NASA (which stands for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration) is the main U.S. agency for space exploration. It was started back in 1958, partly because the Soviet Union had just launched Sputnik, the first satellite. NASA is a world leader in exploring space, doing everything from building satellites and sending people into space to exploring other planets and carrying out advanced science. What NASA does helps create new technologies we can all use and encourages countries to work together peacefully in space.

Through the STS-34 Atlantis Galileo Deployment mission, NASA aims to study Jupiter (via Atlantis deployment of Galileo spacecraft), shedding light on its systems, operations, and the mysteries it holds.

• The successful launch of STS-34 Atlantis Galileo Deployment on October 18, 1989 set the stage for important scientific advancements.  
• This projects fundamental objective, to Deploy Galileo Jupiter spacecraft, addresses key scientific questions that have long intrigued researchers in the field.  
• This particular mission was planned as a Crewed planetary spacecraft deployment flight, marking an important step in our ongoing journey to explore space.  
• The flight path for the Space Shuttle (Atlantis OV-104) was charted with extraordinary precision by astrodynamicists. 
• The launch of the mission happened at Kennedy Space Center, LC-39B. 
• 4 days, 23 hours, 39 minutes, 20 seconds was the length of the mission from launch to completion. 
• The mission was conducted by NASA. 
• The mission was classified as Completed (Successful deployment) upon completion. 
• Galileo spacecraft cost ~$16 billion was spent on STS-34 Atlantis Galileo Deployment, a key NASA initiative supporting deep space autonomy and exploration. 

STS-34 Atlantis Galileo Deployment carries Galileo spacecraft with IUS upper stage, SSBUV, GTHM for advanced measurements, enabling deeper insights into planetary systems and space conditions.

STS-34 Atlantis Galileo Deployment showcases Deployment of major interplanetary probe from Shuttle, marking a significant step toward intelligent, self-directed exploration missions. This comprehensive article on NASA STS-34 Atlantis Galileo Deployment 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.

Get Free Materials for UPSC Preparation by Testbook!

NASA STS-34 Atlantis Galileo Deployment Space Mission Overview 

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

STS-34 Atlantis Galileo Deployment Space Mission Global Contributions

STS-34 Atlantis Galileo Deployment was jointly executed with Germany (Galileo retropropulsion module), promoting shared research in autonomous and remote space systems.

• Contributing to mission success, Galileo propulsion module from Germany on STS-34 Atlantis Galileo Deployment brought new functionality to deep space autonomy. 
• By involving JPL (Galileo), Boeing (IUS), NASA leveraged commercial capabilities for hardware design, satellite manufacturing, and launch logistics. 
• Galileo data used for extensive Jupiter system science ensured open access to mission findings, promoting collaborative research among international and commercial partners. 
• STS-34 Atlantis Galileo Deployment demonstrated a strong policy impact by Enabled long-term orbital study of Jupiter and its moons, fostering new partnerships and shaping future governance frameworks. 

Checkout: Daily UPSC Current Affairs for your upcoming exam and get thorough with detailed Insights, Trends and Latest Developments for UPSC CSE Exam

Challenges & Risk in STS-34 Atlantis Galileo Deployment Space Mission

• A key risk during STS-34 Atlantis Galileo Deployment was Complex deployment of Galileo/IUS, demanding both ground and onboard system adjustments. 

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

Mission Timeline of STS-34 Atlantis Galileo Deployment NASA Space Mission

• The proposal for this mission was recorded on Galileo selected mid-1970s. 
• The landing/flyby event occurred on October 23, 1989 (Landing at Edwards AFB), and was closely monitored by scientists around the world. 
• NASA declared the October 23, 1989 as the official end of the mission’s primary objectives, celebrating a successful outcome. 

