Hubble Space Telescope, James Webb Space Telescope, JWST, Space Exploration - GS questions based on daily current affairs

1)   Which of the following statements are correct about Pluto?

1. Pluto was the first Kuiter belt object to be discovered.
2. Eris, a dwarf planet discovered in 2005 is larger than Pluto in diameter.


a. Only 1
b. Only 2
c. Both
d. None
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Only 1

Explanation:
After New Horizons measured Pluto's diameter as 2370 km in July 2015, it was determined that Eris is slightly smaller in diameter than Pluto.


2)   What is the name of Stephen Hawking led search for alien life beyond solar system?

a. Explore
b. Brotherhood
c. Breakthrough Mission
d. Breakthrough Listen
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Breakthrough Listen

Explanation:
Launched at the Royal Society in London, with the Cambridge cosmologist Stephen Hawking, the Breakthrough Listen project will search for alien life yet by listening out for potential radio signals coming from advanced civilizations far beyond the solar system. The project will not broadcast signals into space but listen the radio signals.


3)   Match the following

1. Pluto ------------------------------------ i. Cassini–Huygens
2. Jupiter ---------------------------------- ii. Juno
3. Ceres ----------------------------------- iii. Curiosity
4. Saturn ---------------------------------- iv. New Horizon
5. Mars ------------------------------------- v. Dawn


a. 1-iv, 2-v, 3-iii, 4-ii, 5-i
b. 1-v, 2-iv, 3-ii, 4-iii, 5-i
c. 1-i, 2-v, 3-ii, 4-iii, 5-iv
d. 1-iv, 2-ii, 3-v, 4-i, 5-iii
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: 1-iv, 2-ii, 3-v, 4-i, 5-iii

Explanation:
No explanation is available for this question!


4)   Consider the following statements

1. India is third country to reach Mars.
2. It is the first Asian nation to reach Mars orbit.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?


a. Only 1
b. Only 2
c. Both
d. None
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:
No explanation is available for this question!


5)   Consider the following statements

1. Space probe Rosetta's lander Philae became the first spacecraft to land on a comet
2. The European spacecraft Rosetta performed a fly-by of a massive asteroid Lutetia

Which of the above statements is/are correct?


a. Only 1
b. Only 2
c. Both
d. None
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Both

Explanation:
No explanation is available for this question!


6)   Consider the following statements

1. ASTROSAT is India's first mission for studying distant celestial objects
2. It will be launched by GSLV
3. It is a first multiwavelength astronomy satellite
4. India will join the group of U.S., Europe, Russia and Japan who have similar missions launched previously

Which of the above statements is/are incorrect?


a. 1,2,3
b. 2,3,4
c. 1,3,4
d. All
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: All

Explanation:
It is scheduled to launch on board the PSLV in October 2015.


7)   Consider the following statements related to GOCE Satellite

1. GOCE is a satellite launched by NASA
2. It is first Living Planet Program satellites
3. It studies Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation

Which of the above statements is/are correct?


a. 1,2
b. 2,3
c. 1,3
d. All
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: 2,3

Explanation:
The Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) was the first of European Space Agency's Living Planet Program satellites intended to map in unprecedented detail the Earth's gravity field. GOCE mapped the deep structure of the Earth's mantle and probed hazardous volcanic regions. It brought new insight into ocean behavior.


8)   Consider the following statements

1. Messenger is a spacecraft launched in 2004 by NASA.

2. It began orbiting Venus in 2011.

3. NASA's Messenger spacecraft has crashed into the surface of Venus, ending its historic 11-year mission.

Which of the above statements are incorrect?


a. 1,2
b. 1,3
c. 2,3
d. All
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: 2,3

Explanation:
Messenger is a robotic NASA spacecraft which orbited the planet Mercury between 2011 and 2015.