With more and more missions planned for the Moon, Mars, and even asteroids, NASA continues to lead the way in exploring deep space. Its work influences how countries around the world think about space, how we discuss environmental issues, and it inspires people to study and learn more – making NASA a fascinating topic from many different angles.

In this article, we will go deeper about the Surveyor 1 mission for UPSC CSE Examination which was launched to reach Moon (Oceanus Procellarum), enhancing our understanding of its dynamics, importance in space science, and long-term mission utility.

• NASA’s Surveyor 1 lifted off on May 30, 1966, embarking on a critical journey beyond Earth.  
• The overarching objective driving this initiative is to First US soft landing on Moon; test landing techniques; achieving this will mark a significant milestone in space exploration and technological capability.  
• Successfully completing this Lunar lander technology demonstration was celebrated by many as a significant achievement.  
• This mission was one of the notable flights for the distinguished Atlas-Centaur. 
• The rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral, LC-36A, beginning its journey into space. 
• Lunar operations ~6 weeks marked the full span of the mission’s activity. 
• NASA played a key role in the success of the mission. 
• According to NASA records, the mission was Completed (Successful). 
• The cost of $469 million (Surveyor program total) was dedicated to NASA’s Surveyor 1, enhancing data collection and mission autonomy. 

NASA outfitted Surveyor 1 with TV camera, strain gauges, temperature sensors to support its goals in autonomous space exploration.

Soft landing on another celestial body, TV imaging from surface were essential to Surveyor 1, supporting navigation, real-time data analysis, and autonomous mission control. This comprehensive article on NASA Surveyor 1 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 Surveyor 1 Space Mission Overview 

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

Surveyor 1 Space Mission Global Contributions

• NASA relied on Hughes Aircraft (spacecraft), JPL (mission operations) to supply major components for the spacecraft and launch systems, enhancing mission efficiency. 
• The use of Data and images made public encouraged collaborative validation of autonomous technologies and mission outcomes. 
• With Surveyor 1, NASA’s innovative efforts led to Crucial step for Apollo program; demonstrated soft landing capability, reinforcing commitments to international space treaties. 

Challenges & Risk in Surveyor 1 Space Mission

One of the most significant technical challenges faced by Surveyor 1 was Achieving first successful US soft lunar landing, which was successfully mitigated using a combination of onboard automation and ground-based support systems.

• Mitigating risks like Complex automated landing sequence was essential to ensuring the missions success and preserving scientific goals. 
• Surveyor 1 has a defined environmental footprint, described as Lander remains on Moon, which reflects its post-mission trajectory and impact. 

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Mission Timeline of Surveyor 1 NASA Space Mission

• Mission documentation was initiated on Early 1960s, launching the early planning phase. 
• The landing/flyby event occurred on June 2, 1966 (Lunar landing), and was closely monitored by scientists around the world. 
• The NASA space mission reached the end of its primary phase on July 14, 1966 (Last contact), successfully completing all planned objectives. 

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UPSC Relevance of Surveyor 1

• As a leader in space exploration, NASA’s missions provide important context for questions on scientific innovations in the UPSC Prelims.
• 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.
• Whether exploring climate data from NASA satellites (Geography), understanding U.S. space policy impacts (PSIR), or ethical decision-making in high-risk missions (Philosophy), NASA Space Missions offer integrated value across multiple UPSC CSE Optional subjects.

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. The James Web Space Telescope was launched in December 2021 through
1. Arian 2 rocket
2. Arian 4 rocket
3. Arian 5 rocket
4. Arian 1 rocket
Answer: Arian 5 rocket
Solution: The James Webb Space Telescope JWST is a 21st-century international space observatory that was launched on December 25, 2021. It arrived just at Sun-Earth L2 Lagrange point in January 2022. An Ariane 5 rocket carried the James Webb Space Telescope into orbit. The European Space Agency's contribution to the mission includes the launch vehicle and launch site. The James Webb Space Telescope is the world's largest and most powerful space telescope rocketed away on 25 Dec 2021 to behold light from the first stars and galaxies. NASA's James Webb Space Telescope soared from French Guiana on South America's northeastern coast, on a European Ariane rocket. The 10 billion dollar observatory hurtled toward its destination one million miles 1.6 million kilometres away. It will take a month to get there.

