Space Technology & Astronomy — UPSC Prelims Previous Year Questions
68 questions from UPSC CSE Prelims GS Paper 1 on Space Technology & Astronomy (Science & Technology). Spanning from 1995 to 2024. Practice with show/hide answers and detailed explanations.
Based on 68 questions across 27 years, UPSC has consistently tested aspirants' understanding of Space Technology & Astronomy within the broader Science & Technology syllabus. The questions range from factual recall to application-based analysis.
Recent trends show UPSC moving towards statement-based questions that combine multiple aspects of Space Technology & Astronomy. Aspirants should focus on understanding concepts rather than memorizing isolated facts.
Q: Consider the following statements:
Statement-I:
Giant stars live much longer than dwarf stars.
Statement-II:
Compared to dwarf stars, giant stars have a greater rate of nuclear reactions.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
(a)Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
(b)Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
(c)Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
(d)Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct
Q: Consider the following pairs :
Objects in space — Description
1. Cepheids : Giant clouds of dust and gas in space
2. Nebulae : Stars which brighten and dim periodically
3. Pulsars : Neutron stars that are formed when massive stars run out of fuel and collapse
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
Q: If a major solar storm (solar flare) reaches the Earth, which of the following are the possible effects on the Earth?
1. GPS and navigation systems could fail.
2. Tsunamis could occur at equatorial regions.
3. Power grids could be damaged.
4. Intense auroras could occur over much of the Earth.
5. Forest fires could take place over much of the planet.
6. Orbits of the satellites could be disturbed.
7. Shortwave radio communication of the aircraft flying over polar regions could be interrupted.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Q: “The experiment will employ a trio of spacecraft flying in formation in the shape of an equilateral triangle that has sides one million kilometres long, with lasers shining between the craft.” The experiment in question refers to
Q: For the measurement/estimation of which of the following are satellite images/remote sensing data used?
1. Chlorophyll content in the vegetation of a specific location
2. Greenhouse gas emissions from rice paddies of a specific location
3. Land surface temperatures of a specific location
Select the correct answer
using the code given below:
Q: Recently, scientists observed the merger of giant 'blackholes' billions of light-years away from the Earth. What is the significance of this observation?
(a)'Higgs boson particles' were detected.
(b)'Gravitational waves' were detected.
(c)Possibility of inter-galactic space travel through 'wormhole' was confirmed.
(d)It enabled the scientists to understand 'singularity'.
Q: With reference to the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), consider the following statements:
1. IRNSS has three satellites in geostationary and four satellites in geosynchronous orbits.
2. IRNSS covers entire India and about 5500 sq. km beyond its borders.
3. India will have its own satellite navigation system with full global coverage by the middle of 2019.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Q: With reference to India's satellite launch vehicles, consider the following statements:
1. PSLVs launch the satellites useful for Earth resources monitoring whereas GSLVs are designed mainly to launch communication satellites.
2. Satellites launched by PSLV appear to remain permanently fixed in the same position in the sky, as viewed from a particular location on Earth.
3. GSLV Mk III is a four-stage launch vehicle with the first and third stages using solid rocket motors; and the second and fourth stages using liquid rocket engines.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Q: With reference to ‘Astrosat’, the astronomical observatory launched by India, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. Other than USA and Russia, India is the only country to have launched a similar observatory into space.
2. Astrosat is a 2000 kg satellite placed in an orbit at 1650 km above the surface of the Earth.
Select the correct answer
using the code given below.
Q: Consider the following statements: The Mangalyaan launched by ISRO
1. Is also called the Mars Orbiter Mission
2. Made India the second country to have a spacecraft orbit the Mars after USA
3. Made India the only country to be successful in making its spacecraft orbit the Mars in its very first attempt
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Q: In which of the following activities are Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellites used?
1. Assessment of crop productivity
2. Locating groundwater resources
3. Mineral exploration
4. Telecommunications
5. Traffic studies
Q: Which of the following pairs is/are correctly matched? Spacecraft : Purpose
1. Cassini-Huygens : Orbiting the Venus and transmitting data to the Earth
2. Messenger : Mapping and investigating the Mercury
3. Voyager 1 and 2 : Exploring the outer solar system
Select the correct answer
using the code given below.
Q: Which of the following is/are cited by the scientists as evidence/evidences for the continued expansion of universe?
1. Detection of microwaves in space
2. Observation of redshift phenomenon in space
3. Movement of asteroids in space
4. Occurrence of supernova explosions in space
Q: Electrically charged particles from space travelling at speeds of several hundred km/sec can severely harm living beings if they reach the surface of the Earth. What prevents them from reaching the surface of the Earth ?
(a)The Earth's magnetic field diverts them towards its poles
(b)Ozone layer around the Earth reflects them back to outer space
(c)Moisture in the upper layers of atmosphere prevents them from reaching the surface of the Earth
(d)None of the statements (a), (b) and (c) given above is correct
Q: Satellites used for telecommunication relay are kept in a geostationary orbit. A satellite is said to be in such an orbit when:
1. The orbit is geosynchronous.
2. The orbit is circular.
3. The orbit lies in the plane of the Earth’s equator.
4. The orbit is at an altitude of 22,236 km.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Q: What is the difference between asteroids and comets?
