What were Van Allen Probe A and Van Allen Probe B spacecraft designed to study?

Van Allen Probe A and B were NASA spacecraft launched in 2012 to study Earth’s radiation belts, also known as the Van Allen belts. They were designed to fly through and analyze rings of high-energy radiation particles trapped by Earth’s magnetic field. The mission concluded after both spacecraft ran out of fuel and could no longer orient themselves toward the Sun.

What are the uses of Reverse Osmosis (RO) technology?

Reverse Osmosis (RO) technology is used for desalination of brackish water, water reuse in industries such as pharmaceutical and biotechnology, wastewater treatment, food and beverage processing, electrocoating, and radioactive waste treatment. It is widely used due to its ability to remove dissolved salts and impurities.

What are the main constituents of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)?

The main constituents of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) are propane and butane. Ethane may be present in smaller quantities depending on climatic conditions and refining processes. Methane is not a primary component of LPG.

What is helioseismology?

Helioseismology is a scientific method used to detect and study movements inside the Sun. By observing oscillations on the Sun’s surface, scientists can understand its internal structure and magnetic activity, similar to how earthquakes are used to study the Earth's interior.

What is the difference between GPS jamming and GPS spoofing?

GPS jamming involves using a device to overpower legitimate satellite signals with noise, disrupting navigation systems. GPS spoofing, on the other hand, mimics authentic GPS signals and provides false location information to ships or aircraft. Spoofing is considered more serious because it can mislead navigation systems without detection.

Do ships and aircraft rely on GNSS systems for navigation?

Yes, both ships and aircraft rely on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) for position, navigation, and timing (PNT) information. The American GPS system is the most widely used, but other systems include Europe’s Galileo, Russia’s GLONASS, China’s BeiDou, and India’s NavIC.

Daily UPSC Prelims MCQs - Science & Tech. - 18th March 2026

Jigyashu Mishra
Mar 17
1 min read

Updated: Mar 25

Test your UPSC CSE 2026 preparation with today’s Science & Technology (Every wednesday) Quiz — covering Van Allen Probe A and Van Allen Probe B spacecrafts, Reverse osmosis (RO) technology, Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), helioseismology and more.

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Daily UPSC Prelims MCQs - Science & Tech. - 18th March 2026

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