1. Who was the father of the Indian Space Programme?
(a) Dr. Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai
(b) Dr. Satish Dhawan
(c) Dr. Homi J. Bhabha
(d) Dr. Krishnaswami Kasturirangan
[M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2019]
Ans. (a) Dr. Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai
- Dr. Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai was an Indian scientist who was famous for starting space research in India.
- He is known as the Father of the Indian Space Programme.
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2. Who amongst the following is considered the father of India’s space program?
(a) Nambi Narayanan
(b) G. Madhavan Nair
(c) Vikram Sarabhai
(d) A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
[Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2021]
Ans. (c) Vikram Sarabhai
- Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai is known as the founder of India’s space exploration efforts.
- He was a scientist from India who started space research activities and also was involved in the development of nuclear power in India.
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3. The First Satellite India sent to space, was :
(a) Bhaskar
(b) Rohini
(c) Aryabhatta
(d) Apple
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2009, M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1992, U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2006]
Ans. (c) Aryabhatta
- India launched its first satellite, named after the famous Indian astronomer Aryabhatta.
- It weighed 360 kg and was launched from Kapustin Yar, Russia, on April 19, 1975, with the help of a Cosmos3M rocket.
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4. Aryabhatta was launched on :
(a) April 19th, 1975
(b) December 6th, 1957
(c) January 31, 1958
(d) October 2nd, 1980
[M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2008]
Ans. (a) April 19th, 1975
- India’s first satellite, Aryabhata, was sent into space on April 19, 1975.
- This was done using a rocket from a Soviet launch site in Russia called Kapustin Yar.
- The rocket used was a Kosmos-3M.
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5. The name of the scientist who designed India’s first space satellite ‘Aryabhatta’ and died recently is :
(a) Prof. U.R. Rao
(b) Prof. Yashpal
(c) Prof. C.N. R. Rao
(d) Dr. A. S. Kiran Kumar
[U.P.P.S.C. (GIC) 2017]
Ans. (a) Prof. U.R. Rao
- Professor U.R. Rao was a scientist who created India’s first space satellite, ‘Aryabhatta’.
- He took control of the development of satellite technology in India in 1972.
- With his leadership, 18 satellites were built and launched, starting with ‘Aryabhatta’ in 1975.
- He was the chairman of ISRO for 10 years from 1984-1994, and passed away on July 24, 2017 at the age of 85.
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6. Which was the first animal to travel to space?
(a) A mouse
(b) A dog
(c) A cockroach
(d) A mosquito
[U.P.P.S.C. (GIC) 2010]
Ans. (b) A dog
- Laika was a dog from the streets of Moscow that was chosen to be sent to space.
- On November 3, 1957, she became the first animal to ever be sent into orbit around the earth in the Soviet spacecraft Sputnik 2.
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7. Which of the following names of animals was sent to space on November 3rd, 1957?
(a) Otolith
(b) Laika
(c) Baker
(d) Belka
[M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2010]
Ans. (b) Laika
- On November 3rd, 1957 a dog named ‘Laika’ was sent to space via the Sputnik-2 spacecraft.
- Two monkeys called ‘Able’ and ‘Baker’ followed on May 28, 1959, and then a third dog called ‘Belka’ was sent to space in Sputnik-5 on August 19, 1960. Finally, Iran sent a monkey
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8. The first man who placed his foot on the moon is :
(a) Leonov
(b) Neil Armstrong
(c) Michael Collins
(d) James Van Allen
(e) None of the above / More than one of the above
[66th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2020]
Ans. (b) Neil Armstrong
- On July 20th, 1969, Apollo 11 was the first mission to land two people on the moon with the lunar module ‘Eagle.’
- Neil Armstrong, the NASA astronaut and mission commander, was the first person to step onto the moon, and fellow astronaut Buzz Aldrin followed about 19 minutes later.
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9. Tim Peake is known as which of the following?
(a) Writer
(b) Physicist
(c) Astronaut
(d) Politician
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2015]
Ans. (c) Astronaut
- Tim Peake is an astronaut from the European Space Agency who is from Britain.
- He used to be part of the International Space Station crew and was a test pilot and officer in the British Army Air Corps previously.
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10. Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched?
(a) Cosmic Background : Satellite programme Explorer (COBE)
(b) Falcon : Under-sea cable system
(c) Discovery : Space shuttle
(d) Atlantis : Space station
[.A.S. (Pre) 2007]
Ans. (d) Atlantis : Space station
- NASA has now ended operations of their space shuttles, Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, and Atlantis.
- These space shuttles can take off like a rocket, orbit the Earth like a satellite, and land like an airplane.
- The other option, COBE, is a satellite that studies the cosmic microwave background radiation of the universe.
- Reliance Communication’s Falcon is the biggest submarine cable network, which was launched on September 5th, 2006 and currently connects India to four continents and eleven countries.
