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Generate QuizSpace – Medium Level – GK Questions
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Chandrayaan-3's Pragyan rover operated for approximately _______ Earth days on the lunar surface.
- 7
- 14
- 21
- 30
Answer: 14
Pragyan traversed ~100 m and operated for one lunar day (~14 Earth days) before entering sleep mode at lunar sunset; wake-up attempts failed.
Psyche is a metallic M-type asteroid targeted by a NASA mission launched in 2023.
- True
- False
Answer: True
NASA's Psyche mission launched Oct 2023 to explore the metal-rich asteroid 16 Psyche, possibly a protoplanet's exposed core.
The Scramjet engine tested by ISRO in 2016 was integrated with which launch vehicle?
- PSLV
- GSLV
- RH-560 sounding rocket
- LVM3
Answer: RH-560 sounding rocket
ISRO's ATV-D01 scramjet test flew on RH-560 Mk III sounding rocket in Aug 2016, demonstrating supersonic combustion air-breathing propulsion.
Which space agency launched the Hayabusa2 asteroid sample return mission?
- NASA
- ESA
- JAXA
- CNSA
Answer: JAXA
JAXA's Hayabusa2 collected samples from asteroid Ryugu (2018-2019) and returned them to Earth in Dec 2020, advancing understanding of solar system origins.
The Jugnu nanosatellite developed by IIT Kanpur was launched in _______.
- 2009
- 2011
- 2013
- 2015
Answer: 2011
Jugnu, a 3 kg student satellite for agriculture/disaster monitoring, launched aboard PSLV-C18 in Oct 2011, pioneering academic space research in India.
Magnetars are neutron stars with extremely powerful magnetic fields (~10^14 Gauss).
- True
- False
Answer: True
Magnetars possess magnetic fields trillions of times stronger than Earth's, producing giant flares and soft gamma repeater bursts.
The Crew Module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment (CARE) validated re-entry technologies in which year?
- 2012
- 2014
- 2016
- 2018
Answer: 2014
CARE, launched atop LVM3-X in Dec 2014, tested ablative heat shield and parachute systems for Gaganyaan crew module recovery.
Which planet has a retrograde rotation AND a day longer than its year?
- Mercury
- Venus
- Uranus
- Neptune
Answer: Venus
Venus rotates east-to-west (retrograde) every 243 Earth days, while its orbital period is 225 days, making its sidereal day longer than its year.
The first interplanetary probe to visit Mercury was _______.
- MESSENGER
- Mariner 10
- BepiColombo
- Pioneer 11
Answer: Mariner 10
Mariner 10 conducted three flybys of Mercury in 1974-75, mapping ~45% of its surface and discovering its magnetic field.
Aerobraking uses atmospheric drag to reduce spacecraft velocity and adjust orbit without propellant.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Aerobraking gradually lowers apoapsis by skimming upper atmosphere, saving fuel for orbit insertion (used by Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Mangalyaan).
T Tauri stars are pre-main-sequence stars still contracting toward hydrogen fusion.
- True - they are young stellar objects
- False - they are evolved red giants
- False - they are white dwarfs
- True - but only in binary systems
Answer: True - they are young stellar objects
T Tauri stars (<10 Myr) are variable, accreting protostars en route to main sequence, often surrounded by protoplanetary disks.
The Space Situational Awareness Control Centre inaugurated in 2022 is located in _______.
- Bengaluru
- New Delhi
- Dehradun
- Leh
Answer: Bengaluru
ISRO SSA Control Centre in Peenya, Bengaluru monitors space debris, tracks objects, and issues collision warnings to safeguard Indian assets.
Miranda, a moon of Uranus, shows evidence of extreme geological resurfacing with coronae features.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Miranda's surface displays ovoid coronae, fault canyons, and varied terrains suggesting past tidal heating or catastrophic disruption/reassembly.
Which atomic clock technology is indigenously developed for NavIC satellites?
- Cesium beam
- Rubidium fountain
- Hydrogen maser
- Optical lattice
Answer: Rubidium fountain
ISRO/SAC developed indigenous Rubidium atomic clocks for NavIC after import restrictions, achieving stability comparable to international standards.
The Canis Major Dwarf Galaxy is considered the closest satellite galaxy to the Milky Way.
- True - it is closer than Sagittarius Dwarf
- False - Sagittarius Dwarf is closer
- False - Large Magellanic Cloud is closer
- True - but it is merging with Milky Way
Answer: True - it is closer than Sagittarius Dwarf
Discovered in 2003, Canis Major Dwarf (~25,000 ly from Galactic Center) is closer than Sagittarius Dwarf (~50,000 ly), though its status as distinct galaxy is debated.
Aditya-L1 reached Lagrange Point L1 approximately _______ days after launch.
- 30
- 60
- 120
- 180
Answer: 120
Launched Sept 2, 2023, Aditya-L1 entered halo orbit around L1 on Jan 6, 2024 (~126 days later), completing complex trajectory maneuvers.
The photon sphere is a region around a black hole where gravity bends light into circular orbits.
- True
- False
Answer: True
At 1.5 Schwarzschild radii, photons can theoretically orbit a non-rotating black hole, forming the boundary visible in EHT images as the bright ring.
The Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV) planned by ISRO will use which propellant combination in its core stage?
- Solid + Liquid
- Semi-Cryogenic (Kerosene/LOX)
- Cryogenic (LH2/LOX)
- Hypergolic
Answer: Semi-Cryogenic (Kerosene/LOX)
NGLV (Soorya) will use clustered semi-cryogenic engines in core and boosters for higher thrust and density, targeting reusable heavy-lift capabilities post-2030.
Which space agency operates the Tianwen Mars exploration program?
- JAXA
- CNSA
- KARI
- ISA
Answer: CNSA
Tianwen ('Questions to Heaven') is China's planetary exploration program; Tianwen-1 successfully orbited, landed, and deployed Zhurong rover on Mars in 2021.
The NVS series of satellites will augment and eventually replace the existing _______ constellation.
- INSAT
- NavIC (IRNSS)
- GSAT
- Cartosat
Answer: NavIC (IRNSS)
NVS (Navigation with Indian Constellation Second Generation) satellites feature L1 band compatibility and improved atomic clocks, enhancing NavIC service continuity.