Strategy question
What process would you follow if you have to send a kite in space?
- Zestmoney
- Strategy
- Easy
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What this question tests
Structured problem-solving on an absurd prompt, checking whether you can break a nonsensical goal into a logical process rather than getting stuck on feasibility.
How to approach it
- Clarify the actual goal behind 'send a kite to space', since a kite needs atmosphere to fly and space has none, so restate it as 'send a kite-shaped object beyond the atmosphere'.
- Define success criteria: does reaching low Earth orbit count, or does the object need to demonstrably fly as a kite at some point in the journey.
- Break the process into phases: design a payload that behaves as a kite in the upper atmosphere, then a separate propulsion phase to exit the atmosphere.
- Identify constraints: kites rely on wind and lift, which don't exist in space, so the two goals are physically incompatible and must be sequenced, not combined.
- Propose a plan: fly it as a kite via a high-altitude balloon to the stratosphere, then release a separate small satellite payload to complete the space leg.
- Define a success metric: altitude reached during the kite phase and successful orbital insertion for the space phase, tracked separately.
What a strong answer includes
- Explicitly names the physical impossibility, no wind or lift in space, and reframes the goal instead of ignoring the contradiction.
- Splits the problem into two sequenced sub-goals, which shows structured thinking under an intentionally absurd prompt.
- Proposes a real-world analog, high-altitude balloon plus small satellite, grounding the answer in existing technology.
Common mistakes
- Taking the prompt literally without noting that a kite cannot fly in the vacuum of space.
- Jumping straight to a technical solution without first clarifying what 'success' even means for this prompt.
Likely follow-up questions
- What would you cut first if the budget were extremely limited?
- How would you define done for this project?
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Learn the skill behind it
Chapters of the AI PM course that teach what this question tests.
- Chapter 4: Discovery and strategy for AI products
- Chapter 9: Prove it paid off: outcomes, economics, and pricing
- Chapter 14: Get the job: the AI PM interview loop