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Generate QuizSpace – Medium Level – GK Questions
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The Indian Space Situational Assessment Report (ISSAR) is published annually by _______.
- IN-SPAC
- NETRA/ISTRAC
- DOS
- MEA
Answer: NETRA/ISTRAC
ISSAR documents space object cataloguing, conjunction assessments, and debris environment trends; released by ISRO SSA control centre.
Lithium-ion batteries have largely replaced NiCd/NiH₂ in modern satellites due to higher energy density.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Li-ion offers 2-3× energy density vs legacy chemistries, reducing battery mass/volume; qualified for GEO/LEO missions since 2000s.
VIPER rover mission targeted lunar south pole to map water ice distribution but was cancelled in 2024 due to budget/schedule issues.
- True
- False - still scheduled
- True - replaced by CLPS
- False - renamed Artemis Rover
Answer: True
NASA cancelled VIPER July 2024 after cost overruns/delays; science objectives partially addressed by CLPS landers and future Artemis missions.
Electroforming nickel shells are used to manufacture lightweight _______ for X-ray telescopes.
- Mirrors
- Detectors
- Filters
- Collimators
Answer: Mirrors
Nickel electroformed mirror shells replicated from mandrels enable nested Wolter-I optics for focusing grazing-incidence X-rays; used in XMM-Newton/eROSITA.
Tidal flexing drives geological activity on Io and Enceladus despite their small sizes.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Orbital resonances maintain eccentricities causing periodic tidal deformation; dissipated energy powers Io's volcanism and Enceladus's cryovolcanism.
The first spacewalk by a Chinese taikonaut was performed during which Shenzhou mission?
- Shenzhou 5
- Shenzhou 7
- Shenzhou 9
- Shenzhou 12
Answer: Shenzhou 7
Zhai Zhigang conducted China's first EVA on Sep 27, 2008, lasting ~20 minutes wearing Feitian spacesuit; milestone in CNSA human spaceflight.
Which space agency leads the Europa Clipper mission to investigate habitability of Jupiter's moon?
- ESA
- NASA
- JAXA
- Roscosmos
Answer: NASA
Europa Clipper (launch Oct 2024) conducts detailed reconnaissance of Europa's ice shell/ocean/interface assessing astrobiological potential.
Disposal orbits for GEO satellites require minimum ΔV of _______ m/s to raise perigee above protected region.
- 10
- 50
- 150
- 500
Answer: 150
GEO disposal requires raising perigee ≥300 km above GEO belt (~150 m/s ΔV) to prevent collision risk; mandated by IADC guidelines.
Bolometers measure total electromagnetic power absorbed by detecting temperature-induced resistance changes.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Transition-edge sensor bolometers operate at cryogenic temps for far-IR/submm astronomy; used in Herschel/SOFIA/CMB experiments.
Io's tenuous SO₂ atmosphere is sustained primarily by _______.
- Outgassing from volcanoes
- Sublimation of surface frost
- Solar wind sputtering
- Cometary impacts
Answer: Outgassing from volcanoes
Io's extreme volcanism continuously replenishes SO₂ atmosphere against loss to Jupiter's magnetosphere; plumes reach 500 km altitude depositing fresh frost.
The Indian Human Spaceflight Programme office coordinating Gaganyaan is designated as _______.
- HSFC
- HSPC
- IHSP
- Gaganyaan Directorate
Answer: HSFC
Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) Bengaluru manages astronaut selection/training, crew systems, and mission integration for Gaganyaan.
Active debris removal missions like ClearSpace-1 aim to capture and deorbit defunct satellites.
- True
- False
Answer: True
ClearSpace-1 (ESA, launch 2026) will demonstrate four-arm capture of Vespa adapter; commercial ADR services emerging to mitigate Kessler syndrome risk.
Lucy mission will explore Trojan asteroids sharing Jupiter's orbit at L4/L5 points.
- True - launched 2021 arriving 2027+
- False - targets main belt
- True - completed flybys already
- False - cancelled mission
Answer: True - launched 2021 arriving 2027+
Lucy launched Oct 2021 will visit eight Trojans over 12-year tour, probing diversity and origins of these primordial remnants.
Canadarm3 will serve as external robotic system for the _______ space station.
- ISS
- Tiangong
- Lunar Gateway
- Bhartiya Antariksh Station
Answer: Lunar Gateway
Canadarm3 provides autonomous external robotics for Gateway assembly/maintenance; features AI-enhanced dexterity for uncrewed operations in cislunar space.
CAIs (Calcium-Aluminum-rich Inclusions) are the oldest dated solids in the solar system at ~4.567 Ga.
- True
- False
Answer: True
CAIs in chondrites define solar system age via U-Pb dating; formed at high temperatures near proto-Sun before accretion into planetesimals.
The first EVA using a self-contained backpack propulsion unit (MMU) was performed during which shuttle mission?
- STS-7
- STS-41-B
- STS-61
- STS-82
Answer: STS-41-B
Bruce McCandless II conducted untethered EVA using MMU on Feb 7, 1984, demonstrating free-flying capability for satellite retrieval/servicing.
Which space agency operates the KOMPSAT series of multipurpose satellites?
- JAXA
- KARI
- CNSA
- ISA
Answer: KARI
KOMPSAT (Korea Multi-Purpose Satellite) series provides EO/weather/tech demo capabilities; KOMPSAT-7 offers 0.5 m panchromatic resolution.
Inflatable aeroshell decelerators increase drag area during entry to reduce peak heating for _______ payloads.
- Small CubeSats only
- Heavy/large-volume
- Nuclear-powered
- Solar sail
Answer: Heavy/large-volume
Deployable/inflatable heat shields enable delivery of massive payloads to Mars/Venus where rigid aeroshells are volume/mass constrained; tested in LOFTID/IRVE missions.
The cosmological constant Λ represents vacuum energy density driving accelerated expansion.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Λ in Einstein's equations corresponds to constant energy density of empty space; observational evidence favors ΛCDM model with Ω_Λ≈0.7.
Maxwell Montes is the highest mountain range on which planet?
- Mars
- Venus
- Mercury
- Earth
Answer: Venus
Maxwell Montes rises ~11 km above Venusian mean radius on Ishtar Terra; formed by tectonic compression rather than volcanism unlike most Venusian highlands.