SSC CGL 2025 PYQ — Question 9

Read the following passage and answer the questions based on the passage:

The notion of inhabiting the Moon, once confined to speculative fiction and celestial folklore, is now transitioning into a plausible reality, propelled by relentless technological strides and geopolitical interests in extraterrestrial dominance. The Moon, Earth’s solitary natural satellite, has metamorphosed into a strategic frontier for scientific advancement, mineral extraction, and perhaps even permanent settlement. With nations like the United States, China, and India rejuvenating their lunar missions under programs such as Artemis, Chandrayaan, and Chang’e, the ambition to establish a sustained human presence on the lunar surface no longer appears quixotic. The Artemis program, spearheaded by NASA in collaboration with international agencies, envisions a lunar base camp by the early 2030s, intended not merely for exploration but as a staging post for Mars-bound voyages. Central to this vision are technologies like the Space Launch System, lunar habitats with radiation shielding, and autonomous life-support systems capable of withstanding the Moon’s harsh, desolate environment. Meanwhile, the discovery of water ice in permanently shadowed craters near the lunar south pole has galvanized the possibility of in-situ resource utilization—transforming lunar ice into potable water or fuel components like hydrogen and oxygen. Nonetheless, formidable challenges remain. The Moon’s extreme temperatures, absence of a breathable atmosphere, exposure to cosmic radiation, and logistical difficulties of regular resupply missions impose substantial constraints. Moreover, the legal ambiguities surrounding lunar property rights under the 1967 Outer Space Treaty could potentially ignite geopolitical tensions as more private enterprises express interest in lunar commerce. Yet, with the confluence of public funding, private innovation, and international collaboration, humanity’s long-standing aspiration to become an interplanetary species inches closer to fruition. While a fully habitable lunar colony may still be decades away, the foundational infrastructure and political will are steadily aligning, making the dream of lunar habitation not just possible—but imminent.