Space and Space Technology: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Science and Technology)

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: The Also known as " God Particle" is associated with the Higgs field, which permeates the universe. Elementary particles acquire mass through their interaction with this field. Without the Higgs mechanism, particles would remain massless, preventing the formation of atoms and, consequently, the existence of matter as we know it. This discovery confirms the Standard Model’s explanation of mass acquisition.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The Part of Invisible energy field, if Higgs field doesn’t ok provide mass to particles then there will be no gravity and no life. is not a key item that will open the way for teleportation but it will certainly help to understand mass, time and travel in time and space.

Statement 3 is incorrect: In the near or far future, the Higgs Boson may help us to create an unbelievable energy source which can pave the way for better fuels for our Nuclear missions but at present, direct connection between detection of Higgs Bosons and creation of better fuels for nuclear missions is not established.

Explanation

The Big Bang theory states that at some point of time the entire space was contained in a single point of very high density and temperature, from where the Universe has been witnessing expansion in all directions ever since. According to Hubble’s law, the expansion of the universe is such that the velocity at which the galaxy is moving away from the observer is increasing with time.

Statement 1 is correct: Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) is thought to be leftover radiation from the Big Bang, i.e., the time when the universe began. According to the theory, when the universe was born it underwent rapid inflation and expansion. (The universe is still expanding today, and the expansion rate appears different depending on observation). The CMB represents the heat left over from the Big Bang.

Statement 2 is correct: American astronomer Edwin Hubble was the first to describe the redshift phenomenon (galactic redshift) and tie it to an expanding universe (galaxies are drifting apart). Redshift and Blueshift describe how light changes with movement of objects in space closer or farther from us. While moving away, the light is shifted to the red end of the spectrum, as its wavelength gets longer. While moving closer, the light moves to the blue end of the spectrum, as its wavelength gets shorter. Galactic Redshift is related to the expanding Universe concept.

Statement 3 is incorrect: Movement of asteroids in space is due to gravity and it is not linked with the concept of expansion of the universe.

Statement 4 is incorrect: The occurrence of supernova explosions (powerful stellar explosions in which a single star becomes as bright as 109 stars like the sun) helps in studying the distribution of elements throughout the universe. These elements travel on to form new stars, planets and everything else in the universe. But this is not considered as evidence for the continued expansion of the universe.

Explanation

Artificial satellites are launched into orbit for a variety of purposes, including communications, navigation, Earth imaging, weather observation, and scientific study. In satellites, humans typically experience a sense of weightlessness because the net force acting on our body is practically zero. This is due to the satellite’s centrifugal force, which cancels out the size of the earth’s gravitational pull. On the other hand, the earth’s gravitational pull is required for the satellite to continuously change its direction, giving acceleration for the satellite’s direction-changing process.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: Asteroids are primarily composed of rock and metal and are remnants from the early solar system. In contrast, Comets are made of ice, dust, and rocky material and originate from the Kuiper Belt or Oort Cloud.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Asteroids are predominantly located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Comets originate from distant regions of the solar system: short-period comets come from the Kuiper Belt beyond Neptune, and long-period comets originate from the distant Oort Cloud. They are not typically found between Venus and Mercury.

Statement 3 is correct: As comets approach the Sun, the heat causes their icy components to sublimate, forming a glowing coma and often a visible tail that points away from the Sun due to solar wind. Asteroids, being rocky and lacking volatile materials, do not exhibit such features.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: Geostationary Orbit is a type of geosynchronous orbit. The earth rotates in the same direction that satellites do. It lasts for roughly 24 hours and holds its place in relation to the earth.

Statement 2 is correct: The orbit must be nearly circular, ensuring that the satellite’s distance from Earth remains constant throughout its revolution. An elliptical orbit would cause the satellite to move closer and farther from Earth, disrupting its stationary position.

Statement 3 is correct: A Geostationary Orbit (GEO) is a special case of a Geosynchronous Orbit (GSO) where the satellite orbits exactly in the Earth’s equatorial plane (0° inclination). This ensures that the satellite appears fixed over a specific point on Earth.

Statement 4 is incorrect: Geostationary orbit is at an altitude of around 35,786 km.

Explanation

Oceansat-2, launched by ISRO in 2009, is an Earth observation satellite designed to study oceanic and atmospheric conditions. It supports applications like ocean forecasting, fishing zone mapping, and monitoring coastal and atmospheric parameters.

Statement 1 is correct: Oceansat-2 is equipped with sensors such as the Scatterometer and Ocean Color Monitor (OCM), which help assess atmospheric parameters like water vapour content.

Statement 2 is correct: By measuring sea surface winds and temperatures, the satellite is capable of understanding and predicting monsoon dynamics, which are closely tied to oceanic and atmospheric interactions.

Statement 3 is correct: The Ocean Color Monitor onboard can detect chlorophyll concentrations, sediment levels, and other indicators of water quality, helping monitor and assess pollution in coastal regions effectively.

Explanation

Bhuvan (means Earth in Sanskrit) is a Geoportal of ISRO, to evince the Indian Earth Observation capabilities from the Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) series of satellites. It is an interactive versatile Earth-Browser which showcases multi-sensor, mutli-platform and multitemporal images with capabilities to overlay thematic information along with near real-time information from Automatic Weather Stations (AWS), Potential Fishing Zone (PFZ) information, disaster support related information like forest fire alerts, periodic agricultural drought assessment etc. Bhuvan provides 2D/3D imaging and visualization of India’s geographic data. It allows users to access and analyze spatial information, similar to Google Earth, but with a focus on Indian data and applications such as urban planning, agriculture, and disaster management. But due to security concerns, the images available do not include any military installations in India.

Explanation

Selene-1 also known as Kaguya is a lunar orbiter mission launched by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) using the H-IIA rocket. Its primary objectives were to study the Moon’s origin, evolution, and surface features with unprecedented detail. It mapped the Moon’s mineral composition and gravity anomalies which provided crucial data about its internal structure and geology. As one of the most advanced lunar exploration missions of its time contributing significantly to understanding the Moon’s evolution and mineral distribution.

Explanation

ISRO successfully conducted a rocket test using cryogenic engines at the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) located in Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu. ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC) is equipped with the state-of-the-art facilities necessary for realising the cutting edge propulsion technology products for the Indian space programme. Formerly, IPRC was known as LPSC, Mahendragiri. The IPRC is responsible for developing cryogenic propulsion systems essential for high-performance launch vehicles. A cryogenic engine uses supercooled liquids, typically liquid oxygen (LOX) and liquid hydrogen (LH2) as propellants. These engines are highly efficient because cryogenic fuels have a higher specific impulse, meaning they provide greater thrust for a given mass of fuel.

Explanation

Options (a), (c) and (d) are incorrect: Apophis was a near-Earth asteroid named after the Egyptian God of chaos. Spitzer is an infrared space telescope launched by NASA in 2003. TechSar is a reconnaissance satellite equipped with synthetic-aperture radar, used for surveillance and intelligence purposes.

Option (b) is correct: Cassini was a groundbreaking planetary exploration mission led by NASA, European Space Agency (ESA), and the Italian space agency (ASI). This advanced robotic spacecraft was designed to study Saturn, its rings, and its moons in extraordinary detail. As part of the mission, Cassini carried the ESA-built Huygens probe, which landed on Saturn’s largest moon, Titan. During its descent through Titan’s dense atmosphere, Huygens captured remarkable images and data, eventually landing on an icy floodplain damp with liquid methane.