Space – GK Questions

Answer: USSR (Soviet Union)

Sputnik 1 was launched by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957, marking the beginning of the Space Age.

Answer: True

Polaris, the North Star, is the brightest star in the constellation Ursa Minor (the Little Dipper). It is closely aligned with the Earth's rotational axis, making it appear stationary in the sky.

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.

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.

Answer: Thiruvananthapuram

VSSC is located in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. It is the main center for the design and development of launch vehicle technology for ISRO.

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.

Answer: Voyager 1

Voyager 1, launched in 1977, is the farthest human-made object from Earth. It entered interstellar space in 2012 and continues to transmit data.

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.

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.

Answer: True

Rakesh Sharma became the first Indian citizen to travel to space in 1984 aboard the Soviet Soyuz T-11 spacecraft. Kalpana Chawla was the first Indian-born woman in space, but she was a US citizen at the time.

Answer: 13.8 billion years

Scientific estimates place the age of the universe at approximately 13.8 billion years, based on observations of the cosmic microwave background radiation and the expansion rate of the universe.

Answer: Halo Orbit around Lagrange Point L1

Aditya-L1 was placed in a halo orbit around the Lagrange Point 1 (L1) of the Sun-Earth system, about 1.5 million km from Earth. This position allows continuous viewing of the Sun without any occultation/eclipses.

Answer: Geostationary

A Geostationary Orbit (GEO) is a circular orbit 35,786 km above the Earth's equator, following the direction of Earth's rotation. An object in such an orbit has an orbital period equal to the Earth's rotational period, appearing stationary to ground observers.

Answer: True

Venus has a retrograde rotation, meaning it spins in the opposite direction to most other planets (east to west). This causes the Sun to rise in the west and set in the east on Venus.

Answer: Neil Armstrong

Neil Armstrong was the first human to step onto the lunar surface on July 20, 1969, during the Apollo 11 mission, famously stating, 'That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.'

Answer: Canis Major

Sirius, also known as the Dog Star, is located in the constellation Canis Major. It is the brightest star in the night sky.

Answer: GSLV Mk III (LVM3)

GSLV Mk III, now renamed LVM3 (Launch Vehicle Mark-3), is ISRO's heaviest operational launch vehicle, used for launching heavy satellites like Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3, and OneWeb satellites.

Answer: False

While Saturn has the most prominent and visible rings, Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune also have ring systems, though they are fainter and less extensive.

Answer: China

CNSA stands for China National Space Administration. It is responsible for China's national space program, including the Tiangong space station and Chang'e lunar missions.

Answer: 75-76 years

Halley's Comet is a short-period comet visible from Earth every 75–76 years. It was last seen in 1986 and is expected to return in 2061.