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Space - General Knowledge Questions
A)
ESA
B)
JAXA
C)
ISRO
D)
NASA

Correct Answer : Option (D) - NASA

NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) has been unveiled a new generation of spacesuit for humanity's return trip to the Moon.

The novel design of the spacesuit comes with specialist features to support astronauts as they conduct scientific experiments on the lunar surface. The prototype is said to be a better fit for female space travellers.
 
NASA said that it hopes to have the updated suit ready for the Artemis III mission to the Moon in 2025.

When NASA announced that humanity would return to the moon after more than five decades, they promised to send the first woman and person of colour to the lunar surface.

However, previous plans to send female astronauts to space have been scuppered by the lack of spacesuits in their size.
 
A well-fitting suit is crucial to prevent excessive fatigue and at worst, physical harm. The existing spacesuits worn by US space travellers have not been fully redesigned since 1981...

Source : AIR

A)
ISRO
B)
NASA
C)
JAXA
D)
ROSCOSMOS

Correct Answer : Option (B) - NASA

NASA announced on Wednesday (8th March 2023) that it is partnering with the Italian Space Agency ASI (Agenzia Spaziale Italiana) to build and launch MAIA, or the Multi-Angle Imager for Aerosols missions.

The joint mission between the two national space agencies will investigate the health impacts of air pollution in the world’s most populated cities.

It is the first mission of the agency whose primary goal is to benefit societal health and will launch before the end of 2024.

It will consist of the PLATiNO-2 satellite (provided by ASI), and a science instrument (NASA)...

Source : Indian Express

A)
ESA
B)
ISRO
C)
NASA
D)
JAXA

Correct Answer : Option (B) - ISRO

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said it successfully carried out an "extremely challenging" controlled re-entry experiment of the decommissioned orbiting Megha-Tropiques-1 (MT-1) satellite on Tuesday.

* "The satellite re-entered the Earth's atmosphere and would have disintegrated over the Pacific Ocean", the Bengaluru-headquartered national space agency said.

* The final impact region estimated is in the deep Pacific Ocean within the expected latitude and longitude boundaries, an ISRO statement said.

* The low Earth satellite was launched on October 12, 2011, as a joint satellite venture of ISRO and the French space agency, CNES for tropical weather and climate studies.

* Since August 2022, the satellite's perigee was progressively lowered through a series of 20 manoeuvres spending about 120 kg of fuel.

* Multiple manoeuvres including the final de-boost strategy were designed after taking into consideration several constraints, including visibility of the re-entry trace over ground stations, ground impact within the targeted zone, and allowable operating conditions of subsystems, especially the maximum deliverable thrust and the maximum firing duration constraint on thrusters.

* All manoeuvre plans were screened to ensure that there would be no post manoeuvre close approaches with other space objects, especially with the crewed space stations like International Space Stations and the Chinese Space Station, ISRO said.

* The final two de-boost burns were executed at 11:02 UTC and 12:51 UTC respectively on 7th March 2023 by firing four 11 Newton thrusters on-board the satellite for about 20 minutes each, it said.

* The final perigee was estimated to be less than 80 km indicating that the satellite would enter the denser layers of the Earth's atmosphere and subsequently undergo structural disintegration. The re-entry aero-thermal flux analysis confirmed that there would be no surviving large debris fragments.

* The entire sequence of events was carried out from the Mission Operations Complex in ISTRAC (ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network), Bengaluru.

* An uninhabited area in the Pacific Ocean between 5S to 14S latitude and 119W to 100W longitude was identified as the targeted re-entry zone for MT1, weighing about 1000 kg, ISRO said earlier this week.

* About 125 kg on-board fuel remained unutilised at its end-of-mission that could pose risks for accidental break-up, an ISRO statement had noted..

Source : Business Standard

A)
Crew-4 Mission
B)
Crew-5 Mission
C)
Crew-6 Mission
D)
Crew-7 Mission

Correct Answer : Option (C) - Crew-6 Mission

On Friday, March 3 at 1:40 a.m. ET, SpaceX’s Dragon autonomously docked with the International Space Station. Approximately 25 hours earlier at 12:34 a.m. ET, Falcon 9 launched the spacecraft and Crew-6 to orbit from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida

* SpaceX's Crew-6 astronaut mission arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) early Friday morning (March 3, 2023).

* Crew-6's Dragon capsule, named Endeavour, docked with the ISS's Harmony module at 1:40 a.m. EST (0640 GMT) on Friday (March 3, 2023), while the two spacecraft were flying off the coast of Somalia at an altitude of 261 miles (420 kilometers).

* Crew-6 was positioned to dock about an hour earlier than that, but Endeavour stood down while SpaceX troubleshot a faulty sensor with one of the 12 hooks that helps the capsule connect to the ISS. Eventually, ground teams beamed up a software override that fixed the sensor problem, and Endeavour pulled off a successful rendezvous.

