Space Science & Exploration

Statement 1 is incorrect: AstroSat is India's first dedicated multi-wavelength space observatory aimed at studying celestial sources in X-ray, optical and UV spectral bands simultaneously. India is the 5th country to join the space observatory elite list after the USA, Russia, Japan, and Europe. Statement 2 is incorrect: AstroSat with a lift-off mass of about 1513 kg was launched into a 650 km orbit inclined at an angle of 6 degrees to the equator by PSLV-C30. Therefore, option D is the correct answer.

Statement 1 is correct: Mangalyaan is also called the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM). This was its official designation. Statement 2 is incorrect: India was not the second country to orbit Mars. Several countries had successfully sent spacecraft to Mars before Mangalyaan, including the USA, Russia, and the European Space Agency (ESA). Statement 3 is correct: India was indeed the only country at that time to succeed in placing a spacecraft into Martian orbit on its very first attempt. This was a significant achievement for ISRO. Hence, option C is the correct answer.

Assessment of crop productivity: IRS satellites capture data that helps assess crop health, growth stage, and potential yield.
Locating groundwater resources: Remote sensing allows for studying geological features and identifying potential zones with underground water reserves.
Mineral exploration: IRS data can reveal signatures of specific minerals on the Earth's surface, aiding in mineral exploration activities.
Telecommunications: IRS satellites are not designed for telecommunication purposes. Geostationary satellites are typically used for this function.
Traffic studies: While remote sensing can be used for some traffic studies (e.g., analyzing transportation infrastructure), it's not the primary application of IRS satellites. Therefore, only 1,2 and 3 are primary applications of IRS satellites.

IceCube is a particle detector at the South Pole that records the interactions of a nearly massless subatomic particle called the neutrino. IceCube searches for neutrinos from the most violent astrophysical sources, events like exploding stars, gamma-ray bursts, and cataclysmic phenomena involving black holes and neutron stars. Statement 1 is correct: IceCube is the world's largest neutrino detector, encompassing a cubic kilometre of ice. Statement 2 is correct: The IceCube telescope is a powerful tool to search for dark matter and could reveal the physical processes associated with the enigmatic origin of the highest energy particles in nature. Statement 3 is correct: It is buried beneath the surface, extending to about 2,500 meters. Burying it deep in ice is important to enhance the precision of the detector. In addition to exploring the background of neutrinos produced in the atmosphere, IceCube studies the neutrinos themselves; their energies far exceed those produced by accelerator beams. Thus, all three statements are correct.

The Goldilocks Zone, also called the habitable zone, refers to the region around a star where conditions might be just right for liquid water to exist on the surface of a planet. Scientists believe liquid water is essential for life as we know it. So, when astronomers discover planets outside our solar system (exoplanets), they're particularly interested in those within the Goldilocks Zone of their host star.

The Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for 2014 was presented to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). - It was awarded in recognition of its path-breaking achievements, especially the Mars Orbiter Mission; its significant contributions in strengthening international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space etc. - The award consists of a trophy made of banded Haematite Jasper, with a portrait of the late Prime Minister in the tradition of Jaipur miniature paintings, a cash award of Rs. 1 Crore and a Citation.

Pair 1 is incorrectly matched: The Cassini-Huygens mission was a joint NASA/ESA/ASI mission to study the planet Saturn and its system of rings and moons. The Huygens probe successfully landed on Saturn's largest moon, Titan. Pair 2 is correctly matched: The MESSENGER (MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging) was a NASA spacecraft that orbited the planet Mercury from 2011 to 2015, studying its chemical composition, geology, and magnetic field. Pair 3 is correctly matched: These twin NASA spacecraft were launched in 1977 to conduct a "Grand Tour" of the outer planets. They provided detailed images and data on Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune and are now continuing their journey into interstellar space.