Space – Medium Level – GK Questions

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.

IN-SPAC, established in 2020, acts as an independent nodal agency to enable, authorize, and supervise private sector entities in space activities, fostering commercialization.

The H-R diagram is a fundamental tool in stellar astrophysics, classifying stars into main sequence, giants, supergiants, and white dwarfs based on absolute magnitude/luminosity vs. spectral class/temperature.

Mercury has the highest orbital eccentricity (0.2056) of all major planets, meaning its distance from the Sun varies significantly between perihelion and aphelion.

NARL is situated in Gadanki, Andhra Pradesh, near Tirupati. It operates the Indian MST Radar and conducts research on atmospheric dynamics and space weather.

As of recent records, Peggy Whitson holds the record for most cumulative time in space by a woman (>675 days). Sunita Williams has significant time but not the record.

Molniya orbits (inclination ~63.4°, period 12 hours) provide extended coverage over high latitudes, ideal for Russia's northern regions where geostationary satellites are ineffective.

At ~380,000 years post-Big Bang, electrons combined with protons to form neutral hydrogen, allowing photons to travel freely—this relic radiation is observed today as the CMB.

Aditya-L1 was successfully launched on September 2, 2023, aboard PSLV-C57 in XL configuration from Sriharikota.

The total mass of the asteroid belt is less than 4% of the Moon's mass, far too little to form even a Mars-sized body. Ceres alone accounts for ~25% of the belt's mass.

PSLV strap-on motors (PSOM) are solid-fuel boosters. Variants differ in number and size of strap-ons (e.g., PSLV-XL uses six larger PSOM-XL boosters).

Chandrayaan-3 was entirely developed and launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) using LVM3 rocket from Sriharikota.

NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission will use dual-frequency SAR to study ecosystem disturbances, ice-sheet collapse, and natural hazards.

Brown dwarfs have masses between giant planets and low-mass stars (~13-80 Jupiter masses). They may briefly fuse deuterium but never sustain stable hydrogen fusion.

Gaganyaan's Service Module uses MMH/MON3 hypergolic bipropellant engines for orbit raising, circularization, and deorbit maneuvers, ensuring reliability for crew safety.

With an axial tilt of ~98°, Uranus experiences extreme seasons where each pole gets 42 years of continuous sunlight followed by 42 years of darkness during its 84-year orbit.

Mir's core module launched on February 20, 1986. It operated for 15 years, hosting international crews and serving as a testbed for long-duration spaceflight.

Millions of pieces of defunct satellites, rocket stages, and fragments orbit Earth at high velocities, increasing collision risks and threatening sustainable space operations.

Quasi-stellar radio sources (quasars) are extremely luminous active galactic nuclei where accretion onto supermassive black holes releases immense energy.

IAF's Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM) in Bengaluru conducts medical screening and training for Gaganaut candidates in collaboration with ISRO.