MCQs on “Space Debris: A Growing Threat to Space Exploration”

1. What is space debris?

a) Natural meteoroids orbiting Earth
b) Man-made objects left in orbit that no longer serve a purpose
c) Satellites in operation
d) Spacecrafts traveling to Mars
Answer: b

2. Which of the following is a significant source of space debris?

a) Rocket stages left in orbit
b) Defunct satellites
c) Collisions between objects in space
d) All of the above
Answer: d

3. Which organization tracks space debris in Earth’s orbit?

a) International Astronomical Union (IAU)
b) NASA and NORAD
c) European Space Agency (ESA)
d) Both b and c
Answer: d

4. What is the Kessler Syndrome?

a) A satellite deployment strategy
b) A scenario where space debris collisions create more debris, leading to cascading collisions
c) A theory about the origin of space debris
d) A space mission launched by ESA
Answer: b

5. How does space debris pose a threat to active satellites?

a) By blocking communication signals
b) By colliding with them and causing damage or destruction
c) By creating an electromagnetic disturbance
d) By interfering with ground operations
Answer: b

6. What was the primary objective of the “RemoveDEBRIS” mission?

a) To remove all space debris in one attempt
b) To test technologies for capturing and removing space debris
c) To map the location of space debris
d) To develop collision-resistant satellites
Answer: b

7. Which of the following countries conducted the first successful Anti-Satellite (ASAT) test?

a) USA
b) Russia
c) China
d) India
Answer: a

8. What is the role of the Space Surveillance Network (SSN)?

a) Launching new satellites
b) Tracking and cataloging objects in Earth’s orbit
c) Developing space exploration missions
d) Monitoring meteor showers
Answer: b

9. How does space debris affect the International Space Station (ISS)?

a) By increasing the cost of operations
b) By creating a collision risk
c) By limiting the station’s lifespan
d) Both b and c
Answer: d

10. Which of the following international treaties addresses space debris indirectly?

a) Outer Space Treaty, 1967
b) Moon Agreement, 1979
c) Space Liability Convention, 1972
d) None of the above
Answer: a

11. What was the impact of the Fengyun-1C satellite destruction in 2007?

a) It created the largest amount of space debris recorded from a single event
b) It introduced new satellite technologies
c) It marked the first human-crewed mission to Mars
d) It resolved the issue of space debris
Answer: a

12. What type of orbit is most affected by space debris?

a) Geostationary orbit (GEO)
b) Low Earth orbit (LEO)
c) Medium Earth orbit (MEO)
d) Polar orbit
Answer: b

13. Which of the following technologies is used to mitigate space debris?

a) Harpoon systems
b) Nets and tethers
c) Laser ablation
d) All of the above
Answer: d

14. What is the primary cause of space debris generation?

a) Natural erosion of space materials
b) Explosions and collisions of spacecraft and rocket stages
c) Solar wind
d) Black holes
Answer: b

15. India’s ASAT test in 2019 was part of which mission?

a) Mission Shakti
b) Mission Chandrayaan
c) Mission Gaganyaan
d) Mission Suraksha
Answer: a

16. What is the estimated speed of space debris in orbit?

a) 5,000 km/h
b) 10,000 km/h
c) 28,000 km/h
d) 40,000 km/h
Answer: c

17. Why is deorbiting defunct satellites important?

a) To reduce orbital clutter and mitigate collision risks
b) To reuse satellite materials
c) To enhance communication systems
d) To protect deep-space missions
Answer: a

18. What does the term “graveyard orbit” refer to?

a) An orbit where defunct satellites are intentionally moved to reduce collision risks
b) An orbit near the Moon
c) The orbit of space telescopes
d) The first orbit achieved by spacecraft
Answer: a

19. How often does the ISS perform debris avoidance maneuvers?

a) Once a year
b) Twice a year
c) A few times per year, depending on the threat
d) It does not perform such maneuvers
Answer: c

20. What is the role of passive shielding in protecting spacecraft?

a) To repel space debris
b) To absorb and disperse the energy of impacts
c) To make spacecraft invisible to debris
d) To move spacecraft away from debris
Answer: b

21. Which of the following materials is used in spacecraft to protect against micrometeoroid and debris impacts?

a) Aluminum
b) Kevlar
c) Multi-layer insulation
d) All of the above
Answer: d

22. Which country launched the Orbital Debris Program Office (ODPO)?

a) China
b) USA
c) Russia
d) India
Answer: b

23. What is “active debris removal” (ADR)?

a) Cleaning up Earth’s surface debris
b) Removing space debris using active technologies like robotic arms and nets
c) Launching new satellites to replace old ones
d) Improving satellite collision resistance
Answer: b

24. How does space debris affect Earth-based astronomy?

a) It reduces the lifespan of telescopes
b) It creates light pollution in the night sky
c) It causes inaccuracies in astronomical measurements
d) Both b and c
Answer: d

25. What is the average lifespan of debris in low Earth orbit?

a) A few months
b) 5-10 years
c) Decades to centuries
d) Indefinite
Answer: c

26. Which country is leading efforts to develop a global space traffic management framework?

a) China
b) USA
c) European Union
d) Russia
Answer: b

27. What is “fragmentation debris”?

a) Debris caused by meteorite impacts
b) Debris resulting from explosions or collisions of space objects
c) Naturally occurring debris in the solar system
d) Broken satellite communication systems
Answer: b

28. What is the major challenge in addressing space debris?

a) Lack of technology
b) High cost and logistical complexity
c) Insufficient international cooperation
d) Both b and c
Answer: d

29. How can nations collaborate to mitigate space debris?

a) Sharing orbital data for collision avoidance
b) Developing global regulations for debris mitigation
c) Funding active debris removal projects
d) All of the above
Answer: d

30. Which of the following is a proposed solution to reduce future debris?

a) Designing satellites with self-deorbiting systems
b) Prohibiting satellite launches
c) Reducing space exploration missions
d) Building space debris landfills in orbit
Answer: a