas did Mangalyaan's Methane Sensor attempt to detect in the Martian atmosphere?
- Oxygen
- Carbon Dioxide
- Methane
- Nitrogen
Answer: Methane
The Methane Sensor for Mars (MSM) aimed to measure atmospheric methane, a potential biosignature or indicator of geological activity, though results were inconclusive.
What is the orbital period of a satellite in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) typically used for navigation constellations like GPS?
- 90 minutes
- 12 hours
- 24 hours
- 48 hours
Answer: 12 hours
Navigation satellites in MEO (e.g., GPS at ~20,200 km altitude) have an orbital period of approximately 12 hours, ensuring global coverage with multiple overlapping orbits.
Which space agency operates the Kourou Spaceport in French Guiana?
- NASA
- ESA/CNES
- Roscosmos
- JAXA
Answer: ESA/CNES
The Guiana Space Centre in Kourou is operated by CNES (France) and used primarily by ESA for Ariane and Vega launches due to its proximity to the equator, enhancing payload capacity.
Which Indian satellite was the first dedicated multi-wavelength space observatory?
- Chandrayaan-1
- AstroSat
- XPoSat
- Aditya-L1
Answer: AstroSat
Launched in 2015, AstroSat is India's first dedicated multi-wavelength space telescope, observing simultaneously in UV, optical, and X-ray bands to study celestial sources.
Which instrument on Chandrayaan-3's Vikram lander measured the thermal conductivity of the lunar surface?
- RAMBHA
- ChASTE
- ILSA
- LRA
Answer: ChASTE
ChASTE (Chandra's Surface Thermophysical Experiment) measured the thermal conductivity and temperature profile of the lunar topsoil near the south pole, providing critical data for future landing missions.
Which planet has the most eccentric (elliptical) orbit among the eight major planets?
- Earth
- Mars
- Mercury
- Venus
Answer: Mercury
Mercury has the highest orbital eccentricity (0.2056) of all major planets, meaning its distance from the Sun varies significantly between perihelion and aphelion.