* "After a brief scenic detour, welcome to the International Space Station!" SpaceX's David Hwang told the Crew-6 astronauts from mission control just after docking occurred.

* "We're happy to be here," Crew-6 commander "Stephen Bowen" responded.

* Bowen and his three crewmatesNASA's Woody Hoburg, the United Arab Emirates' Sultan Al Neyadi and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev — will float aboard the ISS around 3:18 a.m. EST (0518 GMT) on Friday (3rd March 2023), when the hatches between the two spacecraft are opened..

Source : Space

A)
Artemis 6
B)
Mangalyaan - 4
C)
Chandrayan-3
D)
Mars Express

Correct Answer : Option (C) - Chandrayan-3

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully conducted the flight acceptance hot test of the CE-20 cryogenic engine.

* The Engine will power the Cryogenic Upper Stage of the LVM3 launch vehicle for the Chandrayaan-3 mission.

* The space agency said the test was successfully conducted on 24th February 2023, at the ISRO Propulsion Complex, Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu.

* ISRO said, the hot test was carried out for a planned duration of 25 seconds at the High Altitude Test Facility.

* All the propulsion parameters during the test were found satisfactory and closely matched with predictions.

* The Space agency said, the cryogenic engine will be further integrated with the propellant tanks, stage structures and associated fluid lines to realise the fully integrated flight cryogenic stage.

* This flight acceptance hot test comes a day after the Chandrayaan-3 lander successfully completed the crucial EMI-EMC (Electromagnetic Interference/ Electromagnetic Compatibility) test.
 
* Chandrayaan-3 interplanetary mission has three major modules - the Propulsion module, Lander module and Rover. The mission’s complexity calls for establishing radio-frequency (RF) communication links between the modules.

* Chandrayaan-3 is India’s third moon mission and is a follow-on mission to Chandrayaan-2 to demonstrate end-to-end capability in safe landing and roving on the lunar surface.

* The mission is slated to be launched later this year (2023) by Launch Vehicle Mark 3 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota.

Source : AIR

A)
Israel
B)
China
C)
South Korea
D)
North Korea

Correct Answer : Option (B) - China

China sent the Zhongxing-26 communications satellite into orbit 23rd Feb 2023, marking the resumption orbital launches following a pause for Chinese New Year.

* A Long March 3B rocket lifted off at 6:49 a.m. Eastern (1149 UTC) from Xichang, southwest China, successfully sending Zhongxing-26 (ChinaSat-26) into geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO).

* The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) confirmed launch success within the hour.

* Zhongxing-26 is based on the DFH-4E satellite bus and uses chemical and electric propulsion. It is China’s first satellite providing more than 100 gigabits per second (Gbps) and was developed by CASC’s China Academy of Space Technology (CAST).

* CAST states the satellite is equipped with 94 Ka-band user beams. This is 3.5 times more than the 26-beam, 20 Gbps, Dongfanghong-3B-based Zhongxing-16 launched in 2017.

* That satellite has been supplying connectivity to aviation passengers such as Sichuan Airlines’ Airbus A320 flights using Viasat in-flight connectivity equipment.

* Operator China Satcom describes the satellite as an important piece of national space infrastructure and helping to meet national requirements for connectivity.

* Zhongxing-26 will mainly provide broadband access for fixed terminals and aviation in shipbourne users in China and surrounding areas from 125 degrees East in the geostationary belt.

* The overall cost was 2.3 billion yuan ($333 million) according to a feasibility study.

* The Long March 7A, touted as a greener, new-generation launcher using kerosene-liquid oxygen and launching from the coast at Wenchang, is yet to ramp up its launch rate to replace the aging Long March 3B. It most recently launched a pair of classified satellites Jan. 9..

Source : Space News

A)
Russia
B)
USA
C)
France
D)
India

Correct Answer : Option (A) - Russia

A Russian Soyuz spacecraft blasted off on Friday (24th Feb 2023) on a mission to bring back to Earth a crew stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) by a leak in the cooling system of their original return capsule.

* The unmanned Soyuz MS-23 lifted off from Baikonur space centre in Kazakhstan and had been placed in orbit. It was due to dock with the ISS on Saturday (25th Feb 2023) at 0101 GMT.

* Russian cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitry Petelin and U.S. astronaut Francisco Rubio had been due to end their mission in March. They were left stuck in space after the cooling system of their Soyuz MS-22 capsule started leaking two months ago.

* Russian space agency Roscosmos said this week the trio would now return to Earth aboard Soyuz MS-23 in September.

* The damaged MS-22 spacecraft is now scheduled to land without a crew in March.

* Both NASA and Roscosmos believe last year's leak on the MS-22 spacecraft was caused by a micrometeoroid - a tiny particle of space rock - hitting the capsule at high velocity.