1. Asteroids are small rocky planetoids, while comets are formed of frozen gases held together by rocky and metallic material.
2. Asteroids are found mostly between the orbits of Jupiter and Mars, while comets are found mostly between Venus and Mercury.
3. Comets show a perceptible glowing tail, while asteroids do not.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Q: Consider the following statements:
The satellite Oceansat-2 launched by India helps in
1. Estimating the water vapour content in the atmosphere.
2. Predicting the onset of monsoons.
3. Monitoring the pollution of coastal waters.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Q: Consider the following statements in respect of a jet engine and a rocket:
1. A jet engine uses the surrounding air for its oxygen supply and so is unsuitable for motion in space.
2. A rocket carries its own supply of oxygen in the gas form, and fuel.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Q: Consider the following statements:
1. In the year 2006, India successfully tested a full-fledged cryogenic stage in rocketry.
2. After USA, Russia and China, India is the only country to have acquired the capability for use of cryogenic stage in rocketry.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Q: Assertion (A): To orbit around the Sun, the planet Mars takes lesser time than the time taken by the Earth.
Reason (R): The diameter of the planet Mars is less than that of the Earth.
(a)Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b)Both A and R are true but R is not a correct explanation of A
Q: Consider the following statements in respect of India's advanced satellite INSAT–4A :
1. INSAT–4A was launched in December, 2005 from New Mexico.
2. The European commercial launch service provider Arianespace was associated with the launch of INSAT–4A.
3. Tata-Sky—a digital cable service provider is associated with DTH television broadcasting services from INSAT-4A.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Q: Assertion (A): Existence of human life on Venus is highly improbable.
Reason (R): Venus has extremely high level of carbon dioxide in its atmosphere.
(a)Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b)Both A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A
Q: Consider the following statements:
1. India launched its first full-fledged meteorological satellite (METSAT) in September 2002.
2. For the first time, the space vehicle PSLV-C4 carried a payload of more than 1000 kg into a geosynchronous orbit.
Which of these statements is/are correct?
Q: Assume that the moon takes exactly 30 days to complete the cycle and also assume that it rises in the East exactly at 6.48 p.m. on the first day. On the fourth day, at what time will it rise?
Q: With reference to Indian satellites and their launchers, consider the following statements:
1. All the INSAT-series of satellites were launched abroad
2. PSLVs were used to launch IRS-series of satellites
3. India used the indigenously built cryogenic engines for the first time for powering the third stage of GSLV
4. GSAT, launched in the year 2001, has payloads to demonstrate digital broadcasts and internet services
Which of these statements are correct?
Q: Assertion (A): Artificial satellites are always launched from the earth in the eastward direction.
Reason (R): The earth rotates from west to east and so the satellite attains the escape velocity.
(a)Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b)Both A and R are individually true but R is not a correct explanation of A
Q: The location of the space organisation units have been marked in the given map as 1, 2, 3 and 4. Match these units with the list given
and
select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists:
A. ISRO
B. IIRS
C. NRSA
D. SAC
Q: Which of the following statements are true about the Indian-born woman astronaut Kalpana Chawla?
I. She was born in Karnal.
II. She flew on board the shuttle flight STS-87.
III. She was trained at the Kennedy Space Centre.
IV. She did a space-walk to retrieve the Spartan Satellite.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Q: Consider the following statements regarding asteroids:
I. Asteroids are rocky debris of varying sizes orbiting the Sun.
II. Most of the asteroids are small but some have diameter as large as 1000 km.
III. The orbit of asteroids lies between the orbits of Jupiter and Saturn.
Of these statements:
Q: Match List I with List II
and select the correct answer by using the codes given below the lists:
List I (Special Characteristic)
I. Farthest planet from the Sun
II. Largest planet of the solar system
III. Planet second from the Sun in the solar system
IV. Planet nearest to the Sun
List II (Name of Planet)
A) Mercury B) Venus C) Jupiter D) Pluto E) Saturn
Q: The planet Mercury is revolving in an elliptical orbit around the sun as shown in the given figure. The kinetic energy of Mercury is greatest at the point labelled
Q: Consider the following statements: A person in a spaceship located half-way between the earth and the sun will notice that the
I. Sky is jet black.
II. Stars do not twinkle.
III. Temperature outside the spaceship is much higher than that on the surface of the earth.
Of these statements
How many UPSC Prelims questions have been asked from Space Technology & Astronomy?▼
UPSC has asked 68 questions on Space Technology & Astronomy in GS Paper 1 Prelims between 1995 and 2024. This sub-topic falls under Science & Technology.
In which years has UPSC asked about Space Technology & Astronomy?▼
Questions on Space Technology & Astronomy have appeared in UPSC Prelims in the following years: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995. The topic has appeared in 27 out of 31 years.
What is the difficulty level of Space Technology & Astronomy questions in UPSC Prelims?▼
Among 68 questions on Space Technology & Astronomy: 33 are easy, 35 are moderate, and 0 are difficult. Most questions test conceptual understanding of the topic.
