UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — PARLIAMENT QUESTION: SPACE DOCKING TECHNOLOGY
Q1. The two SPADEX spacecraft (SDX-01 and SDX-02) were designed and realised primarily by which ISRO centre?
- A. UR Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), Bengaluru
- B. Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram
- C. Space Applications Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad
- D. Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), Valiamala
Q2. Each of the two SPADEX satellites, SDX-01 and SDX-02, had a mass of approximately how much?
- A. 220 kg
- B. 550 kg
- C. 1,200 kg
- D. 2,000 kg
Q3. With reference to India's in-space docking achievement, consider the following statements:
1. India became the fourth nation, after the USA, Russia and China, to develop and demonstrate in-space docking technology.
2. India demonstrated orbital docking before China demonstrated its first orbital docking.
3. The first docking of SDX-01 and SDX-02 was achieved on 16 January 2025.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- India became the fourth nation, after the USA, Russia and China, to develop and demonstrate in-space docking technology.
- India demonstrated orbital docking before China demonstrated its first orbital docking.
- The first docking of SDX-01 and SDX-02 was achieved on 16 January 2025.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q4. Which of the following countries are correctly identified as having independently demonstrated in-space docking before India?
1. United States
2. Russia (erstwhile Soviet Union)
3. China
4. Japan
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- United States
- Russia (erstwhile Soviet Union)
- China
- Japan
- A. 1, 2 and 3 only
- B. 1, 2 and 4 only
- C. 2, 3 and 4 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q5. With reference to the Bharatiya Docking System (BDS) used in SPADEX, consider the following statements:
1. It is an androgynous, peripheral docking mechanism.
2. Its docking ring (450 mm) is larger than the 800 mm International Docking System Standard (IDSS).
3. It is a low-impact docking system with approach velocities of the order of a few mm/s.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- It is an androgynous, peripheral docking mechanism.
- Its docking ring (450 mm) is larger than the 800 mm International Docking System Standard (IDSS).
- It is a low-impact docking system with approach velocities of the order of a few mm/s.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q6. Which one of the following does NOT correctly describe the Bharatiya Docking System (BDS) demonstrated in SPADEX?
1. It is an androgynous docking system.
2. It is a peripheral docking system.
3. It conforms to the 800 mm International Docking System Standard (IDSS) interface.
4. It is a low-impact system with approach velocity of the order of 10 mm/s.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- It is an androgynous docking system.
- It is a peripheral docking system.
- It conforms to the 800 mm International Docking System Standard (IDSS) interface.
- It is a low-impact system with approach velocity of the order of 10 mm/s.
- A. 1 only
- B. 3 only
- C. 2 and 4 only
- D. 3 and 4 only
Q7. The follow-on docking experiments SPADEX-2 and SPADEX-3 are being studied and operationalised under which body?
- A. Department of Space (through ISRO)
- B. Department of Science and Technology
- C. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
- D. Ministry of Earth Sciences
Q8. SPADEX-2, currently under study by ISRO, proposes to demonstrate docking in which orbit and in support of which mission?
- A. Highly elliptical orbit; Chandrayaan-4 (Lunar Sample Return)
- B. Circular orbit; Bharatiya Antariksh Station
- C. Geostationary orbit; Gaganyaan
- D. Sun-synchronous orbit; NISAR
Q9. Chandrayaan-4, for which SPADEX-2 is intended to be a precursor, is best described as:
- A. India's first lunar sample return mission
- B. India's first crewed lunar landing mission
- C. India's first Mars surface rover mission
- D. India's first solar coronagraph mission
Q10. With reference to docking technology as an enabler of India's future missions, consider the following statements:
1. Docking is a prerequisite for assembling the Bharatiya Antariksh Station from multiple modules.
2. SPADEX-3 envisages docking between two pressurised modules as a precursor to the Bharatiya Antariksh Station.
3. SPADEX-3 is designed to demonstrate docking in a highly elliptical orbit.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Docking is a prerequisite for assembling the Bharatiya Antariksh Station from multiple modules.
- SPADEX-3 envisages docking between two pressurised modules as a precursor to the Bharatiya Antariksh Station.
- SPADEX-3 is designed to demonstrate docking in a highly elliptical orbit.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q11. The first successful in-space docking of the SPADEX satellites SDX-01 and SDX-02 was achieved on which date?
- A. 16 January 2025
- B. 21 December 2024
- C. 13 March 2025
- D. 20 April 2025
Q12. In space docking terminology, the spacecraft that actively manoeuvres to approach and join a relatively passive spacecraft is called the:
- A. Chaser
- B. Target
- C. Tug
- D. Aggregate