PYQ Question

With reference to India’s satellite launch vehicles, consider the following statements: 1. PSLVs launch the satellite useful for Earth resources monitoring

August 6, 2026 en

With reference to India’s satellite launch vehicles, consider the following statements: 1. PSLVs launch the satellite useful for Earth resources monitoring whereas GSLVs are designed mainly to launch communication satellites. 2. Satellites launched by PSLV appear to remain permanently fixed in the same position in the sky, as viewed from a particular location in Earth. 3. GSLV Mk III is a four-staged launch vehicle with the first and third stages using solid rocket motors; and the second and fourth stages using liquid rocket engines. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 only
B. 2 and 3
C. 1 and 2
D. 3 only

Answer: A

Explanation

Both PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) and GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) are the satellite-launch vehicles (rockets) developed by ISRO. PSLV is designed mainly to deliver the “earth- observation” or “remote-sensing” satellites with lift-oﬀ mass of up to about 1750 Kg to Sun-Synchronous circular polar orbits of 600-900 Km altitude. Apart from launching the remote sensing satellites to Sun- synchronous polar orbits, the PSLV is also used to launch the satellites of lower lift-oﬀ mass of up to about 1400 Kg to the elliptical Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). The GSLV is designed mainly to deliver the communication-satellites to the highly elliptical (typically 250 x 36000 Km) Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). So, statement 1 is true. PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) is an indigenously-developed expendable launch system of the ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization). It comes in the category of medium-lift launchers with a reach up to various orbits, including the Geo Synchronous Transfer Orbit, Lower Earth Orbit, and Polar Sun Synchronous Orbit. So, the second statement that satellites launched by PSLV appear to be fixed (geostationary satellite) is not true. GSLV Mk III is a three-stage heavy lift launch vehicle developed by ISRO. The vehicle has two solid strap-ons, a core liquid booster and a cryogenic upper stage.