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

UPSC Relevance of STS-34 Atlantis Galileo Deployment

• Awareness of international space missions, especially NASA’s, is vital for success in the Prelims, given their link to science, technology, and current affairs.
• Discussions in GS Paper 2 about international cooperation in space exploration can reference NASA’s joint missions with other countries and agencies.
• Questions in General Studies Paper 4 (Ethics) under the UPSC CSE Exam may reference NASA’s planetary exploration policies to discuss intergenerational responsibility and long-term sustainability ethics.
• NASA Space Missions provide cross-cutting content useful in UPSC optional subjects like PSIR, Geography, and Public Administration by exemplifying governance models, global diplomacy, and spatial data infrastructure.

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. Which of the following statements is are correct regarding the Perseverance Rover?
1. It is a mission developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation.
2. The mission is designed to better understand the geology of Mars and seek signs of ancient life.
3. It is the most advanced, most expensive and most sophisticated mobile laboratory sent to Mars.
Select the correct answer by using the codes given below.
1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: 2 and 3 only
Solution:
NASA's Perseverance rover has successfully collected its first rock sample for return to Earth. NASA has called it a perfect core sample. NASA plans to launch more spacecraft to retrieve the samples collected by Perseverance. Perseverance arrived in February 2021 at Mars Jezero Crater, the site on an ancient lake - in search of rocks that might hold evidence of ancient life.

Q2. The Parker Solar Probe Mission sometimes mentioned in the news recently is related to
1. Indian Space Research Organisation
2. National Aeronautics and Space Administration
3. European Space Agency
4. Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
Answer: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Solution:
Scientists using data from NASA's Parker Solar Probe have assembled the most complete picture yet of the inner structure and behaviour of the large cloud of space dust, known as the zodiacal cloud, that swirls throughout the solar system.

Q3. Consider the following statements with reference to the Inspiration4 mission:
1. It is a mission by NASA to take civilians into the space.
2. Inspiration4 will orbit the Earth at a level higher than the International Space Station.
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: 1 only
Solution:
Statement 1 is incorrect: SpaceX announced that Inspiration4 mission is ready for launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida in the USA. It is the world's first all-civilian mission to orbit and involves taking a group of four private citizens to circle the Earth for three days, and then splashing down into the Atlantic Ocean. Statement 2 is correct: Inspiration4 will orbit the Earth at 575km, higher than the International Space Station 408km and the Hubble space telescope 547km. This will be the farthest distance travelled by a crewed mission since 2009, when astronauts last went to repair the Hubble.

Q4. The term MUSE is talked about in the context of
1. genes introduced in the genetically modified crops for the expression of pest resistant properties
2. a constellation of nine spacecraft that will capture the first multiscale in-space measurements of fluctuations in the magnetic field and motions of the solar wind known as solar wind turbulence
3. AI induced technique of identification of paw print of wildlife tigers under CA|TS
4. forces driving the heating of the Sun's corona and the eruptions in that outermost region that are at the foundation of space weather
Answer: option 4
Solution:
Recently, NASA has selected two science missions - the Multi-slit Solar Explorer MUSE and HelioSwarm - to help improve our understanding of the dynamics of the Sun, the Sun-Earth connection, and the constantly changing space environment.

Q5. Who among the following led the guidance, operations and control operations of NASA's Mission Mars 2020?
1. Swati Mohan
2. Anita Sengupta
3. Ashwin Vasavada
4. Kamlesh Lulla
Answer: Swati Mohan
Solution:
Swati Mohan led the guidance, operations and control operations of NASA's Mission Mars 2020. She is an Indian-American aerospace engineer, the head of guidance, navigation and control operations at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory who recently landed the Perseverance rover on Mars.

Q6. The James Webb 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.

