9 September 2026

CosmoCube satellite mission to moon's far side

The mission provides relevant context for India's own space exploration efforts, specifically the PRATUSH project, which falls under the GS3 syllabus for space technology.

Questions

1. Explain the significance of the 'Cosmic Dark Ages' in understanding the evolution of the universe and discuss how lunar-based radio astronomy can help bridge the current knowledge gap. 150 words
   Attempt this — 150 words in 8 min

   0 / 150 words 8:00 Reset
2. What is the 'Hubble tension' in modern cosmology? Discuss how missions like CosmoCube and India's PRATUSH aim to resolve this discrepancy by exploring the early universe's neutral hydrogen signals. 250 words
   Attempt this — 250 words in 11 min

   0 / 250 words 11:00 Reset

Prelims

1. The 'Cosmic Dark Ages' refers to which period in the history of the universe?

   1. A The period when dark matter first began to form
   2. B The era after the death of the last galaxy
   3. C The period before the Big Bang
   4. D The time between the Big Bang and the formation of the first stars

2. Why is the far side of the moon considered an ideal location for radio astronomy?

   1. A It has a stronger gravitational pull for satellite stability
   2. B It provides a natural shield against radio interference from Earth
   3. C It is the only place where neutral hydrogen exists
   4. D It is closer to the center of the galaxy

3. What is the primary objective of the 21-cm signal detection in cosmology?

   1. A To map the surface topography of the moon
   2. B To measure the exact speed of light in a vacuum
   3. C To study neutral hydrogen from the early universe
   4. D To detect radio signals from extraterrestrial civilizations