UPSC Prelims 2007 Q129: Science & Technology – Space Technology & Astronomy

UPSC Prelims 2007, General Studies Paper I · Science & Technology

Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched?

Answer: (d) Atlantis : Space station

Explanation

Space and tech names — which pair is wrong?

Pair	Fact	Matched?
Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) — satellite programme	NASA satellite (1989) that mapped the cosmic microwave background	✔
Falcon — undersea cable system	FALCON is FLAG Telecom's (Reliance Globalcom) submarine cable linking India and the Gulf	✔
Discovery — space shuttle	NASA shuttle Discovery (first flight 1984)	✔
Atlantis — space station	Atlantis is a space shuttle, not a space station	✘

NASA's shuttle fleet: Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis, Endeavour.

Space stations: Mir, ISS, Skylab, Tiangong.

Answer: (d) Atlantis : Space station.

(a) Incorrect. COBE is correctly a satellite programme.
(b) Incorrect. FALCON is correctly an undersea cable system.
(c) Incorrect. Discovery is correctly a space shuttle.
(d) CORRECT. Atlantis was a space shuttle, not a space station — this pair is wrong.

Atlantis = space shuttle (flew the last shuttle mission, 2011). Space stations = Mir, ISS, Skylab, Tiangong.

Atlantis was a space shuttle, not a space station.

Doubting the Falcon cable because SpaceX's Falcon rocket is better known today.
Thinking Atlantis docked with Mir, so it must be a station — it was a shuttle that docked with Mir.
Not knowing all five NASA orbiters.

Shuttles: 'Columbia Challenged Discovery At Endeavour.'