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The first human to travel into space was _______.
- Neil Armstrong
- Yuri Gagarin
- Buzz Aldrin
- Rakesh Sharma
Answer: Yuri Gagarin
Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human to journey into outer space on April 12, 1961, aboard the Vostok 1 spacecraft.
A light year is a unit of time.
- True
- False
Answer: False
A light year is a unit of distance, not time. It is the distance that light travels in a vacuum in one Julian year (approximately 9.46 trillion kilometers).
What is the primary goal of ISRO's Gaganyaan mission?
- To land on the Moon
- To send humans to space
- To launch a Mars rover
- To build a space station
Answer: To send humans to space
Gaganyaan is India's first human spaceflight programme, aiming to demonstrate human spaceflight capability by launching a crew of 3 members to an orbit of 400 km for a 3-day mission.
Which is the largest planet in our solar system?
- Earth
- Saturn
- Jupiter
- Neptune
Answer: Jupiter
Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system, with a mass more than two and a half times that of all the other planets combined.
INSAT series of satellites are primarily used for _______ purposes.
- Interplanetary exploration
- Communication and Meteorology
- Military surveillance only
- Lunar mapping
Answer: Communication and Meteorology
The Indian National Satellite (INSAT) system is one of the largest domestic communication satellite systems in the Asia-Pacific region, used for telecommunications, television broadcasting, and meteorology.
A black hole's gravity is so strong that not even light can escape from it once it crosses the event horizon.
- True
- False
Answer: True
The event horizon is the boundary around a black hole beyond which nothing, including light, can escape the gravitational pull. This is a defining characteristic of black holes.
Which space telescope, launched in December 2021, is considered the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope?
- Chandra X-ray Observatory
- James Webb Space Telescope
- Spitzer Space Telescope
- Kepler Space Telescope
Answer: James Webb Space Telescope
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) was launched in December 2021. It observes primarily in the infrared spectrum and is designed to succeed Hubble, offering deeper insights into the early universe.
Where is the majority of the asteroid belt located?
- Between Earth and Mars
- Between Mars and Jupiter
- Between Jupiter and Saturn
- Beyond Neptune
Answer: Between Mars and Jupiter
The Main Asteroid Belt is a region of space between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter where most of the asteroids in our Solar System are found.
The headquarters of ISRO is located in _______.
- Sriharikota
- Thiruvananthapuram
- Bengaluru
- Ahmedabad
Answer: Bengaluru
ISRO headquarters is in Bengaluru, Karnataka. Sriharikota is the launch site (SDSC SHAR), and Thiruvananthapuram houses VSSC (Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre).
NASA stands for National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
- True
- False
Answer: True
NASA is the United States government agency responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and space research.
Which galaxy does our Solar System belong to?
- Andromeda Galaxy
- Milky Way Galaxy
- Triangulum Galaxy
- Whirlpool Galaxy
Answer: Milky Way Galaxy
Our Solar System is located in the Milky Way Galaxy, a barred spiral galaxy. The Andromeda Galaxy is the nearest major galaxy to the Milky Way.
What was the primary objective of India's Mangalyaan mission (Mars Orbiter Mission)?
- To search for water on Mars
- To study Martian surface features and atmosphere
- To land a rover on Mars
- To establish a colony on Mars
Answer: To study Martian surface features and atmosphere
Launched in 2013, Mangalyaan's main goals were to explore Mars' surface features, morphology, mineralogy, and Martian atmosphere, particularly methane detection. It did not involve landing.
The full form of PSLV, a reliable launch vehicle of ISRO, is _______.
- Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle
- Planetary Satellite Launch Vehicle
- Polar Space Launch Vehicle
- Private Satellite Launch Vehicle
Answer: Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle
PSLV stands for Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle. It is known as the 'Workhorse of ISRO' for its ability to launch satellites into polar orbits.
The Sun is classified as a Yellow Dwarf star (G-type main-sequence star).
- True
- False
Answer: True
The Sun is a G-type main-sequence star, commonly referred to as a Yellow Dwarf. It is in the middle of its life cycle, fusing hydrogen into helium.
Which planet has the largest number of confirmed moons in the solar system (as of 2024-2025 data)?
- Jupiter
- Saturn
- Uranus
- Neptune
Answer: Saturn
Saturn recently overtook Jupiter to have the most confirmed moons (over 140), surpassing Jupiter (which has over 90). This status changes occasionally with new discoveries, but Saturn currently holds the record.
Chandrayaan-3 successfully landed on the Moon's surface on which date?
- August 22, 2023
- August 23, 2023
- July 24, 2023
- September 2, 2023
Answer: August 23, 2023
Chandrayaan-3's Vikram lander successfully soft-landed near the lunar south pole on August 23, 2023, making India the fourth country to land on the Moon and the first to land near the south pole.
The first satellite launched by India was named _______.
- Bhaskara
- Aryabhata
- Rohini
- INSAT
Answer: Aryabhata
Aryabhata was India's first satellite, launched on April 19, 1975, from the Soviet Union using a Kosmos-3M rocket. It was named after the ancient Indian mathematician Aryabhata.
Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in 2006.
- True
- False
Answer: True
In August 2006, the IAU redefined the criteria for a planet, and Pluto did not meet the criterion of 'clearing its neighborhood' of other objects, thus becoming a dwarf planet.
Which is the hottest planet in the solar system, despite not being the closest to the Sun?
- Mercury
- Venus
- Mars
- Jupiter
Answer: Venus
Venus is the hottest planet due to its thick atmosphere composed mainly of carbon dioxide, which creates a strong greenhouse effect, trapping heat. Mercury is closer but lacks an atmosphere to retain heat.
Which planet in our solar system is known as the 'Red Planet'?
- Venus
- Mars
- Jupiter
- Saturn
Answer: Mars
Mars is called the Red Planet due to the presence of iron oxide (rust) on its surface, which gives it a reddish appearance. This is a fundamental fact often asked in SSC and Railway exams.