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Generate QuizSpace – Medium Level – GK Questions
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The INSAT-3DS meteorological satellite was launched in February 2024 aboard _______.
- PSLV-C58
- LVM3-M4
- GSLV-F14
- SSLV-D3
Answer: GSLV-F14
GSLV-F14 successfully deployed INSAT-3DS on Feb 17, 2024, enhancing weather forecasting and disaster warning capabilities over Indian Ocean Region.
Blazars are active galactic nuclei with jets pointed nearly directly toward Earth.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Blazar emission is Doppler-boosted due to relativistic jet alignment with line-of-sight, causing rapid variability and high-energy dominance.
Who was the first Asian woman to travel to space?
- Kalpana Chawla
- Chiaki Mukai
- Yi So-yeon
- Liu Yang
Answer: Chiaki Mukai
Japanese astronaut Chiaki Mukai flew aboard STS-65 in July 1994; Kalpana Chawla (Indian-origin US citizen) flew later in 1997.
Cross-link inter-satellite links in navigation constellations enable autonomous orbit determination without ground stations.
- True - used in GPS III/BeiDou
- False - requires constant ground contact
- True - only for LEO satellites
- False - technologically unfeasible
Answer: True - used in GPS III/BeiDou
Ka-band cross-links allow satellites to range each other, improving ephemeris accuracy and reducing ground segment dependency; implemented in modern GNSS.
The Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) includes _______ member agencies including ISRO.
- 5
- 10
- 13
- 20
Answer: 13
IADC comprises 13 national/international space agencies coordinating debris mitigation standards; ISRO joined in 2000s contributing tracking data.
Ceres is the only dwarf planet located in the inner solar system.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Ceres resides in main asteroid belt between Mars/Jupiter; all other recognized dwarf planets (Pluto, Eris, Haumea, Makemake) are trans-Neptunian.
Which mission discovered water ice in permanently shadowed craters at lunar south pole using neutron spectroscopy?
- Chandrayaan-1 MIP
- Lunar Prospector
- LCROSS
- All of the above
Answer: All of the above
Lunar Prospector (1998) detected H signature; Chandrayaan-1 MIP/M3 confirmed OH/H₂O; LCROSS impact (2009) directly sampled ice-rich ejecta.
The Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) was formerly known as _______.
- VSSC
- SHAR
- Liquid Propulsion System Project
- Propulsion Development Centre
Answer: Liquid Propulsion System Project
LPSC evolved from LPSP established in 1980s for Vikas engine development; renamed LPSC in 1990s integrating liquid/cryogenic stage responsibilities.
Multi-junction solar cells achieve >30% efficiency by stacking semiconductor layers tuned to different wavelengths.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Triple-junction GaInP/GaAs/Ge cells capture broader solar spectrum, reaching 32-35% efficiency vs ~20% for silicon; standard on GEO/deep space missions.
Saturn's Cassini Division is a gap maintained by orbital resonance with which moon?
- Mimas
- Enceladus
- Tethys
- Dione
Answer: Mimas
2:1 mean-motion resonance with Mimas clears particles from Cassini Division; gravitational perturbations prevent stable orbits in this region.
Which Apollo mission suffered an oxygen tank explosion en route to the Moon?
- Apollo 8
- Apollo 11
- Apollo 13
- Apollo 17
Answer: Apollo 13
Apollo 13's Service Module O₂ tank exploded Apr 13, 1970; crew aborted landing, used LM as lifeboat, and returned safely via free-return trajectory.
NavIC's Standard Positioning Service (SPS) accuracy is better than _______ meters over Indian landmass.
- 5
- 10
- 20
- 50
Answer: 20
NavIC SPS provides <20 m horizontal accuracy over India and surrounding regions; encrypted Restricted Service offers higher precision for authorized users.
Interferometry combines signals from multiple telescopes to achieve angular resolution equivalent to a single dish spanning their separation.
- True
- False
Answer: True
VLBI/optical interferometry synthesizes aperture equal to baseline length; EHT achieved µas resolution imaging black holes using global telescope network.
Which moon has a substantial nitrogen-methane atmosphere thicker than Mars?
- Europa
- Ganymede
- Titan
- Triton
Answer: Titan
Titan's surface pressure is 1.5 bar (vs Mars' 0.006 bar), composed of N₂/CH₄ with organic haze layers; only moon with dense atmosphere and active hydrological cycle.
The Satish Dhawan Space Centre was originally known as _______ Range.
- Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station
- Sriharikota High Altitude Range
- Balasore Test Range
- Wheeler Island Range
Answer: Sriharikota High Altitude Range
SHAR was renamed Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in 2002 honoring former ISRO chairman; SHAR acronym still appears in technical documentation.
Carbon-carbon composites are used in nose cones and leading edges due to high-temperature resistance.
- True
- False
Answer: True
C-C composites retain strength above 2000°C without melting, ideal for re-entry vehicle hotspots; used in Space Shuttle nose cone and wing leading edges.
ISRO's Resourcesat-2A satellite carries LISS-IV sensor with spatial resolution of _______.
- 5.8 m
- 10 m
- 23.5 m
- 56 m
Answer: 5.8 m
LISS-IV provides 5.8 m multispectral imagery over 23 km swath or 56 m over 700 km swath, supporting agriculture, forestry, and urban planning.
The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) is headquartered in _______.
- New York
- Geneva
- Vienna
- Paris
Answer: Vienna
UNOOSA at Vienna International Centre promotes international cooperation in peaceful space use, maintaining registry of launched objects.
Charon is tidally locked to Pluto such that both always show the same face to each other.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Pluto-Charon system is mutually tidally locked due to close proximity and comparable mass ratio; both bodies keep same hemisphere facing each other permanently.
Which mission carried the first living creatures to orbit Earth and return safely?
- Sputnik 2
- Vostok 1
- Korabl-Sputnik 5
- Mercury-Atlas 6
Answer: Korabl-Sputnik 5
Korabl-Sputnik 5 (Aug 1960) returned dogs Belka and Strelka after 18 orbits; Laika (Sputnik 2) died in orbit, making KS-5 first safe biological return.