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11. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer by using the codes given below the lists :
| List-I |
List-II |
| A. Curiosity Rover |
1. Tablet |
| B. Messenger |
2. Unmanned Aerial Vehicle of DRDO |
| C. Rustam-1 |
3. Mars probe space vehicle of U.S.A. |
| D. Akash-2 |
4. Mercury probe space vehicle of NASA |
Code :
A B C D
(a) 3 4 2 1
(b) 4 3 2 1
(c) 3 4 1 2
(d) 1 2 3 4
[U.P.P.C.S.(Pre) 2013, U.P.U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2013]
Ans. (a) 3 4 2 1
- Curiosity: NASA sent a robotic rover the size of a car to explore Gale Crater on Mars as part of their Mars Science Laboratory mission. It was sent from Cape Canaveral on November 26, 2011.
- MESSENGER: In August 2004, NASA launched a robotic spacecraft called Messenger to learn more about Mercury, including what it is made of, its landscape, and its magnetic force.
- RUSTAM-I:Rustom is a drone being built by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) that can fly at medium altitude for long periods of time.
- Aakash-II: A newer version of the most inexpensive tablet in the world.
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12. Which one of the following is NASA’s last Space Shuttle?
(a) Atlantis
(b) Columbia
(c) Discovery
(d) Endeavor
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2009]
Ans. (a) Atlantis
- Atlantis was the last space shuttle designed by NASA. It launched on July 8, 2011 and landed back on July 21, 2011. Columbia was destroyed when it re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere on February 1, 2003.
- Discovery’s last mission took place between February 24 to March 9, 2011. On May 16, 2011, Endeavor was sent out for its last space mission and came back safely on June 1, 2011.
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13. ‘DAVINCI+’ and ‘VERITAS’ – two new missions announced by NASA, are related to :
(a) Moon
(b) Venus
(c) Mars
(d) Jupiter
[U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Pre) 2021]
Ans. (b) Venus
- NASA is planning two new missions to Venus, called “VERITAS” and “DAVINCI+”, which will be the first ones since the 1990s.
- VERITAS is planned to launch in December 2027 and enter orbit around Venus in July 2028, while DAVINCI+ is scheduled for 2029.
- These missions are part of NASA’s Discovery Programme. VERITAS will map the surface of Venus, study its geology, and look for volcanic activity.
- It will also help scientists learn how Venus became a hot and sulfur-filled planet, while Earth developed to become a home for life.
- DAVINCI will study the thick atmosphere of Venus to understand why it has a strong greenhouse effect.
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14. Which of the following pairs is/are correctly matched? Spacecraft Purpose
1. Cassini-Huygens: Orbiting Venus and transmitting data to the Earth
2. Messenger: Mapping and investigating the Mercury
3. Voyager 1 and 2: Exploring the outer solar system
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2014]
Ans. (b) 2 and 3 only
- Cassini–Huygens was an unmanned space vehicle sent to Saturn, so pair 1 is not correct.
- Messenger was a robotic spacecraft sent by NASA to orbit Mercury from 2011 to 2015, so pair 2 and 3 are correct.
- The Voyager program is an American scientific program that uses two probes, Voyager1 and Voyager 2, to study the outer Solar System.
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15. NASA’s ‘Cassini spacecraft is on mission for which planet?
(a) Jupiter
(b) Mars
(c) Saturn
(d) Venus
[Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2016]
Ans. (c) Saturn
- NASA’s Cassini spacecraft was sent to investigate Saturn.
- It flew around Saturn from 2004 to 2017, completing 294 laps.
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16. Which one of the following is a spacecraft?
(a) Apophis
(b) Cassini
(c) Spitzer
(d) TechSar
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2008]
Ans. (b) Cassini
- NASA created the Cassini spacecraft to look into Saturn and its environment.
- India launched the Israeli Tech Sar satellite using the PSLV launcher.
- Apophis is an asteroid, and NASA made the Spitzer space telescope, which can see in infrared.
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17. “The experiment will employ a trio of spacecraft flying in formation in the shape of an equilateral triangle that has sides one million kilometers long, with lasers shining between the craft.” The experiment in question refers to :
(a) Voyager-2
(b) New Horizons
(c) LISA Pathfinder
(d) Evolved LISA
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2020]
Ans. (d) Evolved LISA
- The experiment is about ELISA, a space probe that measures gravitational waves.
- It is led by the European Space Agency (ESA) with help from NASA and a group of scientists.
- ELISA will have three spacecrafts that will fly together in a triangle shape, away from the Earth and around the sun, at a distance of 50 million km.
- The lasers between the spacecrafts will be used to detect any passing gravitational waves. This mission is planned for 2034.
