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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.
New Horizons' flyby of Arrokoth revealed it to be a contact binary formed by _______.
- Collisional fragmentation
- Gentle accretion in primordial disk
- Tidal disruption
- Volcanic resurfacing
Answer: Gentle accretion in primordial disk
Arrokoth's bilobate shape with aligned lobes indicates low-speed merger of two planetesimals in cold classical Kuiper Belt, preserving early solar system conditions.
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 reionization epoch occurred approximately between which redshift ranges?
- z=100-50
- z=20-6
- z=3-1
- z=0.5-0
Answer: z=20-6
First stars/galaxies ionized neutral hydrogen between z~20-6 (~180 Myr-1 Gyr post-Big Bang), ending cosmic dark ages; confirmed by CMB polarization and quasar spectra.
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.
Nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) achieves higher specific impulse than chemical rockets by heating propellant via _______.
- Electric arc
- Nuclear fission reactor
- Radioactive decay
- Fusion plasma
Answer: Nuclear fission reactor
NTP uses fission reactors to heat liquid hydrogen to ~2500 K, achieving Isp ~900 s vs ~450 s for LH2/LOX chemical engines, enabling faster Mars transit.
The Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) was established in _______ under Dr. Vikram Sarabhai.
- 1957
- 1962
- 1969
- 1972
Answer: 1962
INCOSPAR was formed in 1962 within DAE, laying groundwork for ISRO's establishment in 1969; it initiated sounding rocket launches from Thumba.
Red supergiants are the immediate precursors to Type II supernovae.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Massive stars (>8 solar masses) evolve into red supergiants before core collapse triggers Type II-P/L supernovae; Betelgeuse and Antares are current examples.
The Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 (TV-D1) for Gaganyaan successfully demonstrated crew escape at what altitude?
- 5 km
- 11.7 km
- 17 km
- 30 km
Answer: 17 km
TV-D1 conducted on Oct 21, 2023, separated the Crew Escape System at ~17 km altitude during ascent, validating abort sequence and parachute recovery systems.
Which planet possesses the strongest greenhouse effect in the solar system?
- Mercury
- Venus
- Earth
- Mars
Answer: Venus
Venus has a runaway greenhouse effect due to its dense CO₂ atmosphere (92 bar pressure), raising surface temperatures to ~465°C, hotter than Mercury despite being farther from the Sun.