Create a custom practice set
Pick category, difficulty, number of questions, and time limit. Start instantly with your own quiz.
Generate QuizSpace – Medium Level – GK Questions
Free practice for SSC, UPSC, Banking & Railway exams. No login required.
Which constellation is also known as the 'Great Bear'?
- Ursa Major
- Ursa Minor
- Orion
- Cassiopeia
Answer: Ursa Major
Ursa Major is known as the Great Bear. It contains the asterism known as the Big Dipper or the Plough, which is used to locate the Pole Star.
The first woman in space was _______ from the Soviet Union.
- Sally Ride
- Valentina Tereshkova
- Mae Jemison
- Kalpana Chawla
Answer: Valentina Tereshkova
Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman in space on June 16, 1963, aboard Vostok 6. Sally Ride was the first American woman in space.
What is the primary function of the Cartosat series of satellites?
- Communication
- Earth Observation and Mapping
- Weather Forecasting
- Navigation
Answer: Earth Observation and Mapping
Cartosat satellites are part of the Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) program, designed for high-resolution earth observation and cartographic applications.
Which planet is tilted on its side, rotating almost perpendicular to its orbit?
- Jupiter
- Saturn
- Uranus
- Neptune
Answer: Uranus
Uranus has an axial tilt of about 98 degrees, meaning it essentially rolls around the Sun on its side. This extreme tilt causes extreme seasonal variations.
The father of the Indian Space Programme is _______.
- APJ Abdul Kalam
- Vikram Sarabhai
- Satish Dhawan
- U.R. Rao
Answer: Vikram Sarabhai
Dr. Vikram Sarabhai is widely regarded as the father of the Indian space program. He established the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) and played a key role in the formation of ISRO.
Pluto is larger than Earth's Moon.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Pluto is smaller than Earth's Moon. Pluto's diameter is about 2,377 km, while the Moon's diameter is about 3,475 km.
Which international space station is a collaborative project involving NASA, Roscosmos, JAXA, ESA, and CSA?
- Tiangong
- Mir
- International Space Station (ISS)
- Skylab
Answer: International Space Station (ISS)
The ISS is a modular space station in low Earth orbit, maintained by a collaboration of five space agencies: NASA (USA), Roscosmos (Russia), JAXA (Japan), ESA (Europe), and CSA (Canada).
The Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) developed by ISRO is designed to launch satellites up to _______ kg to Low Earth Orbit.
- 100 kg
- 500 kg
- 1000 kg
- 2000 kg
Answer: 500 kg
SSLV is designed to launch mini, micro, or nano satellites (up to 500 kg) to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) on a demand-based, lower-cost basis.
Kalpana Chawla died in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster in 2003.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Kalpana Chawla, an Indian-American astronaut, was one of the seven crew members who died when the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated upon re-entry on February 1, 2003.
Which space agency launched the Kepler Space Telescope to discover exoplanets?
- ESA
- NASA
- JAXA
- Roscosmos
Answer: NASA
NASA launched the Kepler Space Telescope in 2009. Its primary mission was to discover Earth-size planets orbiting other stars, particularly in the habitable zone.
A meteoroid that survives its passage through the Earth's atmosphere and lands on the surface is called a meteor.
- True
- False
Answer: False
A meteoroid is a small rocky or metallic body in outer space. When it enters the atmosphere, it becomes a meteor (shooting star). If it survives and hits the ground, it is called a meteorite.
Which instrument on Chandrayaan-1 discovered water molecules on the Moon?
- TMC
- MIP
- Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3)
- Hex
Answer: Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3)
The Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3), an instrument provided by NASA on board Chandrayaan-1, confirmed the presence of water molecules on the lunar surface in 2009.
Which planet has the shortest day (rotation period) in the solar system?
- Earth
- Mars
- Jupiter
- Saturn
Answer: Jupiter
Jupiter has the shortest day of all the planets, rotating on its axis once every 9 hours and 55 minutes. Its rapid rotation causes it to bulge at the equator.
The first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, was launched by _______.
- USA
- USSR (Soviet Union)
- China
- India
Answer: USSR (Soviet Union)
Sputnik 1 was launched by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957, marking the beginning of the Space Age.
What is the name of India's regional satellite navigation system?
- GPS
- GLONASS
- NavIC
- Galileo
Answer: NavIC
NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation), formerly known as IRNSS, is India's autonomous regional satellite navigation system. GPS is American, GLONASS is Russian, and Galileo is European.
Titan is the largest moon of which planet?
- Jupiter
- Saturn
- Uranus
- Neptune
Answer: Saturn
Titan is the largest moon of Saturn and the second-largest natural satellite in the Solar System. It is notable for its dense atmosphere and liquid hydrocarbon lakes.
The Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), the lead center of ISRO for launch vehicle development, is located in _______.
- Bengaluru
- Sriharikota
- Thiruvananthapuram
- Hyderabad
Answer: Thiruvananthapuram
VSSC is located in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. It is the main center for the design and development of launch vehicle technology for ISRO.
A solar eclipse occurs when the Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon.
- True
- False
Answer: False
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon comes between the Sun and the Earth, casting a shadow on Earth. When Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon, it is a lunar eclipse.
Which planet is known for its Great Red Spot?
- Mars
- Jupiter
- Saturn
- Neptune
Answer: Jupiter
The Great Red Spot is a persistent high-pressure region in the atmosphere of Jupiter, producing an anticyclonic storm that is the largest in the Solar System. It has been observed for centuries.
The Hubble Space Telescope was launched into low Earth orbit in _______.
- 1980
- 1990
- 2000
- 2010
Answer: 1990
The Hubble Space Telescope was launched by NASA in April 1990. It has provided some of the most detailed images of the universe, revolutionizing astronomy.