Correct Answer : GSAT-N2
India's heaviest communication satellite, GSAT-N2, weighs approximately 4,700 kg and is scheduled to launch on SpaceX's Falcon-9 from Cape Canaveral. GSAT-N2 aims to enhance internet services, particularly in remote areas, with an operational life of 14 years. The choice of SpaceX's Falcon-9 over India's LVM-3 launch vehicle was due to the satellite's significant payload weight. This launch marks a shift in India's reliance from Arianespace to SpaceX for heavy satellite launches, demonstrating the growing collaboration between India and private space companies.
Correct Answer : NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is partnering with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to develop the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite.Scheduled to launch in 2025, NISAR will utilize dual-frequency radar to monitor the Earth's surface, providing valuable insights into ecosystems, ice masses, and natural hazards. NASA's contributions include the L-band radar and payload data subsystem, while ISRO is providing the S-band radar and GSLV launch system.
Correct Answer : SpaceX
The successful launch of Koreasat 6A communications satellite was made possible by SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket. This launch demonstrates SpaceX's capabilities in providing reliable and efficient launch services for satellite deployment. As a leading player in private space exploration, SpaceX continues to play a crucial role in advancing global satellite communications. The Falcon 9 rocket's geostationary orbit insertion capabilities ensured Koreasat 6A reached its designated position at 116° East, enabling South Korea's satellite communications operator to provide enhanced fixed and broadcast services.
Correct Answer : European Space Agency
The European Space Agency (ESA) spearheads the Proba-3 mission, a pioneering venture in precision formation flying and solar observation. This mission consists of two small satellites, the Coronagraph Spacecraft and Occulter Spacecraft, working together to image the Sun's corona. By creating an artificial eclipse, Proba-3 enables extended observations of the solar corona in various light spectrums. India's role in launching the mission from Sriharikota highlights international cooperation in space exploration, demonstrating collaborative efforts to advance scientific knowledge and understanding of the universe.
Correct Answer : Aditya-L1
The Aditya-L1 mission is India's pioneering venture to study the Sun from a unique vantage point about 1.5 million kilometres from Earth. The Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC) is the primary payload of this mission, designed to observe the Sun's outer atmosphere or corona.By integrating multiple components, including a coronagraph, spectrograph, and polarimetry module, VELC enables unprecedented clarity and detail in imaging the solar corona. This mission aims to analyze various aspects of the solar corona, study solar phenomena, and understand space weather's impact on Earth, marking a significant milestone in India's space exploration endeavours.
Correct Answer : Russia
Zimbabwe launched its second satellite, ZIMSAT-2, from Russia's Vostochny Cosmodrome, marking a significant milestone in the country's growing space programme. This launch was a joint effort between Zimbabwe's National Geo-Spatial and Space Agency (ZINGSA) and Southwest State University in Russia. The satellite is equipped with a high-resolution multispectral camera to aid in agriculture, resource exploration, environmental monitoring, and disaster management.Zimbabwean engineers, including PhD students from Russia, played a crucial role in the satellite's design and construction, highlighting the collaborative efforts between the two nations.
Correct Answer : Leh
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched its pioneering analog space mission from Leh, Ladakh. This strategic choice leverages Ladakh's unique Mars-like terrain and conditions to simulate an interplanetary habitat. The mission, led by the Human Space Flight Centre, collaborates with various institutions, including AAKA Space Studio, the University of Ladakh, IIT Bombay, and the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council. By replicating space habitation challenges, this mission aims to inform and enhance future space exploration endeavours, making Leh a critical location for India's space research initiatives.
The European Space Agency (ESA) is pioneering the Moonlight program, a groundbreaking initiative to create a dedicated satellite constellation for communication and navigation on the Moon. This ambitious project involves launching five satellites, including one for high-data-rate communications and four for navigation. The Lunar Pathfinder, the first satellite, is scheduled to launch in 2026, with full deployment expected by 2030.Moonlight will enable seamless connectivity between the Moon and Earth, facilitating future lunar missions and research. ESA's innovative approach will significantly enhance lunar exploration capabilities.
The Soyuz MS-25 spacecraft, belonging to Russia, successfully returned two Russian cosmonauts, Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub, and a NASA astronaut, Tracy Dyson, to Earth on September 23, 2024. The spacecraft landed near Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan, following a 374-day mission for the Russian cosmonauts and 184 days in space for the NASA astronaut. The mission underscores Russia's ongoing involvement in the International Space Station program, in collaboration with NASA and other space agencies.
Correct Answer : China
One of the country's Jielong-3 rockets (also known as Smart Dragon-3) lifted off from a floating platform off the coast of eastern China on Monday (23 Sept 2024) at 10:31 p.m. EDT (0231 GMT on 24 Sept 2024).The Smart Dragon-3 carried eight remote-sensing satellites to sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) — a polar path that allows spacecraft to observe patches of Earth under consistent lighting conditions — according to SpaceNews.The liftoff was the fourth overall for the Smart Dragon-3, SpaceNews reported. The four-stage, 102-foot-tall (31 meters) rocket is capable of delivering about 3,300 pounds (1,500 kilograms) of payload to a 310-mile-high (500 kilometers) SSO.Smart Dragon-3 was developed by the state-owned China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, but it's operated by China Rocket, a commercial spinoff of that enterprise..Source : Space
