Space – Medium Level – 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: ISRO plans to include a woman astronaut in the Gaganyaan crewed mission.

True – ISRO has selected female astronaut candidates as part of its Gaganyaan programme, reflecting India's commitment to gender inclusion in its space programme.

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: The Chandrayaan-4 lunar sample return mission is currently planned for launch in _______ timeframe.

2027-28 – Chandrayaan-4 aims to collect ~2-3 kg lunar regolith from south pole region and return to Earth; complex multi-module mission targeting late 2020s window.

Q: Sabatier reaction converts CO₂ and H₂ into methane and water for closed-loop life support systems.

True – CO₂ + 4H₂ → CH₄ + 2H₂O recovers water from crew-exhaled CO₂; implemented on ISS and planned for Mars ISRU propellant production.

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: Rotovators are rotating tethers that exchange momentum with payloads to enable propellantless _______ transfer.

Orbit-to-surface/orbit – Rotating tether catches/releases payloads at periapsis/apoapsis transferring orbital energy; enables access to LEO/GEO/lunar surface without rockets.

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space medium mcq science & technology — space (gaganyaan) upsc prelims & mains (gs3), ssc cgl, banking ga

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

Laminar boundary layer
Detached bow shockwave
Ablative combustion zone
Supersonic vortex shedding

space medium mcq science & technology — space (international) upsc prelims, ssc cgl/chsl, railway ntpc

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

Russia
Japan
China
South Korea

space medium mcq science & technology — space (international) upsc prelims, ssc cgl/chsl, railway ntpc, banking ga

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

Tanegashima Space Center
Noshiro Testing Center
Uchinoura Space Center
Sagamihara Campus

space medium true/false gaganyaan upsc, ssc, banking

ISRO plans to include a woman astronaut in the Gaganyaan crewed mission.

True
False

space medium mcq gaganyaan mission upsc, ssc, banking

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

space medium mcq spadex mission upsc, ssc, banking

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

space medium fill in the blank indian space research organisation (isro) current affairs, upsc prelims

The Chandrayaan-4 lunar sample return mission is currently planned for launch in _______ timeframe.

2025-26
2027-28
2030-31
2035+

space medium true/false space technology - life support ssc cpo, railway je

Sabatier reaction converts CO₂ and H₂ into methane and water for closed-loop life support systems.

True
False

space medium mcq space missions - small satellites ssc chsl, railway je

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

space medium fill in the blank space technology - future concepts ssc cgl, upsc prelims

Rotovators are rotating tethers that exchange momentum with payloads to enable propellantless _______ transfer.

Interplanetary
Orbit-to-surface/orbit
Interstellar
Lunar-Earth

space medium true/false solar system - composition ssc general science, upsc prelims

Enstatite chondrites have isotopic compositions most similar to Earth-Moon system among meteorite classes.

True
False

space medium mcq space history general knowledge for banking/ssc

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

1963
1978
1984
1990

space medium mcq space agencies upsc prelims, general knowledge

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

CNES
ASI
DLR
UKSA

space medium fill in the blank space technology - ground segment isro scientist exam, ssc cpo

Deep Space Network (DSN) complexes are spaced approximately _______ degrees longitude apart for continuous coverage.

space medium true/false astronomy - instrumentation ssc cgl, upsc prelims

Coronagraphs block direct starlight to enable imaging of faint circumstellar disks and exoplanets.

True
False

space medium mcq solar system - surface processes ssc general science, upsc prelims

Aeolian landforms (dunes/ripples) observed on Mars indicate present-day wind activity despite thin atmosphere.

True - active dune migration documented
False - all features ancient
True - but only at poles
False - liquid erosion dominant

space medium fill in the blank indian space research organisation (isro) current affairs, state pscs

The Space Kidz India student experiment flew aboard PSLV-C53 POEM platform studying _______ in microgravity.

Plant growth
Crystal formation
Fluid dynamics
Combustion

space medium true/false space technology - communications ssc cpo, railway je

Quantum key distribution (QKD) satellites enable unhackable encryption via quantum entanglement principles.

True
False

space medium mcq space missions - earth science upsc prelims, ssc cgl

GRACE-FO mission measures temporal gravity field variations to track groundwater depletion and ice mass loss.

True - twin satellites ranging via microwave/laser
False - measures magnetic field
True - single satellite radar
False - optical imaging only

space medium fill in the blank space technology - propulsion ssc chsl, railway je

Green monopropellants like AF-M315E replace hydrazine offering higher performance and reduced _______.

density
toxicity/handling hazards
specific impulse
storage temperature

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