UPSC Prelims 2008 · General Studies

Question 89: Science and Technology

What is the purpose of the US Space Agency's Themis Mission, which was recently in the news?

aTo study the possibility of life on Mars

bTo study the satellites of Saturn

cTo study the colourful display of high latitude skies

dTo build a space laboratory to study the stellar explosions

AnswerThe answer is (c).

THEMIS (Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms) is a NASA mission of five satellites launched in February 2007 to study the substorms behind the colourful auroral displays of the northern and southern lights at high latitudes. It aims to find out what triggers these sudden brightenings of the sky. It has nothing to do with Mars, Saturn or stellar explosions.

Why each option is right or wrong

(a) Life on Mars is studied by Mars missions with other names.
(b) Saturn's satellites are studied by Cassini.
(c) THEMIS studies auroras and substorms in high-latitude skies.
(d) Stellar explosions are studied by space telescopes, not THEMIS.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2008, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.