Q40. What is the name of the ISRO sounding rocket used for atmospheric studies?
[WBCS Mains (Science) 2023]
A. Car-to-Sat
B. Agni-IV
C. RH-300
D. BrahMos-II
Answer: C. RH-300
Explanation: RH-300 belongs to the Rohini family of sounding rockets. Such rockets perform short suborbital flights to gather upper-atmosphere and scientific measurements, supporting studies of temperature, winds, pressure and other environmental properties.
Q39. Which of these countries has its own satellite navigation system?
[UPSC CSE Prelims 2023, GS Paper I]
A. Australia
B. Canada
C. Israel
D. Japan
Answer: D. Japan
Explanation: Japan operates the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS), a regional satellite navigation system that complements GPS. Its constellation enhances navigation availability and performance especially around Japan and neighbouring Asia-Pacific areas.
Q38. Consider:
Cepheids—clouds of gas and dust;
Nebulae—periodically varying stars;
Pulsars—rotating neutron stars formed after massive-star collapse.
How many pairs are correct?
[UPSC CSE Prelims 2023, GS Paper I]
A. Only one
B. Only two
C. All three
D. None
Answer: A. Only one
Explanation: Cepheids are pulsating variable stars, while nebulae are clouds of gas and dust. Pulsars are rapidly rotating neutron stars emitting beams of radiation. Therefore, only the third pairing is correctly matched.
Q37. Which of the following was India’s first privately developed rocket to be launched?
[UPSC NDA (I) 2023, General Ability Test, 16 April 2023]
A. Skyroot
B. Prarambh
C. Bazoomq
D. Vikram-S
Answer: D. Vikram-S
Explanation: The Vikram-S suborbital rocket was developed by the private company Skyroot Aerospace and launched from Sriharikota in November 2022. Its inaugural mission, called Prarambh, helped demonstrate a growing role for private firms within India’s space ecosystem.
Q36. ISRO’s tested HS200 human-rated solid rocket booster is a component of which mission?
[KSP Sub-Inspector, 29 January 2023]
A. Gaganyaan
B. Aditya-L1
C. Chandrayaan-3
D. Aditya-L2
Answer: A. Gaganyaan
Explanation: The HS200 solid booster is part of the human-rated launch-vehicle development for Gaganyaan. Human-rating includes stricter reliability, safety and performance requirements to enable transporting astronauts into low Earth orbit.
Q35. What was the final ISRO PSLV mission launched during the calendar year 2022?
[CGPSC State Service Prelims 2023, General Studies]
A. PSLV-C54
B. PSLV-C53
C. PSLV-C52
D. PSLV-C51
Answer: A. PSLV-C54
Explanation: PSLV-C54 was launched on 26 November 2022, carrying Earth-observation satellite EOS-06, also known as Oceansat-3, along with co-passenger satellites. It was ISRO’s final Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle mission of that calendar year.
Q34. Which was the first satellite designed and built by India?
[CG Vyapam Assistant Teacher, 10 June 2023]
A. Rohini RS-1
B. Aryabhata
C. Chandrayaan-1
D. SpaDeX
Answer: B. Aryabhata
Explanation: Aryabhata, named after the Indian mathematician and astronomer, was launched on 19 April 1975. India designed and fabricated the spacecraft, while the Soviet Union provided the launch vehicle, marking the start of India’s satellite era.
Q33. What is the name of India’s proposed first human spaceflight mission, which was scheduled for 2023 when the question was asked?
[UPSC CDS (I), 10 April 2022, General Knowledge]
A. Vayumitra
B. Vikram
C. Chandrayaan-3
D. Gaganyaan
Answer: D. Gaganyaan
Explanation: The correct programme name is Gaganyaan. Its target schedules have subsequently shifted, so the quoted launch year belongs to the original 2022 question rather than a current forecast. The mission aims to send and safely return Indian astronauts.
Q32. Which listed effects can result from a major solar storm:
1. GPS disruption,
2. tsunamis,
3. grid damage,
4. auroras,
5. forest fires,
6. satellite-orbit disturbance,
7. polar-aircraft radio disruption?
[UPSC CSE Prelims 2022, GS Paper I]
A. 1, 2, 4, 5 only
B. 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 only
C. 1, 3, 4, 6, 7 only
D. All seven
Answer: C. 1, 3, 4, 6, 7 only
Explanation: Solar storms can upset GPS signals, damage power systems, create auroras, alter satellite drag and disturb high-frequency radio links. They do not directly produce tsunamis or ignite forest fires, so items 2 and 5 are excluded.
Q31. Who was appointed as the tenth Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation in January 2022?
[UPSC NDA (I) 2022, General Ability Test, 10 April 2022]
A. A. S. Kiran Kumar
B. K. Sivan
C. K. Radhakrishnan
D. S. Somanath
Answer: D. S. Somanath
Explanation: Rocket scientist S. Somanath succeeded K. Sivan as ISRO Chairman in January 2022. He had previously led the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre and contributed to launch-vehicle development and propulsion engineering, including work associated with PSLV and GSLV.
