NASA believes in sharing its scientific findings openly. The information from its satellites is used by people all over the world to watch over the environment, deal with disasters, and study our climate. By being open and sharing what it learns with everyone, NASA helps make sure science is fair and benefits people everywhere. NASA’s Apollo 1 (AS-204) targets Earth (orbital flight - planned) with a dedicated mission to investigate its habitability potential, scientific output, and strategic significance.

• Apollo 1 (AS-204) was successfully launched by NASA on February 21, 1967 (planned), opening the door to unprecedented space insights.  
• With a clearly defined scientific objective—namely, to First crewed Apollo mission; test Command/Service Module—the team is poised to gather unprecedented data and significantly advance our understanding.  
• It was an important Crewed orbital test flight (planned) that helped open the way for more advanced and challenging journeys into space.  
• Many people traveled from all over, hoping to see the amazing sight of the Saturn IB (SA-204) launching. 
• The missions departure point was Cape Kennedy, LC-34, Florida, where the launch was successfully carried out. 
• The mission continued for Up to 14 days (planned) before concluding. 
• This effort was undertaken solely by NASA. 
• According to NASA records, the mission was Never flew (Fatal cabin fire during ground test). 
• With a budget of Part of Apollo program total cost, NASA launched Apollo 1 (AS-204) to advance scientific understanding and explore new frontiers. 

Block I Apollo Command and Service Module onboard Apollo 1 (AS-204) are set to revolutionize autonomous science operations during long-duration missions.

NASA’s Apollo 1 (AS-204) used Saturn IB, Apollo CSM, new spacecraft systems to push the boundaries of robotic intelligence and spacecraft autonomy. By exploring international partnerships, data-sharing frameworks, and global policy impacts, this article on NASAs Apollo 1 (AS-204) Space Mission offers valuable insights for UPSC Prelims and Mains GS Paper 2, GS Paper 3 and Essay preparation.

Get Free Materials for UPSC Preparation by Testbook!

NASA Apollo 1 (AS-204) Space Mission Overview 

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

Apollo 1 (AS-204) Space Mission Global Contributions

• The involvement of North American Aviation (spacecraft), Chrysler (S-IB), Douglas (S-IVB) ensured access to reliable launch services and advanced satellite platforms. 
• The success of Apollo 1 (AS-204) marked a major shift in space policy by Tragedy led to major safety redesigns for Apollo, promoting broader cooperation in future missions. 

Challenges & Risk in Apollo 1 (AS-204) Space Mission

One of the most significant technical challenges faced by Apollo 1 (AS-204) was Cabin fire during launch rehearsal killed all three crew, which was successfully mitigated using a combination of onboard automation and ground-based support systems.

• Fire during plugs-out test; extensive investigation followed posed a potential mission-limiting condition, but proactive mitigation ensured continued operation of Apollo 1 (AS-204). 

Download UPSC Previous Year Question Paper PDFs for UPSC Prelims & Mains!

Mission Timeline of Apollo 1 (AS-204) NASA Space Mission

• The foundation for this mission was laid on Apollo program announced July 1960, when the proposal was first introduced. 
• Completion of the landing/flyby on Not applicable enabled scientists to begin analyzing new data and images collected during the encounter. 
• The spacecraft continued to perform beyond expectations even after the primary mission officially ended on Not applicable. 

Get to Know the detailed UPSC Syllabus for IAS Prelims & Mains Exam!

UPSC Relevance of Apollo 1 (AS-204)

• UPSC Prelims often includes questions related to NASA missions, highlighting the intersection of space science, technology, and international developments.
• Topics related to NASA’s planetary missions and advanced space technologies are highly relevant to GS Paper 3, which covers developments in science and technology.
• In the UPSC CSE GS Paper 4 (Ethics), aspirants may be asked to evaluate whether the pursuit of advanced space technology, such as NASA’s missions, aligns with ethical duties toward humanity’s broader needs.
• Optional papers such as Anthropology, Geography, and Philosophy can use NASA’s deep space missions to examine human adaptability, technological ethics, and questions of existential risk and sustainability in modern science.

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
educationprovince.com

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. Consider the following statements:

1. Water is only found on the dark side shadowy region of the moon.
2. NASAs Artemis programme plans to send the first woman and the next man to the Moon in 2024.
3. Water on the moon can be utilized for purposes such as generating rocket fuel.

Which of the above statements is/are incorrect?