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18. What is the purpose of the ‘Evolved Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (eLISA)’ project?
(a) To detect neutrinos
(b) To detect gravitational waves
(c) To detect the effectiveness of missile defense system
(d) To study the effects of solar fares on our communication systems
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2017]
Ans. (b) To detect gravitational waves
- The goal of the European Space Agency’s eLISA mission is to find and measure gravitational waves.
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19. Scientists in Britain have built a ‘Gravity Tractor’. Identify the same from the following.
(a) A double-storeyed ‘Jugaad’ type tractor trolley to be used in public transport.
(b) A tractor with a mechanism to sweep public roads and is economical to run.
(c) A bullet train runs on the Principle of earth’s ‘gravity’ with the help of powerful magnets.
(d) A spacecraft with a mechanism that would prevent asteroids from hitting the Earth.
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2009]
Ans. (d) A spacecraft with a mechanism that would prevent asteroids from hitting the Earth
- In 2009, British scientists created a 10 ton spacecraft, called ‘Gravity Tractor’, that could be used to stop an asteroid from hitting the Earth.
- This idea was first suggested in 2005 by Edward T. Lu and Stanley G. Love, and it would be able to fly near the asteroid and keep it from coming too close to the Earth.
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20. Recently, scientists observed the merger of giant ‘black holes’ billions of light-years away from the Earth. What is the significance of this observation?
(a) ‘Higgs boson particles’ were detected.
(b) ‘Gravitational waves’ were detected.
(c) The possibility of intergalactic space travel through a ‘wormhole’ was confirmed.
(d) It enabled the scientists to understand ‘singularity’.
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2019]
Ans. (b) Gravitational waves’ were detected
- Recently, scientists discovered that two black holes very far away from us had collided and created an even bigger black hole.
- This black hole is more than 80 times bigger than the sun.
- What makes this observation special is that it caused a strong energy wave that was detectable even from Earth.
- This energy was so strong that it released the same amount of energy as five suns.
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21. Gravitational waves were seen for the first time in :
(a) September 2014
(b) September 2015
(c) August 2017
(d) October 2017
[U.P. P.C.S. (Mains) 2017]
Ans. (b) September 2015
- On September 14, 2015, scientists were able to see gravitational waves for the first time.
- This news was reported by the LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory) on February
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22. Which of the following is/are cited by the scientists as evidence/evidence for the continued expansion of the universe?
1. Detection of microwaves in space.
2. Observation of redshift phenomenon in space.
3. Movement of asteroids in space.
4. Occurrence of supernova explosions in space.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below
(a) 1 and 2
(b) Only 2
(c) 1, 3 and 4
(d) None of the above can be cited as evidence
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2012]
Ans. (a) 1 and 2
- Scientists discovered that the universe is expanding by detecting microwaves in space and observing the redshift phenomenon.
- In 1998, two teams of researchers, Saul Perlmutter and Adam Riess, and Brian Schmidt, studied the universe following the big bang and found that its expansion is increasing.
- They noticed that the light from over 50 distant supernovas was weaker than expected, showing that the universe is expanding faster.
- Because of their discovery, the Royal Swedish Academy of Science awarded them a Nobel Prize in Physics in 2011.
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23. The concept of expanding universe is based on –
(a) Doppler effect
(b) Stark effect
(c) Zeeman effect
(d) Raman efct
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2010]
Ans. (a) Doppler effect
- Christian Doppler created the concept of the expanding universe based on the Doppler Effect in 1942.
- Edwin Hubble later used Doppler Effect to find out that the universe is growing.
- He noticed that the light from far away galaxies had a lower frequency, which is called a red Doppler shift or red-shift.
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24. Consider the following phenomena :
1. Light is affected by gravity.
2. The Universe is constantly expanding.
3. Matter warps its surrounding space-time.
Which of the above is/are the prediction/predictions of Albert Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity, often discussed in media?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2018]
Ans. (d) 1, 2 and 3
- Light bends when it gets close to a big star or black hole.
- This is because of Albert Einstein’s prediction that the universe is constantly growing and objects with a lot of mass can bend (warp) space-time.
- This is called warping of space-time. This is why light looks like it bends when it goes near a star or black hole.
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25. Black-hole is :
(a) a fight recorder in an airplane
(b) a spot on the sun
(c) a place in Antarctica
(d) a collapsed star
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2019]
Ans. (d) a collapsed star
- Black holes are created when very large stars collapse at the end of their life.
- It is then able to grow bigger by absorbing material from its environment.
- Over time, they can merge with other black holes, resulting in a supermassive black hole with millions of times the mass of the Sun.
- This is because the gravity in a black hole is so strong that not even light can escape it, as matter is compressed into a small space.
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26. Assertion (A): A black hole is such a celestial existence that cannot be seen by telescope.
