NASA is a leader in working with other countries in space, partnering with over 100 nations. When NASA works with big international space groups like ESA (Europe), JAXA (Japan), and ISRO (India), it shows that more and more countries are cooperating peacefully in space. This teamwork is really important for tackling problems that affect everyone, like protecting Earth from asteroids or cleaning up space junk.

NASA’s Transit 1B is designed to investigate Earth (low Earth orbit), with hopes of unlocking critical data about its operational frameworks and scientific potential.

• Transit 1B was launched on April 13, 1960, marking a significant step forward in space exploration.  
• At its core, the mission has a singular, critical objective: to First successful demonstration of satellite navigation system. All resources and efforts are aligned to ensure this outcome is successfully met.  
• Engineers and scientists decided this operation was a Navigation satellite technology demonstration, which guided all the planning that came after.  
• The Thor-Ablestar was selected because its specific capabilities were a good match for the tough requirements of this space mission. 
• Liftoff occurred at Cape Canaveral, LC-17B, kicking off the mission. 
• Operated for ~3 months was the length of the mission from launch to completion. 
• The mission was organized and implemented by US Navy, APL (Applied Physics Laboratory). 
• Final status of the mission: Completed (Successful). 

Ultra-stable oscillators, radio transmitters onboard Transit 1B are set to revolutionize autonomous science operations during long-duration missions.

NASA equipped Transit 1B with Doppler-based satellite navigation principles to enhance system resilience and operational autonomy. This comprehensive article on NASA Transit 1B Space mission helps UPSC aspirants understand the full life cycle of a modern space mission which is relevant for GS Paper 2, GS Paper 3, GS Paper 4, and Essay.

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NASA Transit 1B Space Mission Overview 

Also, Checkout Sunita Williams’ Missions to the International Space Station

Transit 1B Space Mission Global Contributions

• Key contributors such as Johns Hopkins APL (developed satellite and system) provided essential technologies and services that helped accelerate the mission timeline. 
• Paved way for operational Transit system (later GPS) allowed multiple stakeholders to access and utilize mission outputs for extended scientific and technical purposes. 
• Through Transit 1B, NASA achieved Led to first operational satellite navigation system (for military), helping establish international precedent for data access, planetary defense, and cooperative science. 

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Challenges & Risk in Transit 1B Space Mission

The complexity of Transit 1B increased due to issues like Proving operational concept of satellite navigation, but thanks to swift identification and mitigation techniques, the mission was able to continue its objectives with minimal disruption.

• A key risk during Transit 1B was Transit 1A failed to orbit, demanding both ground and onboard system adjustments. 
• Transit 1B concludes with Remains in Earth orbit (inactive), which contributes to discussions around orbital sustainability and debris management. 

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Mission Timeline of Transit 1B NASA Space Mission

• Late 1950s marks the date when the mission was first approved for consideration. 
• The date Not applicable represented a pivotal moment as the mission entered its most critical phase. 
• By July 11, 1960 (approximate end of useful transmissions), the spacecraft had met or exceeded its planned targets, and the mission entered its post-primary phase. 

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UPSC Relevance of Transit 1B

• NASA space missions are frequently covered in the UPSC Prelims, especially under science and technology, due to their importance in current affairs.
• General Studies Paper 3 includes NASA space missions under science and technology, especially focusing on innovations in space exploration and their global impact.
• GS Paper 4 of the UPSC IAS Exam could present ethical dilemmas regarding public spending on high-risk scientific missions, using NASA’s funding strategies to evaluate responsible resource use.
• UPSC optional subjects like PSIR, Anthropology, and Public Administration can benefit from NASA examples when discussing themes like soft power, collective leadership, and institutional accountability in high-stakes missions.

