Space – True/False – GK Questions

MLI consists of reflective foil layers separated by spacers, minimizing radiative heat transfer and maintaining thermal stability in space environment.

Planetary nebulae result from low-to-intermediate mass stars (1-8 solar masses) ejecting outer layers during AGB phase; supernovae involve massive stars >8 solar masses.

Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (ASI) manages Italy's space program, contributing modules to ISS and developing Vega rocket with ESA.

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.

Absorption lines blueward of Lyman-alpha emission trace intervening hydrogen clouds at different redshifts, mapping cosmic web structure.

Silica aerogel's nanoporous structure makes it an excellent insulator; used on Mars rovers (Sojourner, Spirit, Opportunity) to protect electronics from extreme cold.

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.

High-frequency QPOs correlate with inner disk dynamics near ISCO, providing indirect spin measurements complementary to continuum fitting.

Martian polar caps contain layered water ice overlain by seasonal CO₂ frost; north cap retains summer water ice, south cap retains perennial CO₂.

Zarya (Functional Cargo Block) launched Nov 20, 1998, providing initial propulsion/power until Unity node arrived weeks later.

NASA's Psyche mission launched Oct 2023 to explore the metal-rich asteroid 16 Psyche, possibly a protoplanet's exposed core.

Magnetars possess magnetic fields trillions of times stronger than Earth's, producing giant flares and soft gamma repeater bursts.

Aerobraking gradually lowers apoapsis by skimming upper atmosphere, saving fuel for orbit insertion (used by Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Mangalyaan).

Miranda's surface displays ovoid coronae, fault canyons, and varied terrains suggesting past tidal heating or catastrophic disruption/reassembly.

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.

Despite proximity to the Sun, Mercury's zero axial tilt keeps polar craters in permanent shadow, allowing water ice to persist, confirmed by MESSENGER mission.

Skylab operated from 1973-1979, hosting three crews and conducting solar/astronomical research before re-entering Earth's atmosphere in 1979.

Haumea rotates every ~4 hours, causing extreme flattening into a triaxial ellipsoid. It also has a ring system and two moons.

Wolf-Rayet stars (>20 solar masses) exhibit broad emission lines from intense winds ejecting outer layers, preceding supernova or gamma-ray burst events.

Starlink uses Low Earth Orbit (~550 km) constellations to achieve low latency (~20-40 ms), unlike GEO satellites which have ~600 ms latency due to distance.