Reason (R):The gravitational field of a black hole is so strong that even light does not escape from it.
Code :
(a) Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(b) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(c) (A) is true, but (R) is false.
(d) (A) is false, but (R) is true.
[U.P.U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2001]
Ans. (a) Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
- A black hole is an incredibly dense object with such strong gravity that nothing, including light, can escape it.
- Because of this, it is impossible to see it through a telescope.
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27. Black Hole –
(a) Does not emit any radiation.
(b) Converts UV radiation to infrared.
(c) Absorbs all radiations that fall on it.
(d) Is an imaginary concept.
[Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2007]
Ans. (c) Absorbs all radiations that fall on it
- A Black Hole absorbs all radiation that falls on it due to its high gravity.
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28. The tail of a comet always points –
(a) Away from the Sun
(b) Towards the Sun
(c) Towards North-East
(d) Towards South-East
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2011]
Ans. (a) Away from the Sun
- Comets are small objects in space made out of ice, gas, dust and some organic material that go around the sun.
- The sun’s light and wind push the dust particles away from the cloudy area around the comet’s center and make a dust tail.
- The sun’s charged particles also turn some of the comet’s gases into ions, making an ion tail.
- Comet tails always point in the opposite direction of the sun because they are shaped by sunlight and the solar wind.
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29. Highly dense stars are called-
(a) Supernova
(b) Neutron stars
(c) Binary stars
(d) Asteroid
[Uttarakhand Lower Sub. (Pre) 2010]
Ans. (b) Neutron stars
- The highly dense stars are called Neutron stars.
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30. Electrically charged particles from space traveling at speeds of several hundred km/sec can severely harm living beings if they reach the surface of the Earth. What prevents them from reaching the surface of the Earth?
(a) The Earth’s magnetic f eld diverts them towards its poles.
(b) Ozone layer around the Earth ref ects them back to outer space.
(c) Moisture in the upper layers of atmosphere prevents them from reaching the surface of the Earth.
(d) None of the statement (a), (b) and (c) given above is correct.
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2012]
Ans. (a) The Earth’s magnetic field diverts them towards its poles
- Particles with electricity that come from space and go really fast can’t reach the ground of the Earth because the Earth’s magnetic field moves them toward the North and South Poles.
- This is best seen in the Aurora.
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31. Assertion (A): A space shuttle loses radio contact with the ground station for a while during landing on the earth.
Reason (R): As a space shuttle enters Earth’s atmosphere, the shuttle’s surface temperature increases which ionizes the surrounding air.
In the context of the above statements, which of the following is correct :
(a) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(b) Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(c) (A) is true, but (R) is false.
(d) (A) is false, but (R) is true.
[U.P.U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2002, U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2003]
Ans. (a) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
- When a spacecraft enters the earth’s atmosphere, it encounters air drag which causes it to heat up.
- This process also causes the air around the shuttle to become electrically charged, which results in radio interference and makes it difficult for the ground station to communicate with the shuttle during its landing.
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32. Consider the following statements :
1. A geostationary satellite is at an approximate height of 10,000 km.
2. FM transmission of music is of very good quality because the atmospheric or man-made noises which are generally frequency variations can do little harm.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2005]
Ans. (b) 2 only
- A communication satellite is located in space around 36,000km above the equator.
- It can provide coverage of the entire planet if 3 satellites are placed 120 degrees apart.
- FM (Frequency Modulation) is better than AM (Amplitude Modulation) because it has a higher signal to noise ratio.
- Techniques such as pre-emphasis and de-emphasis are used to further improve the signal to noise ratio in FM systems.
- FM signals have a constant amplitude so FM receivers have limiters to remove noise and improve the signal to noise ratio.
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33. The satellites used for telecommunication relays are kept in a geostationary orbit. A satellite is said to be in such an orbit when
1. The orbit is geosynchronous.
2. The orbit is circular.
3. The orbit lies in the plane of the Earth’s equator.
4. The orbit is at an altitude of 22,236 km.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below
(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 1, 3 and 4
(c) 2 and 4
(d) 1, 2, 3, and 4
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2011]
Ans. (a) 1, 2 and 3
- A geostationary orbit is a circle around the Earth at a height of 35,786 kilometers (22,236 miles).
- It is also known as Clark’s orbit and is sometimes called a geosynchronous equatorial orbit (GEO).
- Satellites in this orbit stay in one spot in the sky all the time.
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34. What is the geostatic position?
(a) When the Earth would stop moving around the Sun.
(b) When an object lies in between the Moon and the Earth
(c) When the object moves around the Earth with a velocity commensurate with the velocity of the Earth such that it maintains a fixed position in relation to someplace on the Earth.
(d) When an object occupies a fixed distance from the Earth.
