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The National Atmospheric Research Laboratory (NARL) conducting atmospheric studies is located in Gadanki, near _______.
- Chennai
- Tirupati
- Hyderabad
- Bengaluru
Answer: Tirupati
NARL is situated in Gadanki, Andhra Pradesh, near Tirupati. It operates the Indian MST Radar and conducts research on atmospheric dynamics and space weather.
Sunita Williams holds the record for the most cumulative time spent in space by any woman.
- True
- False
Answer: False
As of recent records, Peggy Whitson holds the record for most cumulative time in space by a woman (>675 days). Sunita Williams has significant time but not the record.
Molniya orbits are highly elliptical orbits primarily used by which country for communications?
- USA
- Russia
- India
- Brazil
Answer: Russia
Molniya orbits (inclination ~63.4°, period 12 hours) provide extended coverage over high latitudes, ideal for Russia's northern regions where geostationary satellites are ineffective.
The epoch of recombination, when the universe became transparent to radiation, occurred approximately _______ after the Big Bang.
- 3 minutes
- 380,000 years
- 1 billion years
- 13.8 billion years
Answer: 380,000 years
At ~380,000 years post-Big Bang, electrons combined with protons to form neutral hydrogen, allowing photons to travel freely—this relic radiation is observed today as the CMB.
Aditya-L1 was launched aboard _______ launch vehicle.
- PSLV-C57
- LVM3-M4
- SSLV-D2
- GSLV Mk II
Answer: PSLV-C57
Aditya-L1 was successfully launched on September 2, 2023, aboard PSLV-C57 in XL configuration from Sriharikota.
The asteroid belt contains enough mass to form a planet larger than Mars.
- True
- False
Answer: False
The total mass of the asteroid belt is less than 4% of the Moon's mass, far too little to form even a Mars-sized body. Ceres alone accounts for ~25% of the belt's mass.
The strap-on boosters of PSLV use which type of propellant?
- Liquid only
- Solid only
- Hybrid
- Both solid and liquid depending on variant
Answer: Solid only
PSLV strap-on motors (PSOM) are solid-fuel boosters. Variants differ in number and size of strap-ons (e.g., PSLV-XL uses six larger PSOM-XL boosters).
Which space agency launched the Chandrayaan-3 mission?
- NASA
- ESA
- ISRO
- CNSA
Answer: ISRO
Chandrayaan-3 was entirely developed and launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) using LVM3 rocket from Sriharikota.
NISAR is a joint Earth observation satellite mission between ISRO and _______.
- ESA
- NASA
- JAXA
- CNES
Answer: NASA
NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission will use dual-frequency SAR to study ecosystem disturbances, ice-sheet collapse, and natural hazards.
Brown dwarfs are failed stars that never sustained hydrogen fusion.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Brown dwarfs have masses between giant planets and low-mass stars (~13-80 Jupiter masses). They may briefly fuse deuterium but never sustain stable hydrogen fusion.
The Service Module Propulsion System for Gaganyaan uses which type of engines?
- Solid motors
- Hypergolic liquid engines
- Cryogenic engines
- Electric propulsion
Answer: Hypergolic liquid engines
Gaganyaan's Service Module uses MMH/MON3 hypergolic bipropellant engines for orbit raising, circularization, and deorbit maneuvers, ensuring reliability for crew safety.
Which planet experiences the most extreme seasonal variations due to its axial tilt?
- Earth
- Mars
- Uranus
- Saturn
Answer: Uranus
With an axial tilt of ~98°, Uranus experiences extreme seasons where each pole gets 42 years of continuous sunlight followed by 42 years of darkness during its 84-year orbit.
The first modular space station, Mir, was launched by the Soviet Union in _______.
- 1984
- 1986
- 1988
- 1990
Answer: 1986
Mir's core module launched on February 20, 1986. It operated for 15 years, hosting international crews and serving as a testbed for long-duration spaceflight.
Space debris poses a growing threat to operational satellites in Low Earth Orbit.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Millions of pieces of defunct satellites, rocket stages, and fragments orbit Earth at high velocities, increasing collision risks and threatening sustainable space operations.
Active galactic nuclei powered by supermassive black holes are collectively known as _______.
- Quasars
- Pulsars
- Magnetars
- Blazars
Answer: Quasars
Quasi-stellar radio sources (quasars) are extremely luminous active galactic nuclei where accretion onto supermassive black holes releases immense energy.
Which European Space Agency mission studied comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko?
- Giotto
- Rosetta
- Stardust
- Deep Impact
Answer: Rosetta
ESA's Rosetta orbited comet 67P from 2014-2016, deploying the Philae lander. It provided unprecedented data on cometary composition and activity.
The Indian Astronaut Selection Programme for Gaganyaan is conducted jointly by ISRO and _______.
- DRDO
- Indian Air Force
- Indian Navy
- AIIMS
Answer: Indian Air Force
IAF's Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM) in Bengaluru conducts medical screening and training for Gaganaut candidates in collaboration with ISRO.
Triton, Neptune's largest moon, orbits in the same direction as Neptune's rotation.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Triton has a retrograde orbit (opposite to Neptune's rotation), suggesting it was captured from the Kuiper Belt rather than forming in situ.
How many ground stations support the NavIC network across India?
- 10
- 15
- 21
- 30
Answer: 21
NavIC operates with a network of 21 ranging and integrity monitoring stations across India for precise orbit determination and signal correction.
Main sequence stars generate energy primarily through which process?
- Nuclear fission
- Hydrogen fusion
- Helium fusion
- Carbon burning
Answer: Hydrogen fusion
Main sequence stars fuse hydrogen into helium in their cores via the proton-proton chain or CNO cycle, releasing energy that counteracts gravitational collapse.