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ESA stands for _______ Space Agency.
- European
- Eastern
- Equatorial
- Eurasian
Answer: European
ESA stands for European Space Agency. It is an intergovernmental organisation dedicated to the exploration of space, with 22 member states.
Geostationary satellites orbit the Earth from west to east.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Geostationary satellites orbit in the same direction as the Earth's rotation (west to east) to remain fixed relative to a point on the Earth's surface.
Which constellation is also known as the 'Great Bear'?
- Ursa Major
- Ursa Minor
- Orion
- Cassiopeia
Answer: Ursa Major
Ursa Major is known as the Great Bear. It contains the asterism known as the Big Dipper or the Plough, which is used to locate the Pole Star.
What was the name of the rover deployed by Chandrayaan-3?
- Pragyan
- Vikram
- Gaganyaan
- Aditya
Answer: Pragyan
The Chandrayaan-3 mission consisted of the Vikram lander and the Pragyan rover. Pragyan means 'wisdom' in Sanskrit.
The first woman in space was _______ from the Soviet Union.
- Sally Ride
- Valentina Tereshkova
- Mae Jemison
- Kalpana Chawla
Answer: Valentina Tereshkova
Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman in space on June 16, 1963, aboard Vostok 6. Sally Ride was the first American woman in space.
The Sun is a solid ball of fire.
- True
- False
Answer: False
The Sun is not solid; it is a massive sphere of hot plasma (ionized gas). It generates energy through nuclear fusion in its core, converting hydrogen into helium.
What is the primary function of the Cartosat series of satellites?
- Communication
- Earth Observation and Mapping
- Weather Forecasting
- Navigation
Answer: Earth Observation and Mapping
Cartosat satellites are part of the Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) program, designed for high-resolution earth observation and cartographic applications.
Which planet is tilted on its side, rotating almost perpendicular to its orbit?
- Jupiter
- Saturn
- Uranus
- Neptune
Answer: Uranus
Uranus has an axial tilt of about 98 degrees, meaning it essentially rolls around the Sun on its side. This extreme tilt causes extreme seasonal variations.
The father of the Indian Space Programme is _______.
- APJ Abdul Kalam
- Vikram Sarabhai
- Satish Dhawan
- U.R. Rao
Answer: Vikram Sarabhai
Dr. Vikram Sarabhai is widely regarded as the father of the Indian space program. He established the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) and played a key role in the formation of ISRO.
Pluto is larger than Earth's Moon.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Pluto is smaller than Earth's Moon. Pluto's diameter is about 2,377 km, while the Moon's diameter is about 3,475 km.
Which international space station is a collaborative project involving NASA, Roscosmos, JAXA, ESA, and CSA?
- Tiangong
- Mir
- International Space Station (ISS)
- Skylab
Answer: International Space Station (ISS)
The ISS is a modular space station in low Earth orbit, maintained by a collaboration of five space agencies: NASA (USA), Roscosmos (Russia), JAXA (Japan), ESA (Europe), and CSA (Canada).
What is the name of the supermassive black hole at the center of our Milky Way galaxy?
- Cygnus X-1
- Sagittarius A*
- M87*
- Andromeda Black Hole
Answer: Sagittarius A*
Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*) is the supermassive black hole at the Galactic Center of the Milky Way. The first image of Sgr A* was released by the Event Horizon Telescope in 2022.
The Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) developed by ISRO is designed to launch satellites up to _______ kg to Low Earth Orbit.
- 100 kg
- 500 kg
- 1000 kg
- 2000 kg
Answer: 500 kg
SSLV is designed to launch mini, micro, or nano satellites (up to 500 kg) to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) on a demand-based, lower-cost basis.
Kalpana Chawla died in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster in 2003.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Kalpana Chawla, an Indian-American astronaut, was one of the seven crew members who died when the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated upon re-entry on February 1, 2003.
Which planet is closest to the Sun?
- Venus
- Earth
- Mercury
- Mars
Answer: Mercury
Mercury is the smallest and innermost planet in the Solar System, orbiting closest to the Sun.
Which space agency launched the Kepler Space Telescope to discover exoplanets?
- ESA
- NASA
- JAXA
- Roscosmos
Answer: NASA
NASA launched the Kepler Space Telescope in 2009. Its primary mission was to discover Earth-size planets orbiting other stars, particularly in the habitable zone.
ISRO's primary launch site, Satish Dhawan Space Centre, is located in _______.
- Thiruvananthapuram
- Sriharikota
- Bengaluru
- Mahendragiri
Answer: Sriharikota
The Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC SHAR) is located in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. It is the only orbital launch site in India.
A meteoroid that survives its passage through the Earth's atmosphere and lands on the surface is called a meteor.
- True
- False
Answer: False
A meteoroid is a small rocky or metallic body in outer space. When it enters the atmosphere, it becomes a meteor (shooting star). If it survives and hits the ground, it is called a meteorite.
Which instrument on Chandrayaan-1 discovered water molecules on the Moon?
- TMC
- MIP
- Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3)
- Hex
Answer: Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3)
The Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3), an instrument provided by NASA on board Chandrayaan-1, confirmed the presence of water molecules on the lunar surface in 2009.
Which planet has the shortest day (rotation period) in the solar system?
- Earth
- Mars
- Jupiter
- Saturn
Answer: Jupiter
Jupiter has the shortest day of all the planets, rotating on its axis once every 9 hours and 55 minutes. Its rapid rotation causes it to bulge at the equator.