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2005]
Ans. (c) When the object moves around the Earth with a velocity commensurate with the velocity of the Earth such that it maintains a fixed position in relation to someplace on the Earth
- When an object is moving around the earth at the same speed as the earth, so that it stays in the same place relative to a spot on the earth, it’s known as a geostatic position.
- All geostationary satellites work on this same principle.
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35. In which atmospheric layer, the communication satellites are located?
(a) Stratosphere
(b) Ionosphere
(c) Troposphere
(d) Exosphere
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2004]
Ans. (d) Exosphere
- Patterson divided the atmosphere into five layers –
- (1) Troposphere (0-18 km.), (2) Stratosphere (18-30 km.), (3) Mesosphere (30-80 km.), (4) Ionosphere (80-400 km.), (5) Exosphere (400 km and above).
- The air in the atmosphere’s outermost layer, the Exosphere, is very thin and is similar to the airless space outside of Earth. This is where communication satellites are located.
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36. A geostationary satellite has a period of :
(a) 6 hours
(b) 12 hours
(c) 18 hours
(d) 24 hours
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2010]
Ans. (d) 24 hours
- The geostationary satellite has the same orbital period as the earth’s rotation period i.e. 24 hours.
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37. Which of the following diagrams represents the most accurate part of a geostationary satellite in space?
[I.A.S. (Pre) 1993]
Ans. (a)
- Geostationary satellites travel in a circular orbit, so option (a) is the correct answer for the path of these satellites in space.
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38. NASA-U.S. space agency has launched a telescope named Kepler to find:
(a) Distant stars
(b) Distant planets
(c) Distant satellites
(d) Earth-like Planets
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2008]
Ans. (d) Earth-like Planets
- NASA launched the Kepler space observatory in 2009 with the initial goal of it running for 3.5 years.
- This was later extended and after 9 years of operation, NASA announced its retirement on October 30, 2018.
- During this time, Kepler discovered more than 2600 planets outside of our solar system, some of which may have conditions suitable for life.
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39. With reference to ‘Astrosat’, the astronomical observatory launched by India, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. Other than the USA and Russia, India is the only country to have launched a similar observatory into space.
2. Astrosat is a 2000 kg satellite placed in an orbit at 1650 km above the surface of the Earth.
Select the correct answer using the code given below :
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2016]
Ans. (d) Neither 1 nor 2
- India launched its first space observatory, Astrosat, in September 2015.
- This mission aims to learn more about the universe. Astrosat is unique because it can observe different astronomical objects in multiple wavelengths at the same time.
- It weighed 1513 kg and was sent to an orbit 650 km away from the Earth’s surface.
- Other countries such as the USA, the European Union, Japan and Russia have also sent similar observatories into space, so the two statements are not correct.
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40. Who amongst the following was the Chairman of ISRO when INSAT-3B was launched?
(a) Anil Kakodkar
(b) Abdul Kalam
(c) K. Kasturirangan
(d) U.R. Rao
[R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 2001]
Ans. (c) K. Kasturirangan
- Dr. K. Kasturirangan was the leader of the Indian Space Research Organisation from 1994 to 2003. During this time, India used a French Guiana based Ariane 5G rocket to launch the INSAT-3B satellite on 21 March 2000.
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41. Chairman of the Indian Space and Research Organization is :
(a) Krishna Swamy Kasturirangan
(b) A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
(c) G. Madhavan Nair
(d) K.M. Bhandari
[R.A.S./R.T.S.(Pre) 2008]
Ans. (c) G. Madhavan Nair
- When the question was asked, G. Madhavan Nair was the leader of ISRO.
- Now, Sreedhara Panicker Somanath is the chairman of ISRO, and he began that position in January 2022.
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42. Who is the new Chairman of ‘ISRO’ from the following?
(a) R. Hatten
(b) A.S. Kiran Kumar
(c) S. Sivan
(d) P. Kulikrishnan
(e) None of the above
[Chattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2018]
Ans. (b) A.S. Kiran Kumar
- A.S. Kiran Kumar was the head of ISRO from 2015 to 2018.
- The current leader of ISRO is S. Somnath, who began their term in the middle of January, 2022.
- Dr. Vikram Sarabhai was the first chairman of the ISRO.
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43. Assertion (A): India’s telecommunication has been linked to a satellite.
Reason (R): India is preparing for starwar.
(a) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(b) Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(c) (A) is true, but (R) is false.
(d) (A) is false, but (R) is true.
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1990]
Ans. (c) (A) is true, but (R) is false.
- INSAT is a collection of satellites created by India’s ISRO to help with telecommunications, broadcasting, and meteorology.
- Assertion A is correct, but Reason R is incorrect as India is not getting ready for a Star Wars movie.
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44. The Indian Satellite series which is being used for telecommunication systems is
(a) Rohini
(b) I.R.S.