* A similar impact is also believed to have caused a separate leak this month on the cooling system of the Progress MS-21 cargo ship, taken out of orbit last week.

* Tass said 430 kilogrammes (about 950 pounds) of cargo was sent aboard the replacement craft, including medical equipment, scientfic instruments, water, food and cleaning supplies. Tass quoted a Russian space official as saying the amount of food sent was three times the amount normally dispatched for such missions.

* The revelations have forced NASA and Roscosmos to change their plans and cancel scheduled space walks....

Source : NDTV

A)
Mangalyaan
B)
Gaganyaan 3
C)
Chandrayaan-2
D)
Chandrayaan-3

Correct Answer : Option (D) - Chandrayaan-3

In a boost to India’s lunar mission, Chandrayaan-3 has successfully underwent EMI-EMC (Electro-Magnetic Interference/ Electro-Magnetic Compatibility).

* The EMI-EMC test is conducted for satellite missions to ensure functionality of the satellite subsystems in the space environment and their compatibility with the expected electromagnetic levels.

* In a statement, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), said it is a major milestone in the realization of the satellites.

* ISRO announced (19th Feb 2023) that the test was conducted between January 31 and February 2 at U R Rao Satellite Centre, Bengaluru.

* The statement said, during the Chandrayaan-3 lander EMI/EC test, Launcher compatibility, Antenna Polarization of all Radio-Frequency (RF) systems, Standalone auto compatibility tests for orbital and powered descent mission phases, and Lander & Rover compatibility tests for post-landing mission phase were ensured. The performance of the systems was satisfactory.

* Chandrayaan-3 interplanetary mission has three major modules : the Propulsion module, Lander module, and Rover. The mission's complexity calls for establishing radio-frequency (RF) communication links between the modules..

Source : AIR

A)
Anand Foundation
B)
Martin Foundation
C)
Vruksham Foundation
D)
Maatram Foundation

Correct Answer : Option (B) - Martin Foundation

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam International Foundation and Space Zone India in association with Martin Foundation launched the APJ Abdul Kalam Satellite launch vehicle mission 2023 in Pattipolam Village, Chengalpattu near Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

* The launch of the sounding rocket was scheduled for 7.45 AM (19th Feb 2023). The Chief Guest of the event was Telengana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, Former ISRO Director Mayilsamy Annadurai and Dr. Anand Mehalingam, Founder and CEO of Space India private limited were present at the event.

* More than 5000 students from grade 6 to 12 from different parts of the Country including 200 students from the fishermen's community designed and constructed the rocket and 150 PICO satellite research experiment cubes that contained different payloads in today's (19th Feb 2023) launch.

* The reusable rocket was made by the selected top 100 students of which 60 are from Tamilnadu. The rocket can be used for research in weather, and to assess atmospheric conditions and radiation.

* Martin Foundation did a total of 85 per cent of the funding for this project. The selected students have been taught about satellite technology through virtual classes, which have been followed by hands-on sessions to help them explore the project domain...

Source : AIR

A)
Sally Ride
B)
Kathleen Rubins
C)
Rayyana Barnawi
D)
Karen Nyberg

Correct Answer : Option (C) - Rayyana Barnawi

The first-ever woman astronaut of Saudi Arabia will be going to space this year (2023), the latest move by the kingdom to revamp its ultra-conservative image.

* Saudi woman astronaut "Rayyana Barnawi" will join fellow Saudi Ali Al-Qarni on a 10-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS) this year (2023).

* Barnawi and Al-Qarni will fly to the ISS aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft as part of a mission by the private space company Axiom Space.

* The Ax-2 will be launched by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

* Axiom Space carried out its first private astronaut mission to the ISS in April 2022 under which four private astronauts spent 17 days in orbit.

* In 2019, Saudi's neighbour the United Arab Emirates became the first Arab country to send one of its citizens into space.

* Astronaut Hazzaa al-Mansoori spent eight days on the ISS. Another fellow Emirati, Sultan al-Neyadi, will also make a voyage to the space station in February 2023.

* Neyadi, fondly called "Sultan of Space", will become the first Arab astronaut to spend six months in space when he blasts off for the ISS aboard a Falcon 9 rocket.

* Saudi de facto leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been trying to shake off the kingdom’s austere image through a push for reforms.

* During his regime since 2017, Saudi women have been allowed to drive and travel abroad without a male guardian. Women’s proportion in the workforce has more than doubled since 2016, from 17% to 37%.

* In the oil-rich country in 1985, sent country’s royal Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, an air force pilot on a US-organised mission. It became the first Arab Muslim country to travel to space.

* Years later in 2018, the country set up a space program and last year launched another to send astronauts into space as part of Prince Salman’s Vision 2030 agenda for economic diversification..

Source : Mint