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The Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) is named after the founder of ISRO and is located in _______.
- Bengaluru
- Thiruvananthapuram
- Ahmedabad
- Sriharikota
Answer: Thiruvananthapuram
VSSC in Thiruvananthapuram is ISRO's lead center for launch vehicle development, honoring Dr. Vikram Sarabhai who established TERLS there in 1963.
ASI is the acronym for the Italian Space Agency.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (ASI) manages Italy's space program, contributing modules to ISS and developing Vega rocket with ESA.
Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs) convert heat from radioactive decay into electricity using which principle?
- Photovoltaic effect
- Seebeck effect
- Thermionic emission
- Piezoelectric effect
Answer: Seebeck effect
RTGs use thermocouples exploiting the Seebeck effect to generate electricity from temperature difference between hot Pu-238 fuel and cold space environment.
Adaptive optics in ground-based telescopes corrects atmospheric distortion using which component?
- Corrector plates
- Deformable mirrors
- Filter wheels
- Charge-coupled devices
Answer: Deformable mirrors
Deformable mirrors adjust shape hundreds of times per second based on wavefront sensor data, compensating for atmospheric turbulence in real-time.
NASA's Ingenuity helicopter completed _______ flights on Mars before retiring in 2024.
- 10
- 32
- 72
- 100
Answer: 72
Ingenuity exceeded its planned 5 flights, completing 72 sorties over 3 years, proving powered flight feasibility in thin Martian atmosphere.
Makemake is brighter than Pluto in visible light.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Pluto has higher albedo (~0.5-0.7) than Makemake (~0.77 but smaller size); Pluto appears brighter due to larger diameter despite similar reflectivity.
Who was the first person to orbit Earth more than once?
- Yuri Gagarin
- Gherman Titov
- John Glenn
- Valentina Tereshkova
Answer: Gherman Titov
Titov orbited Earth 17 times aboard Vostok 2 in Aug 1961, spending over 25 hours in space, surpassing Gagarin's single orbit.
Ka-band frequencies (26-40 GHz) are increasingly used in satellite communications for which advantage?
- Lower rain fade
- Higher bandwidth capacity
- Longer wavelength penetration
- Reduced antenna size
Answer: Higher bandwidth capacity
Ka-band offers wider bandwidths enabling high-throughput broadband services, though susceptible to rain fade requiring adaptive coding/modulation.
The SAGA-220 supercomputer at SAC Ahmedabad is primarily used for _______.
- Launch trajectory optimization
- Weather forecasting and climate modeling
- Satellite image processing
- Deep space navigation
Answer: Weather forecasting and climate modeling
SAGA-220 supports meteorological data processing, monsoon prediction, and climate research, enhancing INSAT/INSAT-3D data utilization.
The Lyman-alpha forest in quasar spectra reveals the distribution of neutral hydrogen in the intergalactic medium.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Absorption lines blueward of Lyman-alpha emission trace intervening hydrogen clouds at different redshifts, mapping cosmic web structure.
NASA's Parker Solar Probe uses which planet's gravity assists to approach the Sun?
- Mercury
- Venus
- Earth
- Mars
Answer: Venus
Parker Solar Probe performs multiple Venus flybys to shrink its orbit and reduce perihelion distance, eventually reaching within 6.2 million km of the Sun.
Which planet has the highest albedo (reflectivity) in the solar system?
- Earth
- Venus
- Jupiter
- Saturn
Answer: Venus
Venus reflects ~75% of incoming sunlight due to thick sulfuric acid clouds, giving it the highest geometric albedo of any planet.
The Canadian Space Agency contributed the Canadarm2 robotic arm to the _______.
- Mir
- International Space Station
- Tiangong
- Skylab
Answer: International Space Station
Canadarm2, launched in 2001, is essential for ISS assembly, maintenance, and spacecraft berthing, showcasing Canada's robotics expertise.
Aerogel is used in space missions primarily for its high thermal insulation properties.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Silica aerogel's nanoporous structure makes it an excellent insulator; used on Mars rovers (Sojourner, Spirit, Opportunity) to protect electronics from extreme cold.
Which country's Chang'e-4 mission achieved the first soft landing on the far side of the Moon?
- USA
- Russia
- China
- India
Answer: China
Chang'e-4 landed in Von Kármán crater on Jan 3, 2019, using Queqiao relay satellite for communication, marking a historic first in lunar exploration.
The transit method detects exoplanets by observing which phenomenon?
- Stellar wobble
- Periodic dimming of starlight
- Direct imaging
- Gravitational lensing
Answer: Periodic dimming of starlight
When a planet passes in front of its host star, it blocks a tiny fraction of light, causing measurable brightness dips that reveal planet size and orbital period.
The Indian Space Association (ISpA) was formed in 2021 as an industry body representing _______ sector interests.
- Government
- Private
- Academic
- Defense
Answer: Private
ISpA represents private space companies in India, advocating for policy reforms and fostering collaboration with ISRO/IN-SPAC.
Sputnik 1 remained in orbit for less than three months before re-entering Earth's atmosphere.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Launched Oct 4, 1957, Sputnik 1 orbited for 92 days before burning up on Jan 4, 1958, though its radio signals lasted only 21 days.
What specific impulse range do Hall-effect thrusters typically achieve compared to chemical rockets?
- Lower (<300 s)
- Similar (300-450 s)
- Higher (1000-3000 s)
- Much higher (>10,000 s)
Answer: Higher (1000-3000 s)
Hall thrusters achieve 1000-3000 s specific impulse versus 300-450 s for chemical rockets, enabling efficient station-keeping and orbit raising despite low thrust.
Which moon is known for having a subsurface ocean and geysers erupting from its south pole?
- Titan
- Enceladus
- Ganymede
- Io
Answer: Enceladus
Saturn's moon Enceladus ejects water vapor and ice grains from 'tiger stripe' fractures, confirming a global subsurface ocean and potential hydrothermal activity.