(c) CARTOSAT
(d) INSAT
[Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2016]
Ans. (d) INSAT
- INSAT is a series of communication satellites launched by India’s Space Research Organization in 1983.
- It is one of the biggest communication networks in the Asia-Pacific area.
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45. Indian Satellite Series ‘INSAT’ is an example of :
(a) Resource Satellite
(b) Military Satellite
(c) Polar-orbiting Satellite
(d) Meteorological Satellite
[Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2021]
Ans. (d) Meteorological Satellite
- INSAT stands for the Indian National Satellite System and is an example of a meteorological satellite.
- It is a series of satellites that the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched to provide support for India.
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46. Which of the following frequency bands is not used in INSAT/GSAT satellite communication?
(a) Ka
(b) C
(c) MF
(d) Ku
[R.A.S./ R.T.S. (Pre) 2021]
Ans. (c) MF
- In India, satellites are used for communication and they are made up of five different frequencies, called S-band, C-band, Upper Extended C band, Ku band and Ka band.
- The INSAT/GSAT satellites have these frequency bands.
|
47. Television transmission is an example of which of the following?
(a) Simplex communication
(b) Half-duplex communication
(c) Full-duplex communication
(d) None of the above
[Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2016]
Ans. (a) Simplex communication
- Television broadcasting is a type of communication where information is sent one way only.
- This is known as simplex communication, which means that the information only travels in one direction.
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48. India’s first remote sensing satellite (I.R.S.-IA) was launched from :
(a) Baikanour
(b) Cape Kennedy
(c) French Guana
(d) Sri Harikota
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1994]
Ans. (a) Baikanour
- The first Indian Remote-sensing satellite IRS-IA was launched on Maarch 17, 1988, from the Soviet Union Baikanour Cosmodrome.
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49. In which of the following activities are Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellites used?
1. Assessment of crop productivity.
2. Locating groundwater resources.
3. Mineral exploration.
4. Telecommunications.
5. Traffic studies
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1, 2, and 3 only
(b) 4 and 5 only
(c) 1 and 2 only
(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2015]
Ans. (a) 1, 2, and 3 only
- Remote sensing satellites are being used more and more for many different kinds of projects.
- These projects include looking at how much land is used for farming, finding out about droughts, mapping food and land, taking care of wastelands, managing water, looking at the ocean and minerals, and surveying forests.
- Remote sensing satellites are not used for communication or traffic.
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50. For the measurement/estimation of which of the following are satellite images/remote sensing data used?
1. Chlorophyll content in the vegetation of a specific location
2. Greenhouse gas emissions from rice paddies of a specific location
3. Land surface temperatures of a specific location
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2019]
Ans. (d) 1, 2 and 3
- Satellite images or remote sensing data are used to measure or estimate chlorophyll content in the plants of a certain area, greenhouse gas emissions from rice paddies in a certain area, and land surface temperatures in a certain area using hyper-spectral, multi-spectral, short-wave infrared, thermal infrared, and Merlin Lidar techniques.
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51. In the field of space technology, India demonstrated 1994, her capability to
(a) Design advanced intercontinental ballistic missile warning system
(b) Build a satellite
(c) Build stealth missiles
(d) Launch synchronous satellites
[I.A.S. (Pre) 1995]
Ans. (d) Launch synchronous satellites
- In 1994, India showed its ability to launch satellites that move in the same direction as the sun.
- On October 15th of that year, the first successful mission of the PSLV rocket launched a remote sensing satellite into an 820-kilometer orbit around the Earth.
- This made India the sixth nation in the world to have launched a satellite into the low Earth orbit.
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52. INSAT-3C was launched from-
(a) Hassan
(b) Kourou
(c) Sriharikota
(d) Thumba
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2002]
Ans. (b) Kourou
- INSAT-3C was launched by Arianespace from Kourou in French Guiana. Recently, GSAT-30 was launched from Kourou in January 2020 and CMS-01 was launched by PSLV-C50 from Sriharikota in December 2020.
|
53. Which Satellite was successfully launched by ISRO on December 22, 2005?
(a) INSAT – 2A
(b) INSAT – 2B
(c) INSAT – 4A
(d) INSAT – 4B
[U.P.P.C.S. (Spl.) (Mains) 2004]
Ans. (c) INSAT – 4A
- On December 22, 2005, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the INSAT-4A satellite from Kourou, French Guiana, using the Ariane-5G rocket.
- The satellite weighed 3080 kilograms.
|
54. How many satellites were launched successfully by PSLV-C37 in a single flight on 15 February 2017?
(a) 80
(b) 104
(c) 72
(d) 98
R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 2018
Ans. (b) 104
- On February 15th, 2017, ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C37) successfully launched 714 kg Cartosat-2 series satellite, plus 103 other satellites, from Satish Dhawan Space Center SHAR, Sriharikota.