Also, Learn about International Space Station (ISS)

Past UPCS Mains PYQs on NASA Space Missions

Q1. Launched on 25th December 2021, the James Webb Space Telescope has been much in the news since then. What are its unique features which make it superior to its predecessor space telescopes? What are the key goals of this mission? What potential benefits does it hold for the human race? (2022, GS Paper 3) 

Q2. How does the Juno Mission of NASA help to understand the origin and evolution of the Earth? (2017, GS Paper 1)

Q3. The safe landing of the ‘Curiosity’ Rover under NASA’s space programme has sparked many possibilities. What are those and how could humankind benefit from them? (2012, GS Paper 2)

Past UPCS Prelims PYQs on NASA Space Missions

Q1 [2022]: Which one of the following statements best reflects the idea behind the “Fractional Orbital Bombardment System” often talked about in the media?

(a) A hypersonic missile is launched into space to counter the asteroid approaching the Earth and explode it in space.

(b) A spacecraft lands on another planet after making several orbital motions.

(c) A missile is put into a stable orbit around the Earth and deorbits over a target on the Earth.

(d) A spacecraft moves along a comet with the same speed and places a probe on its surface.

Answer: (c) A missile is put into a stable orbit around the Earth and deorbits over a target on the Earth.

Explanation: While this question pertains to a military concept, NASAs research into orbital mechanics and space trajectories contributes to the broader understanding of such technologies.

Q2 [2020]: “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

Answer: (d) Evolved LISA

Explanation: Evolved LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) is a space-based gravitational wave observatory developed by ESA with contributions from NASA.

Q3 [2017]: What is the purpose of ‘evolved Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (eLISA)’ project?

(a) To detect neutrinos

(b) To detect gravitational waves

(c) To detect the effectiveness of missile defence system

(d) To study the effect of solar flares on our communication systems

Answer: (b) To detect gravitational waves

Explanation: Evolved Laser Space Interferometer Space Antenna (ELISA) project was widely in the news due to the discovery of gravitational waves by the LIGO detector and the subsequent success of the LISA pathfinder project. The European Space Agency is leading the ELISA mission. The project is initiated to detect and accurately measure gravitational waves.

Q4 [2016]: What is ‘Greased Lightning-10 (GL-10)’, recently in the news?

(a) Electric plane tested by NASA

(b) Solar-powered two-seater aircraft designed by Japan

(c) Space observatory launched by China

(d) Reusable rocket designed by ISRO

Answer: (a) Electric plane tested by NASA
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Explanation: GL-10 is a remotely piloted plane similar to an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). It is designed and developed in such a way that it can take off like a helicopter and fly like an airplane. It is a battery-powered 10-engine with a wingspan of 3.05 meters. Eight electric motors are mounted on the wings. 2 electric motors are mounted on the tail. It weighs a maximum of 28.1 kilograms at takeoff. Due to its versatile vertical takeoff and landing ability, it produces less noise. It can be used as a UAV for small package delivery or vertical takeoff and landing, as well as long-endurance surveillance for agriculture, mapping, and other applications. Its modified scaled-up version can be used as a persons air vehicle.

Q5 [2015]: The term ‘Goldilocks Zone’ is often seen in the news in the context of:

(a) The limits of habitable zone above the surface of the Earth

(b) Regions inside the Earth where shale gas is available

(c) Search for the Earth-like planets in outer space

(d) Search for meteorites containing precious metals

Answer: (c) Search for the Earth-like planets in outer space

Explanation: The Goldilocks Zone is the livable zone around a star where the temperature is not too hot and not too cold for liquid water to exist on a planet. It is a metaphor for the childrens story Goldilocks and the Three Bears, in which a young girl selects from sets of three objects, eschewing the extremes (such as those that are enormous or small, hot or cold) and fixing on the one that is just right in the middle. The Goldilocks zone of the Sun surrounds the Earth. All of Earths water would freeze if it were found where the dwarf planet Pluto is; however, all of Earths water would boil out if it were found where Mercury is.

Also, Get to Know What was NASA's Parker Solar Probe Mission

UPSC Practice Questions on NASA Space Missions

Q1. ISROs Mangalyaan completed how many years in Martian orbit on September 24, 2017?
1. 1 year
2. 2 years
3. 3 years
4. 4 years
Answer: 3
Solution: ISROs Mangalyaan completed 3 years in Martian orbit on September 24, 2017. The Mars Orbiter Mission MOM, also called Mangalyaan is a space probe orbiting Mars since 24 September 2014. It was launched on 5 November 2013 by the Indian Space Research Organisation ISRO. It is Indias first interplanetary mission. It made it the fourth space agency to reach Mars, after Roscosmos, NASA, and the European Space Agency. It made India the first Asian nation to reach Martian orbit. The Mars Orbiter Mission probe lifted-off from the First Launch Pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre Andhra Pradesh. Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV rocket C25 was used to launch it.

