Q90. What is a principal scientific objective of ISRO’s proposed Venus Orbiter Mission, Shukrayaan-1?
[SSC CGL Tier I, 26 September 2025, Shift 1]
(A) Investigating Venus’s atmosphere and surface
(B) Observing near-Earth asteroids only
(C) Exploring Saturn’s rings
(D) Studying the Martian atmosphere
Answer: (A) Investigating Venus’s atmosphere and surface
Explanation: Venus exploration aims to investigate its dense atmosphere, cloud chemistry and interactions with the solar wind, alongside surface and subsurface properties. Understanding Venus’s intense greenhouse conditions helps compare planetary climate evolution with Earth and Mars.
Q89. Which Mars Orbiter Mission payload captured full-disc colour images of Mars?
[SSC CGL Tier I, 26 September 2025, Shift 1]
(A) Liquid Apogee Motor
(B) Moon Mineralogy Mapper
(C) Terrain Mapping Camera
(D) Mars Colour Camera
Answer: (D) Mars Colour Camera
Explanation: The Mars Colour Camera was an imaging payload on Mangalyaan, taking views of Mars and its surrounding space. The Liquid Apogee Motor was propulsion hardware, while the Moon Mineralogy Mapper and Terrain Mapping Camera were associated with lunar exploration.
Q88. What technological capability was demonstrated in ISRO’s RLV-LEX-03 experiment of 23 June 2024?
[SSC CGL Tier I, 14 September 2025, Shift 1]
(A) In-flight fuel transfer
(B) Autonomous landing despite difficult cross-range and wind conditions
(C) Orbital crew escape
(D) Dual-mode scramjet deployment
Answer: (B) Autonomous landing despite difficult cross-range and wind conditions
Explanation: ISRO’s third Reusable Launch Vehicle Landing Experiment demonstrated autonomous runway landing after release from a helicopter, including more demanding dispersions and wind conditions. Reusable vehicle technology seeks to lower launch costs through controlled recovery and reuse.
Q87. In which year is the first module of Bharatiya Antariksh Station planned to be launched?
[SSC CGL Tier I, 12 September 2025, Shift 3]
(A) 2028
(B) 2030
(C) 2035
(D) 2040
Answer: (A) 2028
Explanation: India’s approved roadmap envisages a first station-related module in 2028 and an operational Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2035. The first module is only a step in the larger development programme, not completion of the entire station.
Q86. What is the primary role of the Crew Escape System on the human-rated LVM3 for Gaganyaan?
[SSC CGL Tier I, 12 September 2025, Shift 1]
(A) Guiding the vehicle into orbit
(B) Carrying the crew module away from danger in a launch emergency
(C) Docking with a space station
(D) Providing re-entry heat shielding
Answer: (B) Carrying the crew module away from danger in a launch emergency
Explanation: An abort or crew-escape system provides rapid separation of the crew module if a serious launch failure threatens astronauts. It is a safety subsystem for ascent and must operate reliably across demanding flight conditions.
Q85. How frequently is NISAR planned to map the global land and ice surfaces?
[SSC CGL Tier I, 16 September 2025, Shift 2]
(A) Every 3 days
(B) Every 12 days
(C) Every 24 hours
(D) Every 5 days
Answer: (B) Every 12 days
Explanation: NISAR’s repeating orbit is designed to revisit and map the Earth’s surface on a 12-day cycle. Using radar permits measurements by day and night and through cloud cover, aiding detection of subtle changes over time.
Q84. Which of the following is NOT a benefit of the Gaganyaan mission?
[SSC CGL Tier I, 19 September 2025, Shift 2]
(A) Greater international collaboration
(B) Advances in space technology
(C) Stronger Indian human-spaceflight capability
(D) Reduction of Earth’s global temperature
Answer: (D) Reduction of Earth’s global temperature
Explanation: Gaganyaan develops crewed spacecraft, safety systems, flight control and related scientific capabilities. The programme can strengthen research partnerships and India’s launch ecosystem. It does not directly cool the planet or function as a climate-engineering intervention.
Q83. Which ISRO mission provided evidence of water or hydroxyl on the lunar surface?
[SSC CGL Tier I, 19 September 2025, Shift 2]
(A) Chandrayaan-1
(B) Chandrayaan-2
(C) Chandrayaan-3
(D) Chandrayaan-4
Answer: (A) Chandrayaan-1
Explanation: The Moon Mineralogy Mapper aboard Chandrayaan-1 helped identify spectral signatures associated with water and hydroxyl on the Moon. This discovery substantially changed scientific understanding of lunar surface chemistry and encouraged further exploration of polar volatile deposits.
Q82. What is a central role of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre?
[SSC CGL Tier I, 18 September 2025, Shift 3]
(A) Operating all space launchpads
(B) Designing and developing launch vehicles
(C) Training every Indian astronaut
(D) Operating all communication satellites
Answer: (B) Designing and developing launch vehicles
Explanation: The Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram is a major ISRO centre for rocket and launch-vehicle design and development. Actual launches take place at spaceports such as the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
Q81. Which satellite-type/application pair is incorrectly matched?
[SSC CGL Tier I, 18 September 2025, Shift 1]
(A) Weather satellite — cyclone tracking
(B) Communication satellite — TV broadcasting
(C) Navigation satellite — forest-fire monitoring
(D) Remote-sensing satellite — land-use mapping
Answer: (C) Navigation satellite — forest-fire monitoring
Explanation: Navigation satellites primarily provide positioning and precise timing signals. Detection and mapping of forest fires rely mainly on imaging or thermal remote-sensing satellites. Weather and communication spacecraft perform the other functions listed in the question.