- This was a record for the most satellites ever launched at once, with a total weight of 1378 kg.
- This record stood until January 24th, 2021, when SpaceX launched the Transporter-1 mission on a Falcon 9 rocket carrying 143 satellites into orbit.
|
55. Which is the correct chronological order of the following space programs?
A. APPLE
B. IGMD
C. STEP
D. SITE
Code :
(a) B, C, D, A
(b) D, C, A, B
(c) C, A, D, B
(d) A, C, D, B
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1998]
Ans. (b) D, C, A, B
- SITE – Satellite Instructional Television Experiment project launched in 1975, jointly designed by NASA and ISRO.
- STEP – Satellite Telecommunication Experiment Project (launched in 1977).
- APPLE – The Ariane Passenger Payload Experiment was launched on June 19, 1981, by Ariane launch vehicle from Kourou in French Guiana.
- IGMD – Integrated Guided Missile Development Program which was launched by DRDO in 1983.
|
56. Apple was launched from –
(a) Kourou (French Guyana)
(b) Sriharikota (India)
(c) Baikanoor (Russia)
(d) Cape Canaveral (U.S.A.)
[Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2007]
Ans. (a) Kourou (French Guyana)
- On June 19, 1981, India launched its first ever experimental communication satellite, called Apple Satellite, using a vehicle called Ariane from Kourou in French Guiana.
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57. The first Indian Communication Satellite APPLE was launched on :
(a) Feb 27, 1982
(b) September 18, 1981
(c) June 19, 1981
(d) December 25, 1981
[Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2008]
Ans. (c) June 19, 1981
- On June 19, 1981, India launched its first communication satellite, called APPLE, using the Ariane rocket from Kourou in France.
- This rocket sent the satellite into a special orbit called Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).
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58. When INSAT I-D of India was launched?
(a) June 10th, 1990
(b) June 12th,1990
(c) June13th , 1990
(d) June 15th, 1990
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1994]
Ans. (b) June 12th,1990
- INSAT-1D was sent into orbit on June 12, 1990. It provided India with telephone, TV, and weather monitoring services.
|
59. When was ‘INSAT-2A’ launched?
(a) February 4th, 1975
(b) May 18th, 1974
(c) July 10th, 1992
(d) April 19th, 1975
[44th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2000]
Ans. (c) July 10th, 1992
- India built its first satellite, called INSAT-2A, and launched it from Kourou, French Guiana on July 10, 1992.
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60. The heaviest Indian Satellite, INSAT-4C, which failed to go into orbit recently weighed?
(a) 1568 kg
(b) 2168 kg
(c) 2568 kg
(d) 3068 kg
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2005]
Ans. (b) 2168 kg
- On 10 July 2006, the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) carrying the INSAT-4C communication satellite, went off track and exploded 60 seconds after taking off.
- This satellite weighed 2168 kg and costed 350 crore Rupees to develop.
- Currently, GSAT-11 which weighs 5854 kg is the heaviest satellite built by ISRO.
- It was launched from the Kourou launch base in French Guiana on 5 December 2018 using the Ariane-5 VA
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61. India’s first dedicated navigation satellite IRNSS-1A was launched from :
(a) Sriharikota
(b) Ahmedabad
(c) Thiruvananthapuram
(d) Bengaluru
[Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2012]
Ans. (a) Sriharikota
- On July 1st 2013, India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C22) was used to launch IRNSS-1A, the first satellite in the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
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62. With reference to the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), consider the following statements :
1. IRNSS has three satellites in geostationary and four satellites in geosynchronous orbits.
2. IRNSS covers the entire India and about 5500 sq. km beyond its borders.
3. India will have its own satellite navigation system with full global coverage by the middle of 2019.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) None
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2018]
Ans. (a) 1 only
- Prime Minister Modi named the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) as NavIC.
- This system provides accurate and real-time positioning and timing services that cover India and the area around it for 1500 km.
- Out of the seven satellites that make up the space segment, three are in geostationary orbit and the other four are in geosynchronous orbit.
- There are no plans to extend NavIC throughout the world, so only statement 1 is correct.
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63. What is the Galileo Project which has been in the news recently?
(a) An inter-country program of missile shields developed by the United States of America
(b) A project developed by India with assistance from Canada
(c) An environmental protection project being developed by Japan
(d) A multi-satellite navigation project being developed by the European Union
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2007]
Ans. (d) A multi-satellite navigation project being developed by the European Union
- Galileo is Europe’s own satellite navigation system that started working in 2016.
- It allows people to pinpoint their exact location anywhere in the world with great accuracy and without being controlled by any particular country.