Q2. With reference to Artemis I, consider the following statements
1. It will provide a foundation for human deep space exploration
2. It is the first uncrewed flight beyond the Moon and return to Earth
3. NASA aims to contribute to scientific discovery and economic benefits through this mission
Which of the statements given above is/are correct
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. 1 and 2 only
4. 1, 2 and 3 only
Answer: 1, 2 and 3 only
Solution: Artemis I is the first of NASA's deep space exploration systems. Hence, statement 1 is correct. It is an uncrewed space mission where the spacecraft will launch on a Space Launch System rocket, the most powerful rocket in the world and travel 280000 miles from the earth for over four to six weeks during the course of the mission. Hence, statement 2 is correct. The Orion spacecraft is going to remain in space without docking to a space station, longer than any ship for astronauts has ever done before. The SLS rocket has been designed for space missions beyond the low-earth orbit and can carry crew or cargo to the moon and beyond. With the Artemis Mission, NASA aims to land humans on the moon by 2024, and it also plans to land the first woman and first person of colour on the moon. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Q3. In May 2023, NASA has awarded which of the following company to build a spacecraft that will send astronauts to and from the moon's surface
1. Virgin Galactic
2. Blue Origin
3. Bigelow Aerospace, Inc
4. SpaceX
Answer: Blue Origin
Solution: NASA has awarded Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos's company, a contract worth 3.4 billion dollars to build a spacecraft that will send astronauts to and from the moon's surface. Blue Origin will be responsible for designing, developing, testing, and verifying its Blue Moon lander to meet NASA's requirements for human landing systems. This includes the capability to dock with Gateway, a space station in lunar orbit. The contract includes an uncrewed demonstration mission to the lunar surface, followed by a crewed demonstration on the Artemis V mission in 2029. This announcement establishes Blue Origin as NASA's second provider for delivering astronauts to the Moon, alongside SpaceX, which was previously contracted to demonstrate an initial human landing system for the Artemis III mission. The selection of Blue Origin and the previous contract with SpaceX demonstrate NASA's commitment to commercial and international partnerships in advancing human spaceflight. The Artemis program aims to send astronauts, including the first woman and first person of color, to explore the Moon and lay the groundwork for crewed missions to Mars.

Q4. In May 2023, a Falcon 9 rocket with a crew of dragon spacecraft launched from Florida. It is a mission of which of the following
1. Blue Origin
2. ISRO
3. Space X
4. NASA
Answer: Space X
Solution: Falcon 9 rocket with crew dragon spacecraft launched from Florida. The Falcon 9 carrier rocket, along with the Crew Dragon spacecraft and a commercial crew of four people, has successfully launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, according to SpaceX. The mission, called Axiom Mission 2 Ax-2, was launched at 5:37 p.m. Eastern Time 21:37 GMT on Sunday. The first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket is expected to land at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, which is located near the launch site. Axiom Space, based in Houston, is sending a commercial crew to the International Space Station ISS for the second time. The Ax-2 crew consists of retired NASA astronaut commander Peggy Whitson, US pilot John Shoffner, Saudi fighter pilot Ali Alqarni, and research technician Rayyanah Barnawi, who will be the first Saudi woman in space. The Ax-2 crew will join the regular crew at the ISS and participate in scientific work during their mission. Axiom Space's first crewed mission Ax-1 took place in April 2022.

Q5. Consider the following statements with respect to Deep Space Optical Communications mission of NASA
1. The information was beamed to earth in near Infrared radiation
2. It is the farthest-ever demonstration of optical communications
3. The mission was experimented on Psyche spacecraft which is situated near Saturn
How many of the above statements are correct
1. Only one
2. Only two
3. All three
4. None
Answer: Option 2
Solution: NASA experiment on the Psyche spacecraft has beamed back a near-infrared laser that contains test data from almost 16 million kilometres away. Hence statement 1 is correct. The distance is 40 times that between the Moon and the Earth and is the farthest-ever demonstration of optical communications, according to the space agency. Hence statement 2 is correct. DSOC will be used to send high-bandwidth test data to our planet as psyche travels to the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Hence statement 3 is incorrect.

Q6. What is the name of the mission aiming to launch the world's first wooden satellite into orbit
1. LignoSat
2. WoodSat
3. EcoOrbit
4. BiodegradeSat Endeavor
Answer: LignoSat
Solution: NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency JAXA are set to launch the world's first wooden satellite into orbit. The mission aiming to launch the world's first wooden satellite into orbit is called the LignoSat Mission. It is a collaborative project between NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency JAXA. The satellite, named after the Latin word for wood, will be constructed primarily from treated Japanese magnolia wood. The LignoSat Mission aims to address the growing issue of space debris by utilizing a renewable and biodegradable material for spacecraft construction. The satellite will carry out experiments to test wood's performance in space and gather data on its potential applications in future spacecraft. This innovative approach highlights the significance of sustainability and environmental consciousness in space exploration.