1. 1 only
2. 1 and 2
3. 1 and 3
4. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: 1 only
Solution: Water has been found on both sunlit and dark sides of the moon. Thus, the first statement is incorrect. The remaining two statements are correct.

Q2. Consider the following statements.

1. Boeing and SpaceX were selected by NASA in September 2014 to develop transportation systems meant to transfer crew from the US to the ISS.
2. Crew-1 mission is part of NASAs Commercial Crew Program.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: Both 1 and 2
Solution: On November 14, SpaceXs Crew Dragon spacecraft will lift off from NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida carrying a crew of four people to the International Space Station ISS on a six-month-long mission.

Q3. SpaceX Demo-2 mission, recently seen in the news, is an initiative of which of the following agency?

1. NASA
2. European Space Agency
3. ISRO
4. Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency

Answer: NASA
Solution: On May 27, NASAs SpaceX Demo-2 test flight will lift off for the International Space Station ISS, becoming the first crewed flight to launch from American soil since the conclusion of the space shuttle era in 2011.

Q4. Consider the following statements.

1. ISRO has completed the development of NISAR in collaboration with NASA.
2. NISAR will produce extremely high-resolution images of the earth.
3. It will be put into orbit by a reusable rocket of SpaceX.
4. The data obtained from NISAR will be useful to estimate agricultural biomass over the full duration of the crop cycle.

Which among the above statements is/are correct?

1. 1, 2, and 3 only
2. 1 and 2 only
3. 1, 2 and 4 only
4. All are correct

Answer: 1, 2 and 4 only
Solution: The Indian Space Research Organization ISRO has completed the development of radar capable of producing extremely high-resolution images for a joint earth observation satellite mission with NASA. Hence, statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is not correct as NISAR will be put into orbit by ISRO's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle GSLV.

Q5. Consider the following statements regarding NISAR, which was recently in news:

1. It is a Joint initiative of ISRO and the European space agency, ESA.
2. It refers to a technique for producing high-resolution images.

Which of the above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: 2 only
Solution: NASA and ISRO are collaborating on developing an SUV-sized satellite called NISAR, which will detect movements of the planets surface as small as 0.4 inches over areas about half the size of a tennis court. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.

Q6. On 4 May 2021, Which of the following company launched 60 Starlink Satellites?

1. SpaceX
2. ISRO
3. JAXA
4. CNSA

Answer: SpaceX
Solution: SpaceX launched 60 Starlink Internet satellites from NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida, U.S.A. Falcon 9 rocket was used for the launch.

Q7. Which of the following pairs are correctly matched?

1. Tianwen-1 Japan
2. Hope USA
3. Mars 2020 Russian Federation

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

1. 1 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. None of the above

Answer: None of the above
Solution: The Tianwen-1 Spacecraft was lifted off on a Long March 5 rocket, from the Wenchang launch centre in July 2020. The UAE’s Mars Mission called Hope was announced in 2015 with the aim of creating mankind’s first integrated model of the Red planet’s atmosphere. Hence, pair 2 is incorrectly matched. The Mars 2020 Mission is designed to better understand the geology of Mars and seek signs of ancient life. Hence, pair 3 is incorrectly matched.

Q8. Which of the following institution announced its two new robotic missions namely Davinci+ and Veritas, to Venus to examine the atmosphere and geological features on the planet?

1. European Space Agency ESA
2. Indian Space Research Organisation ISRO
3. National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA
4. Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency JAXA

Answer: National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA
Solution: NASA has selected two missions to the planet Venus, Earth’s nearest neighbour. The missions called DAVINCI+ and VERITAS have been selected based on their potential for scientific value and the feasibility of their development plans.

Q9. The Dragon Endeavour is the spacecraft of which space company?

1. Air Launch
2. Space X
3. Kinet X
4. Astra

Answer: Space X
Solution: Behnken and Hurley left in a vehicle called Crew Dragon Endeavour. A spaceship designed, built, and operated by SpaceX with about 2.7 billion in government funding.

Q10. Cygnus spacecraft launched by NASA is seen recently in the context of

1. It uses solar power to enter into its desired orbit
2. It provides real-time portal for Mars exploration
3. It carry ingredients for experiments to grow plants without soil
4. It has been send to destroy targeted space debris

Answer: It carry ingredients for experiments to grow plants without soil
Solution: Cygnus spacecraft, which is carrying a fresh supply of 8300 pounds of scientific investigations and cargo, has reached International Space Station on 21 February 2022, less than two days after it was launched.

Also, Read about Axiom 4 Mission (Ax-4) for UPSC