Q7. Consider the following statements about the James Webb Space Telescope.
1. It is a large infrared telescope that will study every phase in the history of the Universe.
2. It will orbit the Earth as it is positioned at the second Lagrange point or L2, approximately 1.5 million kilometers away from the Earth.
Select the correct statement(s):
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. None of the above
Answer: 1 only
Solution:
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope JWST, the agency's successor to the famous Hubble telescope is on a mission to study the earliest stars and peer back farther into the universe's past than ever before. Powerful space telescopes, like JWST or the Hubble Telescope, are often called time-machines because of their ability to view very faraway objects. The light coming from those objects, stars or galaxies, which is captured by these telescopes, began its journey millions of years earlier. Essentially, what these telescopes see are images of these stars or galaxies as they were millions of years ago. The more distant the planet or star, the farther back in time are the telescopes able to see. The JWST detects near-infrared and mid-infrared wavelengths, the light beyond the red end of the visible spectrum. Hence, statement 1 is correct. The James Webb Space Telescope will not be in orbit around the Earth, like the Hubble Space Telescope is - it will actually orbit the Sun, 1.5 million kilometers 1 million miles away from the Earth at what is called the second Lagrange point or L2. What is special about this orbit is that it lets the telescope stay in line with the Earth as it moves around the Sun. This allows the satellite's large sunshield to protect the telescope from the light and heat of the Sun and Earth. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.

Q8. has successfully launched the pulsar navigation satellite XPNAV-1.
1. India
2. China
3. USA
4. Japan
Answer: China
Solution:
China successfully launched the pulsar navigation satellite XPNAV-1 in 2016. The satellite XPNAV-1 stands for X-ray pulsar navigation. It was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The weight of the satellite is more than 200 kg and it operates in a Sun-synchronous orbit.

Q9. Consider the following statements regarding Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope:
1. Its objective is to aid in the understanding of dark energy, dark matter, exoplanets, and infrared astrophysics.
2. It will be situated or parked in the Lagrange point.
3. Its field view will be greater than the Hubble Telescope.
Which of the above statements are correct?
1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: 1, 2 and 3
Solution:
The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope or Roman Space Telescope RST is a NASA deep space infrared observatory. RST will help answer essential astrophysics questions about dark energy, dark matter, exoplanets, and infrared astrophysics. Hence statement 1 is correct. It is set to launch around 2026 or 2027. The mission is projected to last for five years. RST will be situated at Lagrange point 2, a stable gravitational point between Earth and the Sun. Hence statement 2 is correct. The primary mirror of the RST has a diameter of 2.4 meters, the same size as the mirror of the Hubble Space Telescope. It will have a field of view that is 100 times greater than the Hubble infrared instrument, capturing more of the sky with less observing time. Hence statement 3 is correct.

Q10. Who among the following are among the 4 astronauts who will venture around the Moon on Artemis II as announced by NASA and the Canadian Space Agency on 4 April 2023?
1. Jeremy Hansen
2. Victor Glover
3. Christina Koch
4. Reid Wiseman
1. 1, 2 and 3
2. 1, 3 and 4
3. 2, 3 and 4
4. All 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: All 1, 2, 3 and 4
Solution:
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA and the Canadian Space Agency CSA on 4 April 2023 announced the 4 astronauts who will venture around the Moon on Artemis II. The astronauts are Jeremy Hansen, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Reid Wiseman of NASA. The mission is scheduled to launch in November 2024 and will be the first crewed moon trip in fifty years. This will be the first crewed moon trip in fifty years. Reid Wiseman of NASA was first selected as an astronaut for the space organization in 2009. He will serve as commander of the Artemis II mission. Hansen was selected by the Canadian Space Agency for astronaut training in 2009. Notably, he will be the first Canadian ever to travel to deep space. Glover made his first trip into space in 2021, flying SpaceX's Crew Dragon on its second crewed mission and spending nearly six months at the International Space Station. The fourth crew member is Koch. Six spacewalks have been completed by Koch including the first all-female spacewalk in 2019. With 328 days in space, she holds the record for the longest solo spaceflight by a woman.

Subject-wise Prelims Previous Year Questions
Geography PYQ UPSC Prelims	Polity PYQ UPSC Prelims
Environment PYQ UPSC Prelims	Ancient History PYQ UPSC Prelims
Modern History PYQ UPSC Prelims	Medieval History PYQ UPSC Prelims

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