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Generate QuizSpace – Medium Level – GK Questions
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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.
Aditya-L1's ASPEX payload measures _______ particles in the solar wind.
- Neutral atoms
- Suprathermal and energetic protons/electrons
- Cosmic rays
- Dust grains
Answer: Suprathermal and energetic protons/electrons
ASPEX (Aditya Solar wind Particle EXperiment) analyzes energy spectra and angular distribution of solar wind ions and electrons to understand particle acceleration.
KARI is the space agency of South Korea.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) manages South Korea's space program, including Nuri launch vehicle and KPLO lunar orbiter.
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.
The Space Shuttle Columbia disaster occurred during _______ in 2003.
- Launch
- Orbital operations
- Re-entry
- Landing rollout
Answer: Re-entry
Columbia disintegrated during re-entry on February 1, 2003, due to foam insulation damage to the left wing during ascent, causing aerodynamic failure.
Intermediate-mass black holes (100–100,000 solar masses) have been definitively confirmed through multiple observations.
- True
- False
Answer: False
While candidates exist (e.g., HLX-1), intermediate-mass black holes remain elusive and lack definitive confirmation compared to stellar-mass and supermassive black holes.
Which ISRO launch vehicle was retired after its final flight in 2022?
- ASLV
- PSLV
- GSLV Mk II
- LVM3
Answer: GSLV Mk II
GSLV Mk II flew its last mission (EOS-03) in 2021/2022 era before being phased out in favor of LVM3 and upcoming NGLV for heavier payloads.
The Department of Space (DoS) oversees ISRO and reports directly to the _______.
- Ministry of Defence
- Prime Minister's Office
- Ministry of Science and Technology
- Parliament
Answer: Prime Minister's Office
The Department of Space functions under the Prime Minister's direct charge, reflecting the strategic importance of space activities in national governance.
Uranus has narrow, dark rings composed mainly of carbon-rich material.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Discovered in 1977 via stellar occultation, Uranus' 13 known rings are narrow, opaque, and dark, likely containing radiation-processed organic compounds.
Which constellation contains the star Vega, the fifth-brightest in the night sky?
- Lyra
- Cygnus
- Aquila
- Boötes
Answer: Lyra
Vega is the brightest star in Lyra and part of the Summer Triangle asterism. It was once the North Star and will be again in ~12,000 years.
Which component of Chandrayaan-3 remained functional in lunar orbit after the landing?
- Vikram lander
- Pragyan rover
- Propulsion Module
- All components ceased operation
Answer: Propulsion Module
After separating Vikram, the Propulsion Module continued orbiting the Moon, hosting the SHAPE experiment to observe Earthshine for exoplanet habitability studies.
XPoSat, India's first polarimetry mission, studies X-ray polarization from _______ sources.
- Planets
- Bright astronomical
- Solar flares only
- Exoplanets
Answer: Bright astronomical
XPoSat (X-ray Polarimeter Satellite), launched Jan 2024, measures polarization of bright X-ray sources like black holes, neutron stars, and pulsars to understand emission mechanisms.
Which planet has supersonic winds exceeding 2,000 km/h, the fastest in the solar system?
- Jupiter
- Saturn
- Uranus
- Neptune
Answer: Neptune
Neptune exhibits the strongest sustained winds in the solar system, reaching speeds up to 2,100 km/h near the Great Dark Spot, driven by internal heat despite minimal solar input.
Who was the first person to perform a spacewalk (extravehicular activity)?
- Alexei Leonov
- Ed White
- Neil Armstrong
- Bruce McCandless
Answer: Alexei Leonov
Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov conducted the first EVA on March 18, 1965, spending 12 minutes outside Voskhod 2, tethered to the spacecraft.
The EMISAT satellite launched by ISRO in 2019 is primarily used for _______.
- Weather forecasting
- Electronic intelligence (ELINT)
- Communication relay
- Lunar mapping
Answer: Electronic intelligence (ELINT)
EMISAT, developed by ISRO and DRDO, carries Kautilya package for electromagnetic spectrum measurement and ELINT, supporting strategic surveillance.
Pulsars are rapidly rotating neutron stars emitting beams of electromagnetic radiation.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Pulsars are highly magnetized neutron stars rotating at precise intervals, emitting lighthouse-like beams detectable as regular pulses when aligned with Earth.
The Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) for Gaganyaan is being developed with assistance from which country?
- USA
- Russia
- France
- Japan
Answer: Russia
ISRO collaborated with Roscosmos/Glazkosmos for ECLSS technology transfer, critical for maintaining breathable air, temperature, and humidity in the crew module.
Which asteroid was visited by NASA's Dawn spacecraft, orbiting both Vesta and Ceres?
- Eros
- Itokawa
- Bennu
- Vesta and Ceres
Answer: Vesta and Ceres
Dawn orbited protoplanet Vesta (2011-2012) and dwarf planet Ceres (2015-2018), studying early solar system differentiation and water-rich bodies.
The Indian Space Science Data Centre (ISSDC) archiving mission data is located in _______.
- Bengaluru
- Hyderabad
- Ahmedabad
- Thiruvananthapuram
Answer: Bengaluru
ISSDC, part of URSC in Bengaluru, serves as the national repository for scientific data from ISRO's space science missions like AstroSat, Chandrayaan, and Mangalyaan.