Space Part-3

31. What is the name of NASA vehicle on Mars? [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2010]

(a) Phoenix
(b) Roger
(c) Florida
(d) John Canaday

Correct Answer: (a) Phoenix

Solution:Phoenix was a robotic spacecraft on a space exploration mission on Mars under the NASA's Mars Scout Program. The Phoenix Mars lander descended on Mars on 25 May, 2008.

32. The first U.S. rover which reached Mars in January 2004 was: [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Mains) 2006]

(a) Discovery
(b) Pioneer
(c) Spirit
(d) Vanguard

Correct Answer: (c) Spirit

Solution:Spirit, also known as MER-A (Mars Exploration Rover-A), is a robotic rover on Mars active from 2004 to 2010. It was one of twin rovers of NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Mission. It landed successfully on Mars on January 4, 2004.

The second rover, Opportunity (MER-B) landed on the other side of the planet. Robotic rover Curiosity was launched on November 26, 2011 under the NASA's Mars Science Laboratory mission while Perseverance rover was launched on July 30, 2020 as part of NASA's Mars 2020 mission.

33. According to NASA, the evidence for the presence of life on Mars found till today include— [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2009]

(a) Water alone
(b) Water and gypsum
(c) Water, gypsum and methane
(d) None of the above

Correct Answer: (c) Water, gypsum and methane

Solution:NASA's Spirit and Opportunity mission on Mars have found the evidence of sulfate which clearly indicated the presence of water in past. Gypsum which is a type of sulfate also found on Mars. But the presence of Methane on Mars has raised the possibility of life on the planet.

34. As per report released by U.S. Journal 'SCIENCE' on 26th July, 2018, a massive underground lake has been detected on which planet? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2018]

(a) Jupiter
(b) Saturn
(c) Venus
(d) Mars

Correct Answer: (d) Mars

Solution:As per report released by U.S. Journal 'SCIENCE' in July, 2018, astronomers have found a massive underground lake on Mars. It is estimated that this lake is 20 km across and 1.5 km beneath the planet's southern polar ice cap.

35. Methane is present in the atmosphere of : [U.P. P.C.S. (Mains) 2016 , U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2010]

Correct Answer: (e) Mars & Jupiter both

Solution:The first evidence of methane in the atmosphere of Mars was measured by ESA's Mars Express Orbiter. NASA's Curiosity rover also detected methane presence in the atmosphere of Mars. Jupiter's atmosphere contains mainly Helium and Hydrogen with a trace amount of Water, Ammonia, Methane and other Carbon compounds.