ISRO Missions — Set 3

Correct Answer: D. Pragyan

• **Pragyan** = Pragyan was the name of the rover in the Chandrayaan-2 mission, designed to conduct chemical analysis of the lunar surface. • **'Wisdom'** — The name Pragyan means 'wisdom' in Sanskrit, reflecting its scientific exploration purpose. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Vikram: This was the name of the lander in the Chandrayaan-2 mission; Sagar: Not a component of Chandrayaan-2; Aakash: Not a component of Chandrayaan-2.

Correct Answer: C. 1969

• **1969** = The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was officially formed on August 15, 1969, succeeding the INCOSPAR committee. • **August 15** — ISRO's formation date, a significant milestone in India's space program. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: 1962: Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) was formed in this year, a precursor to ISRO; 1972: Department of Space and Space Commission were established; 1975: India launched its first satellite, Aryabhata.

Correct Answer: D. UDMH and N2O4

• **UDMH and N2O4** = Unsymmetrical Dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) and Nitrogen Tetroxide (N2O4) are the hypergolic propellants used in the liquid stages of the PSLV rocket. • **Vikas engine** — The PSLV's liquid stages employ the Vikas engine, known for its reliability and derived from French technology. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Cryogenic: Used in the upper stages of GSLV/LVM3, uses liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen; Kerosene: Used in some modern rocket engines (e.g., Falcon 9), but not PSLV's liquid stages; Solid fuel: Used in the first and third stages of PSLV.

Correct Answer: C. Satellite imagery and mapping

• **Bhuvan** = Bhuvan is a geospatial platform developed by ISRO that provides 2D and 3D satellite imagery and mapping services of the Indian subcontinent. • **High-resolution data** — The portal utilizes high-resolution data from Indian remote sensing satellites for various applications. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Weather news: Primarily provided by meteorological departments, though satellite data is used; Space debris tracking: Managed by systems like ISRO's Project NETRA; Astronaut training: Conducted at specific facilities, not a public portal service.

Correct Answer: A. 6 months

• **6 months** = The Mangalyaan (Mars Orbiter Mission) was initially intended for a mission life of only six months in Martian orbit. • **Eight years** — Despite its initial design, Mangalyaan far exceeded expectations, continuing to operate for nearly eight years. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: 1 year: While it operated much longer, this was not the intended mission life; 5 years: Far longer than the initial design life; 10 years: Significantly beyond the intended operational period.

Correct Answer: A. IRS-P6

• **EDUSAT** = EDUSAT, officially known as GSAT-3, was India's first dedicated satellite launched in **2004** exclusively for the education sector. • **Interactive distance education** — This satellite provided high-quality educational content for interactive distance classroom education to remote areas. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: IRS-P6: Also known as Resourcesat-1, it was an Earth observation satellite launched in 2003, not for education; GSAT-3: This is the official name for EDUSAT, technically correct but EDUSAT is the more popular name in this context; Not specified: Incorrect, as EDUSAT was specifically designed and launched for education.

Correct Answer: D. Soviet Union

• **Soviet Union** = The Soviet Union provided the launch vehicles for India's first two satellites, Aryabhata and Bhaskara-I, marking a crucial collaboration. • **Cosmos-3M** — The Soviet Union utilized their Cosmos-3M launch vehicles for these early Indian space missions. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: USA: India later collaborated with the USA but not for these first two satellite launches; Germany: Not directly involved in launching India's first two satellites; France: Provided technology for the Vikas engine, but not launch vehicles for Aryabhata and Bhaskara-I.

Correct Answer: C. Airports Authority of India

• **Airports Authority of India** = The 'GAGAN' system is a joint initiative between ISRO and the Airports Authority of India, providing satellite-based navigation for civil aviation. • **GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation** — GAGAN stands for GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation, designed to enhance GPS signal accuracy. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: BSNL: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, a telecom service provider; Indian Railways: National railway network operator; Indian Navy: Responsible for maritime defence, not civil aviation navigation.

Correct Answer: D. CE-20

• **CE-20** = The CE-20 is a powerful indigenous cryogenic engine used in the upper stage of the LVM3 (Launch Vehicle Mark-3) heavy-lift rocket. • **Liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen** — This engine uses liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen as propellants, crucial for carrying large payloads. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Vikas: A liquid engine used in PSLV and lower stages of GSLV/LVM3; S200: A solid rocket booster used in the first stage of LVM3; CE-7.5: India's first operational cryogenic engine, used in earlier GSLV versions.

Correct Answer: C. GSAT-1

• **GSAT-1** = GSAT-1 was the first Indian communication satellite successfully launched from an Indian vehicle, specifically the GSLV-D1. • **2001** — GSAT-1 was launched in 2001, marking a significant step towards self-reliance in communication satellite technology. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Apple: India's first experimental communication satellite, but launched by a European Ariane rocket; INSAT-1A: A multipurpose satellite launched by a US Delta rocket, not an Indian vehicle; Rohini: A series of experimental satellites, primarily for Earth observation and launched by SLV-3, not primarily communication.