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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.
Which mission studied Pluto and its moons up close in 2015?
- Voyager 1
- New Horizons
- Cassini
- Juno
Answer: New Horizons
NASA's New Horizons conducted the first Pluto flyby on July 14, 2015, revealing glaciers, mountains, and atmospheric haze on the dwarf planet.
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.
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.
Type Ia supernovae are used as standard candles because they result from thermonuclear explosion of _______.
- Massive stars >8 solar masses
- White dwarfs reaching Chandrasekhar limit
- Neutron star mergers
- Red supergiants
Answer: White dwarfs reaching Chandrasekhar limit
Type Ia supernovae occur when carbon-oxygen white dwarfs accrete mass to ~1.4 solar masses, triggering uniform explosions useful for measuring cosmic distances.
Which mission returned the first samples from the Moon since Luna 24 in 1976?
- Chang'e 5
- Artemis I
- Hayabusa2
- OSIRIS-REx
Answer: Chang'e 5
China's Chang'e 5 returned 1.7 kg of lunar regolith in December 2020, the first lunar sample return in 44 years, from Oceanus Procellarum.
Tundra orbits are a type of highly elliptical orbit with inclination of approximately _______ degrees.
- 45°
- 63.4°
- 90°
- 0°
Answer: 63.4°
Tundra orbits (inclination 63.4°, period 24 hours) dwell over high-latitude regions, used for communications where GEO coverage is poor, similar to Molniya but longer dwell time.
The Hubble Constant measures which property of the universe?
- Age
- Expansion rate
- Temperature
- Density
Answer: Expansion rate
The Hubble Constant (H₀ ≈ 70 km/s/Mpc) quantifies the current expansion rate of the universe, relating galaxy recession velocity to distance.
Which ISRO launch vehicle uses four liquid strap-on boosters derived from the Vikas engine?
- PSLV-Core
- PSLV-XL
- GSLV Mk II
- SSLV
Answer: GSLV Mk II
GSLV Mk II employs four L40 liquid strap-ons using Vikas engines burning UDMH/N2O4, augmenting core stage thrust during initial ascent.
Which space agency developed the Proton launch vehicle?
- NASA
- Roscosmos
- ESA
- CNSA
Answer: Roscosmos
Proton is a Russian expendable launch vehicle derived from Soviet ICBM technology, historically used for ISS modules and commercial satellites.
The Vyommitra humanoid robot is intended for which Gaganyaan-related mission?
- First crewed flight
- Uncrewed test flights
- Lunar landing
- Space station assembly
Answer: Uncrewed test flights
Vyommitra, a female humanoid robot, will fly on uncrewed Gaganyaan missions to simulate human presence, testing life support systems and microgravity responses.
Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 famously collided with which planet in 1994?
- Saturn
- Jupiter
- Uranus
- Neptune
Answer: Jupiter
Fragmented comet SL9 impacted Jupiter in July 1994, creating visible scars larger than Earth, providing insights into planetary impacts and Jupiter's atmosphere.
The Great Attractor is a gravitational anomaly pulling galaxies including the Milky Way toward which direction?
- Andromeda
- Centaurus Cluster
- Virgo Supercluster
- Shapley Attractor
Answer: Centaurus Cluster
The Great Attractor lies in the direction of the Centaurus Cluster (~150-250 Mly away), influencing motion of the Local Group within the Laniakea Supercluster.
Which mission mapped Venus's surface through clouds using radar in the 1990s?
- Venera 13
- Magellan
- Akatsuki
- Pioneer Venus
Answer: Magellan
NASA's Magellan orbiter (1990-1994) used synthetic aperture radar to map 98% of Venus's surface, revealing volcanic plains, tectonic features, and impact craters.
Which augmentation system enhances GPS accuracy for aviation in Europe?
- WAAS
- EGNOS
- MSAS
- GAGAN
Answer: EGNOS
EGNOS (European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service) improves GPS precision and integrity for European aviation, similar to WAAS (USA), MSAS (Japan), and GAGAN (India).
What is the approximate lifespan of a star like our Sun on the main sequence?
- 1 million years
- 10 billion years
- 100 billion years
- 1 trillion years
Answer: 10 billion years
Sun-like stars spend ~10 billion years fusing hydrogen. The Sun is currently ~4.6 billion years old, halfway through its main sequence phase.
Which Indian satellite series provides real-time weather imagery every 15 minutes over India?
- INSAT-3D/3DR
- Cartosat
- Resourcesat
- Oceansat
Answer: INSAT-3D/3DR
INSAT-3D and INSAT-3DR provide high-frequency meteorological imaging, sounding, and disaster alert services crucial for cyclone tracking and monsoon monitoring.
Which moon of Saturn has lakes of liquid methane and ethane on its surface?
- Enceladus
- Titan
- Rhea
- Dione
Answer: Titan
Titan is the only body besides Earth with stable surface liquids, consisting of hydrocarbon lakes and seas, observed by Cassini-Huygens mission.