Science & Technology › Space Technology & Astronomy – UPSC Prelims PYQs

Consider the following statements with regard to involvement of private entities in India’s space programme :

1. The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) is an autonomous agency formed to facilitate participation of private entities.
2. Agnikul Cosmos launched the world’s first flight using 3D-printed rocket engine.
3. Skyroot Aerospace has developed liquid fuel for GSLV.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

Consider the following space missions : I. Axiom-4 II. SpaDeX III. Gaganyaan

How many of the space missions given above encourage and support microgravity research?

GPS-Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) uses a system of ground stations to provide necessary augmentation. Which of the following statements is/are correct in respect of GAGAN? I. It is designed to provide additional accuracy and integrity. II. It will allow more uniform and high quality air traffic management. III. It will provide benefits only in aviation but not in other modes of transportation.

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Consider the following statements :

Statement-I : Giant stars live much longer than dwarf stars.

Statement-II : Compared to dwarf stars, giant stars have a greater rate of nuclear reactions.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements ?

Consider the following pairs : Objects in space : Description

1. Cepheids : Giant clouds of dust and gas in space
2. Nebulae : Stars which brighten and dim periodically
3. Pulsars : Neutron stars that are formed when massive stars run out of fuel and collapse

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

Which one of the following countries has its own Satellite Navigation System?

If a major solar storm (solar flare) reaches the Earth, which of the following are the possible effects on the Earth ?

1. GPS and navigation systems could fail.
2. Tsunamis could occur at equatorial regions.
3. Power grids could be damaged.
4. Intense auroras could occur over much of the Earth.
5. Forest fires could take place over much of the planet.
6. Orbits of the satellites could be disturbed.
7. Shortwave radio communication of the aircraft flying over polar regions could be interrupted.

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Which one of the following is a reason why astronomical distances are measured in light-years?

“The experiment will employ a trio of spacecraft flying in formation in the shape of an equilateral triangle that has sides one million kilometres long, with lasers shining between the craft.” The experiment in question refers to

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

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Recently, scientists observed the merger of giant ‘blackholes’ billions of light-years away from the Earth. What is the significance of this observation?

In which of the following areas can GPS technology be used ?

1. Mobile phone operations
2. Banking operations
3. Controlling the power grids

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With reference to the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), consider the following statements : 1. 2. 3. 2019.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

With reference to India's satellite launch vehicles, consider the following statements :

1. PSLVs launch the satellites useful for Earth resources monitoring whereas GSLVs are designed mainly to launch communication satellites.
2. Satellites launched by PSLV appear to remain permanently fixed in the same position in the sky, as viewed from a particular location on Earth.
3. GSLV Mk III is a four-staged launch vehicle with the first and third stages using solid rocket motors; and the second and fourth stages using liquid rocket engines.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

The terms 'Event Horizon', 'Singularity', 'String Theory' and 'Standard Model' are sometimes seen in the news in the context of

What is the purpose of 'evolved Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (eLISA)' project ?

With reference to 'Astrosat', the astronomical observatory launched by India, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. Other than 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.

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Consider the following statements : The Mangalyaan launched by ISRO

1. is also called the Mars Orbiter Mission
2. made India the second country to have a spacecraft orbit the Mars after USA
3. made India the only country to be successful in making its spacecraft orbit the Mars in its very first attempt

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

The term ‘Goldilocks Zone’ is often seen in the news in the context of

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

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Which of the following pairs is/are correctly matched? Spacecraft : Purpose

1. Cassini-Huygens : Orbiting the Venus and transmitting data to the Earth
2. Messenger : Mapping and investigating the Mercury
3. Voyager 1 and 2 : Exploring the outer solar system

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Which of the following is/are cited by the scientists as evidence/evidences for the continued expansion of 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

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Electrically charged particles from space travelling 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?

Satellites used for telecommunication relay 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.

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An artificial satellite orbiting around the Earth does not fall down. This is so because the attraction of Earth

What is the difference between asteroids and comets?

1. Asteroids are small rocky planetoids, while comets are formed of frozen gases held together by rocky and metallic material.
2. Asteroids are found mostly between the orbits of Jupiter and Mars, while comets are found mostly between Venus and Mercury.
3. Comets show a perceptible glowing tail, while asteroids do not.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Consider the following statements:

1. Estimating the water vapour content in the atmosphere.
2. Predicting the onset of monsoons.
3. Monitoring the pollution of coastal waters.

The satellite Oceansat-2 launched by India helps in

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

In the context of space technology, what is “Bhuvan”, recently in the news?

Who of the following scientists proved that the stars with mass less than 1·44 times the mass of the Sun end up as White Dwarfs when they die ?

India has recently landed its Moon Impact Probe on the Moon. Among the following countries, which one landed such probe on the Moon earlier ?

Selene-1, the lunar orbiter mission belongs to which one of the following?

ISRO successfully conducted a rocket test using cryogenic engines in the year 2007. Where is the test-stand used for the purpose, located?

In order of their distances from the Sun,

which of the following planets lie between Mars and Uranus?

Which one of the following is a spacecraft?

What is the purpose of the US Space Agency's Themis Mission, which was recently in the news?

Consider the following statements in respect of a jet engine and a rocket:

1. A jet engine uses the surrounding air for its oxygen supply and so is unsuitable for motion in space.
2. A rocket carries its own supply of oxygen in the gas form, and fuel.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Consider the following statements:

1. In the year 2006, India successfully tested a full-fledged cryogenic stage in rocketry.
2. After USA, Russia and China, India is the only country to have acquired the capability for use of cryogenic stage in rocketry.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

NASA’s Deep Impact space mission was employed to take detailed pictures of which comet nucleus?

Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched?

What is the Galileo project which has been in news recently?

Assertion (A): To orbit around the Sun, the planet Mars takes lesser time than the time taken by the Earth.

Reason (R): The diameter of the planet Mars is less than that of the Earth.

What is the approximate mean velocity with which the Earth moves round the Sun in its orbit?

Consider the following statements in respect of India's advanced satellite INSAT–4A :

1. INSAT–4A was launched in December, 2005 from New Mexico.
2. The European commercial launch service provider Arianespace was associated with the launch of INSAT–4A.
3. Tata-Sky—a digital cable service provider is associated with DTH television broadcasting services from INSAT-4A.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Assertion (A): Existence of human life on Venus is highly improbable.

Reason (R): Venus has extremely high level of carbon dioxide in its atmosphere.

Consider the following statements:

1. India launched its first full-fledged meteorological satellite (METSAT) in September 2002.
2. For the first time, the space vehicle PSLV-C4 carried a payload of more than 1000 kg into a geosynchronous orbit.

Which of these statements is/are correct?

Among the following which planet takes maximum time for one revolution around the Sun?

In the year 2001, NASA launched a spacecraft to Mars named

The world's highest ground-based telescopic observatory is located in

Assume that the moon takes exactly 30 days to complete the cycle and also assume that it rises in the East exactly at 6.48 p.m. on the first day. On the fourth day, at what time will it rise?

With reference to Indian satellites and their launchers, consider the following statements:

1. All the INSAT-series of satellites were launched abroad
2. PSLVs were used to launch IRS-series of satellites
3. India used the indigenously built cryogenic engines for the first time for powering the third stage of GSLV
4. GSAT, launched in the year 2001, has payloads to demonstrate digital broadcasts and internet services

Which of these statements are correct?