Q2. With reference to Astrosat, the astronomical observatory launched by India, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. Other than USA and Russia, India is the only country to have launched a similar observatory into space.
2. Astrosat is a 2000 kg satellite placed in an orbit at 1650 km above the surface of the Earth.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: 4
Solution: Astrosat is Indias first dedicated multi-wavelength space observatory. The unique feature of ASTROSAT mission is that it enables the simultaneous multi-wavelength observations of various astronomical objects with a single satellite. ASTROSAT with a lift-off mass of about 1513 kg was launched into a 650 km orbit by the PSLV-C30. Hence statement 2 is incorrect. Before India, NASA, space agencies of the European Union, Japan, and Russia are the other countries that have launched similar facilities into space. Hence statement 1 is incorrect. The scientific objectives of the ASTROSAT mission are to understand high energy processes in binary star systems containing neutron stars and black holes, estimate magnetic fields of neutron stars, study star birth regions and high energy processes in star systems lying beyond our galaxy, detect new briefly bright X-ray sources in the sky, and perform a limited deep field survey of the Universe in the Ultraviolet region.

Q3. Which one of the following belongs to Indias inter-planetary mission?
1. SARAL
2. Jugnu
3. Mangalyaan
4. ANUSAT
Answer: 3
Solution: The Mars Orbiter Mission MOM or Mangalyaan is a space probe launched on November 5, 2013 by the Indian Space Research Organization. The mission made India the first Asian nation and the fourth in the world to reach the planet, after Roscosmos, NASA, and the European Space Agency. ISRO chairman S. Somnath. ISRO spent 75 million dollars to launch the mission.

Q4. Consider the following statements regarding Ariel Space Mission adopted by the European Space Agency.
1. Ariel is the first mission of its kind dedicated to measuring the chemical composition and thermal structures of hundreds of exoplanets.
2. Ariel will be launched in 2029.
3. It will perform a large-scale survey of over a thousand exoplanets over a period of four years.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1, 2 and 3
4. 3 only
Answer: 3
Solution: The European Space Agency ESA has formally adopted Ariel. Ariel Atmospheric Remote-sensing Infrared Exoplanet Large-survey will be launched in 2029. It will perform a large-scale survey of over a thousand exoplanets over a period of four years. Hence statement 2 is correct. Ariel is the first mission of its kind dedicated to measuring the chemical composition and thermal structures of hundreds of exoplanets. Hence statement 1 is correct. It will also help to answer one of the key questions of ESAs Cosmic Vision Plan, which is What are the conditions for planet formation and the emergence of life.

Q5. Name the Space Telescope that on 6 January 2015 discovered the 1000th exoplanet in Constellation Lyra.
1. Hubble
2. Chandrasekhar
3. Kepler
4. James Webb
Answer: 3
Solution: Kepler is the Space Telescope that on 6 January 2015 discovered the 1000th exoplanet in Constellation Lyra. Kepler is a NASA mission launched in 2009 to detect Earth-sized exoplanets. The spacecraft orbits the Sun once every 373 days, trailing slightly behind the Earth. Kepler is designed to study a region of the Milky Way to discover exoplanets in or near their habitable zones. Keplers main scientific instrument is a photometer, which monitors the brightness of over 145000 main sequence stars. Scientists use the transit method to detect exoplanets around these stars by measuring dips in the brightness when the planet passes in front of the star. On 6th January 2015, NASA announced Keplers discovery of the 1000th confirmed exoplanet.

Q6. When did SpaceXs Falcon 9 rocket launch the SkySats 19, 20 and 21?
1. April 18 2020
2. April 13 2020
3. August 18 2020
4. March 13 2020
Answer: 3
Solution: On August 18 2020, SpaceXs Falcon 9 rocket launched SkySats 19 20 and 21 on yet another successful Starlink rideshare mission. Much like SkySats 16-18 which were launched by SpaceX on June 13 2020, SkySats 19-21 were successfully injected into a drop-off orbit of approximately 207 x 370 km 53-degree inclination.