- It is compatible with GPS, Glonass and other similar satellite navigation systems.
|
64. GPS stands for which one of the following?
(a) Greenwich Polar Satellite
(b) Global Police Surveillance
(c) Global Positioning System
(d) General Pacif c Survey
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2015]
Ans. (c) Global Positioning System
- GPS stands for Global Positioning System and is a satellite-based navigation system created by the U.S. Department of Defence.
- It was made available for use on April 27th, 1995.
|
65. In which of the following areas can GPS technology be used?
1. Mobile phone operations
2. Banking operations
3. Controlling the power grids
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2018]
Ans. (d) 1, 2 and 3
- GPS is a system that uses satellites to get information about a person’s location and the time.
- It is used in a lot of things like phones, watches, construction equipment, containers, and ATMs.
- It is also important for networks, banks, markets, and power grids so they can stay in sync.
|
66. India developed Satellite launch vehicles over a period of a few decades. Which is the correct chronological order of development of the following vehicles A, B, C, and D?
A. PSLV
B. ASLV
C. SLV
D. GSLV
Select the correct answer from the Code below :
Code :
(a) A, B, C, D
(b) B, C, D, A
(c) D, C, A, B
(d) C, B, A, D
U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2004
Ans. (d)
- The correct chronological order of development of the above satellite launch vehicles is as follows –
- SLV – August 10, 1979
- ASLV – March 24, 1987
- PSLV – September 20, 1993
- GSLV – April 18, 2011
- Therefore the correct option is (d).
|
67. Match the following pairs :
| Launch Vehicle |
Satellite |
| (i) Satellite Launch Vehicle-3 (SLV-3) |
A. Chandrayaan-1 |
| (ii) Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV) |
B. Rohini |
| (iii) Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) |
C. SROSS-C |
| (iv) Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) |
D. EDUSAT |
Which of the following codes are correctly matched?
Code :
(i) (ii) (iii) (iv)
(a) A B C D
(b) B C D A
(c) B C A D
(d) C A B D
[R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 2016]
Ans. (c) B C A D
- India became the sixth member of an exclusive group of space-faring nations when the Rohini satellite, RS-1, was put into orbit on July 18, 1980 with the successful launch of the SLV-3.
- The Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV) Programme was created to increase the payload capacity of SLV-3 by 150 kg, allowing for low earth orbits.
- The third developmental fight, ASLV-D3, was successful on May 20, 1992 when the SROSS-C (106 kg) was placed in an orbit of 225 × 430 km.
- The PSLV launch vehicle has been in use for twenty years and has been responsible for various outstanding missions, such as Chandrayaan-1, Mars Orbiter Mission, and Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS).
- The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) was designed to launch INSAT/GSAT class satellites into orbit and has been used to launch the GSAT series of satellites, with EDUSAT being India’s first educational satellite, and Chandrayaan-2 being the most recent launch.
|
68. In the given picture/map 1,2, 3, and 4 have been marked to show the location of space organization units.
Match these units with the list given below and select the correct answer using the codes given below :
List :
(A) I.S.R.O.
(B) I.I.R.S.
(C) N.R.S.A.
(D) S.A.C.
Code :
A B C D
(a) 4 1 2 3
(b) 1 4 3 2
(c) 1 4 2 3
(d) 4 1 3 2
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2001]
Ans. (d) 4 1 3 2
- IIRS–Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, Dehradun (Uttrakhand)
- SAC– Space Application Centre, Ahmedabad (Gujarat)
- NRSA–National Remote Sensing Agency, Hyderabad (Telangana)
- ISRO–Indian Space Research Organization, (Bengaluru, Karnataka)
|
69. ISRO’s Master Control Facility is at Hasan, which is located in :
(a) Andhra Pradesh
(b) Gujarat
(c) Orissa
(d) Karnataka
[U.P.P.S.C. (GIC) 2010]
Ans. (d) Karnataka
- The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) established the Master Control Facility (MCF) in Karnataka in 1982.
- This facility is used to keep an eye on and manage the geostationary and geosynchronous satellites launched by ISRO.
- Another MCF was made in Bhopal in 2005
|
70. Match List- I with List- II and select the correct answer from the code given below the Lists :
| List- I |
List- II |
| (Organisations) |
(Location) |
| A. ISRO |
1. Thiruvananthapuram |
| B. IUCA |
2. Pune |
| C. IUAC |
3. Bengaluru |
| D. VSSC |
4. New Delhi |
Code :
|
A |
B |
C |
D |
| (a) |
3 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
| (b) |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
| (c) |
2 |
4 |
1 |
3 |
| (d) |
3 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
[U.P. U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2010]
Ans. (a) 3241
-
| (Organisations) |
(Location) |
| ISRO(Indian Space Research Organisation) |
Bengaluru |
| IUCA(Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics) |
Pune |
| IUAC(Inter-University Accelerator Centre) |
New Delhi |
| VSSC(Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre) |
Thiruvananthapuram |
|
