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Topic 259 · Science, Technology & Space

Chandrayaan-3: Shiv Shakti soil matches lunar meteorite

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Revise the 12 points first Book 1 RATNA

Core Trigger: A PRL study published 5 June 2026 in npj Space Exploration linked Shiv Shakti soil to meteorite ALHA 81005.
Key Finding: The soil has less aluminium and more iron and magnesium than typical highlands.
Lead Author: Dwijesh Ray of Physical Research Laboratory led the paper; Anil Bhardwaj is a co-author.
Instrument: The Pragyan rover's Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer measured elements at Statio Shiv Shakti, 69.37° S, 32.32° E.
Data Point: Mean Al2O3 was 26.1 weight per cent against a highland average of 29.6.
Stakeholders: PRL, Ahmedabad, a Department of Space unit, analysed the data; ISRO publicised it on 3 July 2026.
India Link: Deeper crustal material, probably from the South Pole-Aitken basin impact, mixed into the soil.
Launch Site: LVM3 M4 launched Chandrayaan-3 on 14 July 2023 from Sriharikota's Second Launch Pad.
Milestone: Vikram soft-landed on 23 August 2023, now celebrated as National Space Day.
Naming Landmark: The IAU Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature approved the name Statio Shiv Shakti on 19 March 2024.
Key Term: Statio is Latin for station; the International Astronomical Union, founded 1919, names landing sites.
Definition: A lunar meteorite is a rock blasted off the Moon by an impact that later fell on Earth.

Question 1 of 10

A 2026 PRL study linked Shiv Shakti soil to which lunar meteorite?

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Answer: (C) ALHA 81005

Core Trigger: A PRL study published 5 June 2026 in npj Space Exploration linked Shiv Shakti soil to meteorite ALHA 81005.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 259, point 1

Question 2 of 10

Shiv Shakti soil has less aluminium and more of which elements than typical highlands?

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Answer: (D) Iron and magnesium

Key Finding: The soil has less aluminium and more iron and magnesium than typical highlands.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 259, point 2

Question 3 of 10

Who led the Physical Research Laboratory paper on the Shiv Shakti soil?

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Answer: (A) Dwijesh Ray

Lead Author: Dwijesh Ray of Physical Research Laboratory led the paper; Anil Bhardwaj is a co-author.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 259, point 3

Question 4 of 10

Which Pragyan rover instrument measured elements at Statio Shiv Shakti?

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Answer: (B) Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer

Instrument: The Pragyan rover's Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer measured elements at Statio Shiv Shakti, 69.37° S, 32.32° E.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 259, point 4

Question 5 of 10

The soil's mean Al2O3 content was how many weight per cent?

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Answer: (C) 26.1

Data Point: Mean Al2O3 was 26.1 weight per cent against a highland average of 29.6.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 259, point 5

Question 6 of 10

Deeper crustal material mixed into the soil probably came from which impact basin?

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Answer: (D) South Pole-Aitken basin

India Link: Deeper crustal material, probably from the South Pole-Aitken basin impact, mixed into the soil.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 259, point 7

Question 7 of 10

Which is/are correct? (1) LVM3 M4 launched Chandrayaan-3 on 14 July 2023. (2) It launched from Sriharikota's Second Launch Pad.

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Answer: (C) Both 1 and 2

Launch Site: LVM3 M4 launched Chandrayaan-3 on 14 July 2023 from Sriharikota's Second Launch Pad.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 259, point 8

Question 8 of 10

On which date did Vikram soft-land, now celebrated as National Space Day?

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Answer: (A) 23 August 2023

Milestone: Vikram soft-landed on 23 August 2023, now celebrated as National Space Day.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 259, point 9

Question 9 of 10

Which body approved the name Statio Shiv Shakti on 19 March 2024?

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Answer: (B) IAU nomenclature working group

Naming Landmark: The IAU Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature approved the name Statio Shiv Shakti on 19 March 2024.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 259, point 10

Question 10 of 10

Which is/are correct? (1) The International Astronomical Union was founded in 1919. (2) Statio is Latin for summit.

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Answer: (A) Only 1

Key Term: Statio is Latin for station; the International Astronomical Union, founded 1919, names landing sites.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 259, point 11

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