Q7. Consider the following space stations
1. International Space Station
2. Tiangong Space Station
3. Bharatiya Anthariksh Station BAS-1
How many of the above-mentioned space stations are currently in orbit
1. Only one
2. Only two
3. Only three
4. None
Answer: option 2
Solution: International Space Station ISS is operational and actively orbiting Earth. It is a collaborative effort between NASA, Roscosmos, ESA, JAXA, and CSA. It serves as a microgravity and space environment research laboratory, with astronauts conducting scientific research in astrobiology, physics, materials science, and more. It is expected to operate until at least 2030, playing a crucial role in international space cooperation. Tiangong Space Station is operational, launched and maintained by China. It is exclusively operated by the China National Space Administration CNSA. It is designed for long-term crewed missions and scientific research in space, similar to the ISS, with a focus on self-reliance in space capabilities. Bharatiya Anthariksh Station BAS-1 is under development, with a long-term goal of becoming operational and contributing to international space research. Thus, only International Space Station and Tiangong Space Station are operational.

Q8. Who has taken command of the International Space Station ISS in September 2024
1. Oleg Kononenko
2. Sunita Williams
3. Mark T. Vande Hei
4. Sergey Prokopyev
Answer: Sunita Williams
Solution: Sunita Williams is an Indian-origin NASA astronaut. This marks her second time commanding the ISS. She took command from Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko during a ceremony onboard the ISS. Williams traveled to the ISS aboard Boeing's Starliner space shuttle during its first crewed mission. Sunita Williams has previously held the position of commander of the ISS. Her mission was initially planned for 8 days but was extended due to technical issues with the shuttle. The return of Williams and her crew is now scheduled for February 2025. NASA and Boeing are working together on future missions to enhance space exploration capabilities.

Q9. Where did ISRO launch India's first analog space mission to simulate interplanetary habitat conditions
1. Bengaluru, Karnataka
2. Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh
3. Ahmedabad, Gujarat
4. Leh, Ladakh
Answer: Leh, Ladakh
Solution: ISRO launched India's first analog space mission in Leh, Ladakh, in collaboration with the Human Spaceflight Centre, AAKA Space Studio, University of Ladakh, IIT Delhi, and supported by the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council. The mission aims to simulate conditions similar to those on Mars and the Moon by replicating the extreme challenges astronauts would encounter in extraterrestrial environments. Ladakh's harsh climate, with temperatures ranging from 3 degrees Celsius to 35 degrees Celsius in summer and dropping to -20 degrees Celsius to -35 degrees Celsius in winter, along with heavy snowfall, makes it an ideal analog location. Analog missions, as defined by NASA, are field tests conducted in Earth locations resembling extreme space environments, which help in testing technologies before deploying them in space. This mission will test various technologies like robotic equipment, habitats, communication systems, power generation, mobility, infrastructure, and storage, along with studying behavioral aspects like isolation, confinement, team dynamics, and menu fatigue. Analog missions reduce the need for time, money, and manpower by testing in Earth environments before full-scale space applications. These missions are crucial for planning near-term and future space exploration to destinations like asteroids, Mars, and the Moon, playing a key role in problem-solving and preparing for spaceflight research.

Q10. The Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer IXPE, recently seen in the news, is
1. A Mars orbiter developed jointly by ISRO and NASA to study Martian dust storms
2. The world's first telescope designed to study X-ray polarization of cosmic phenomena
3. A space-based observatory to detect gravitational waves from neutron stars
4. A radio telescope that maps dark matter in the early universe
Answer: option 2
Solution: NASA's IXPE mission has recently provided critical evidence solving a long-standing mystery about the origin of X-ray emissions in black hole jets, specifically in the blazar BL Lacertae. IXPE stands for Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer, launched jointly by NASA and the Italian Space Agency on December 9, 2021. It is the first satellite dedicated to measuring X-ray polarisation, a crucial metric to study high-energy phenomena like black hole jets and blazars. It observed weak X-ray polarisation only 7.6% and highly polarised optical light up to 47.5% in BL Lac, confirming that X-rays are generated by electron-photon interactions, not protons. The mechanism identified is Compton Scattering, where relativistic electrons up-scatter low-energy photons into the X-ray range. IXPE's success helps refine astrophysical models of active galactic nuclei AGN and enhances our understanding of extreme cosmic environments.

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