Q7. As per the Indian Space Research Organization ISRO, Aditya-L 1 will be launched from Sriharikota. It would be Indias first mission to study:
1. Jupiter
2. Neptune
3. Solar Corona
4. Saturn rings
Answer: 3
Solution: As per the Indian Space Research Organization ISRO, Aditya-L 1 will be launched from Sriharikota. It would be Indias first mission to study Solar Corona. Aditya-L1 would be placed into a point in space known as the L1 Lagrange point. It will observe the solar corona and the Suns photosphere. The Sun is the nearest star to the earth. Its diameter is 14 lakh km. It is composed of 71 percent Hydrogen 26.5 percent helium and 2.5 percent other elements. Within the sun hydrogen is converted to helium due to nuclear fusion releasing a tremendous amount of heat and light. The shining surface of the sun is called Photosphere. The outer layer of the suns atmosphere made up of thin hot gases is called Corona. The middle surface is the chromosphere. The temperature of the Photosphere is 6000 degrees Celsius that of the chromosphere about 32400 degrees Celsius and that of Corona about 2700000 degrees Celsius. The planet travels with the sun through millions of stars in our galaxy at a speed of about 70000 km per hour. The sun is about 150 million km away from earth. Light takes about 8 minutes 20 seconds to reach the earth from the sun.

Q8. Consider the following pairs:
Space mission Country
1. Chang'e 5 : Japan
2. OSIRIS-Rex : USA
3. Hayabusa2 : China
Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
1. 1 and 3 only
2. 3 only
3. 2 only
4. 1 2 and 3
Answer: 3
Solution: Chang'e 5 is a lunar exploration mission of the Chinese space agency. Hence pair 1 is incorrect. OSIRIS-REx is an asteroid-study and sample-return mission launched by NASA USA. It will visit the Bennu asteroid. Hence pair 2 is correct. Hayabusa2 mission was launched by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency JAXA. Under this a spacecraft was sent on a six-year-long voyage to study the asteroid Ryugu and collect samples that it is now bringing back to the Earth. Hence pair 3 is incorrect.

Q9. NISAR is a joint project of ISRO and ______.
1. CNSA
2. JAXA
3. NASA
4. DRDO
Answer: 3
Solution: NISAR is a joint project of ISRO and NASA. NISAR refers to NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar. It refers to a technique for producing high-resolution images. Because of the precision the radar can penetrate clouds and darkness which means that it can collect data day and night in any weather. Function: It will scan the globe every 12 days over the course of its three-year mission of imaging the Earths land ice sheets and sea ice to give an unprecedented view of the planet. National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA will provide one of the radars for the satellite a high-rate communication subsystem for science data GPS receivers and a payload data subsystem. NISAR will be equipped with the largest reflector antenna ever launched by NASA. Indian Space and Research Organisation ISRO will provide the spacecraft bus the second type of radar called the S-band radar the launch vehicle and associated launch services. It will be launched from Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota into near-polar orbit in 2024.

Q10. In Oct 2020 NASA named the Cygnus Spacecraft after the astronaut _____.
1. Rakesh Sharma
2. Ravish Malhotra
3. Sunita Williams
4. Kalpana Chawla
Answer: 4
Solution: NASA named the Cygnus Spacecraft after Kalpana Chawla in October 2020. Kalpana Chawla was the first Indian-origin woman to travel to space. She was a mission specialist and primary robotic arm operator on the Space Shuttle Columbia in 1997. However she lost her life in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster in 2003. Rakesh Sharma was the first Indian to travel to space Sharma flew on the Soyuz T-11 in 1984. He was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. Sunita Williams was the second Indian-origin woman to travel to space Williams holds the record for the longest single space flight and most spacewalk time by a woman. Ravish Malhotra was an Air Force test pilot who served as a backup for Rakesh Sharma on the Soyuz T-11 mission.

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