"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
- A.Voyager-2
- B.New Horizons
- C.LISA Pathfinder
- D.Evolved LISA
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is D, Evolved LISA. eLISA is the planned space observatory of three spacecraft, linked by lasers in a giant triangle, that will detect gravitational waves.
LISA stands for Laser Interferometer Space Antenna. Gravitational waves, predicted by Einstein and first detected on Earth by LIGO in 2015, stretch and squeeze space very slightly. The three spacecraft of the mission will trail the Earth around the Sun and measure tiny changes in the distance between them with laser beams, picking up waves from merging supermassive black holes that ground detectors cannot hear. The European Space Agency leads the mission, with NASA as a partner; the final design uses arms of about 2.5 million kilometres.
A is wrong: Voyager-2 is a single NASA probe launched in 1977 that toured the outer planets and has reached interstellar space.
B is wrong: New Horizons is a single probe that flew past Pluto in 2015.
C is wrong: LISA Pathfinder was one spacecraft that only tested the technology for LISA between 2015 and 2017.
Exam tip: three craft + laser triangle + gravitational waves = (evolved) LISA; one test craft = LISA Pathfinder.
Practice Questions
View allHindustan Aeronautics Limited handed over the first two indigenously designed and manufactured light combat aircrafts to the Indian Air Force in 2016. What is the name of these new combat aircrafts?
- A.Marut
- B.Garud
- C.Tejas
- D.Pushpak
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Tejas is India's indigenous Light Combat Aircraft, and the first two were handed over to the Indian Air Force on 1 July 2016 to form No. 45 Squadron, the Flying Daggers.
Read the full explanation →Which of the following statements about Bitcoin is/are correct? 1. It is a decentralized virtual currency. 2. It is generated through complex computer software systems. 3. The Reserve Bank of India recognized it as a legal tender in January 2016. Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- A.1 only
- B.1 and 2 only
- C.2 and 3 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Bitcoin is a decentralised digital currency created by computer software, but the Reserve Bank of India has never made it legal tender.
Read the full explanation →Which one of the following is India's first indigenously designed and developed long-range subsonic cruise missile which can be deployed from multiple platforms?
- A.Astra
- B.Akash
- C.Nirbhay
- D.Shankhnaad
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Nirbhay is the long-range subsonic cruise missile designed and developed in India by the DRDO. Nirbhay was developed by DRDO's Aeronautical Development Establishment in Bengaluru.
Read the full explanation →"Million Minds Augmenting National Aspirations and Knowledge" (MANAK), a scheme under the flagship programme, Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE), caters to :
- A.The college students studying in the undergraduate programme in the age group of 19 - 25 years.
- B.The research scholars in recognized research laboratories of national importance.
- C.The college teachers of the country.
- D.The school children studying in classes 6 - 10 in the age group of 10 - 15 years.
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INSPIRE-MANAK is the school-level part of INSPIRE. INSPIRE is run by the Department of Science and Technology to draw young talent into science.
Read the full explanation →Which one of the following statements is not correct?
- A.BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile made by India and Russian Federation.
- B.The name BrahMos came from two rivers, Brahmaputra of India and Moskva of Russia.
- C.Indian military scientists were capable of integrating BrahMos cruise missile with Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter.
- D.Defence Research and Development Organization is the manufacturer of Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter.
Show answer
The Sukhoi-30 MKI is not made by DRDO; it was designed by Russia's Sukhoi bureau and is built in India under licence by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) at Nashik.
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