ISRO Missions — Set 6

Correct Answer: B. Vikram Sarabhai

• **Vikram Sarabhai** = He was the visionary who convinced the Indian government of the importance of space research and initiated the space program. • **ISRO** — Dr. Sarabhai was instrumental in the establishment of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in **1969**, laying the foundation for India's space aspirations. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Homi Bhabha]: He is known as the father of India's nuclear program; [A.P.J. Abdul Kalam]: He was a prominent aerospace scientist and former President but not the 'father' of the space program; [Satish Dhawan]: He was a former chairman of ISRO who made significant contributions after Sarabhai.

Correct Answer: B. SLV-3

• **SLV-3** = This was India's first indigenous experimental rocket that successfully placed a satellite in orbit. • **1980** — The SLV-3 successfully launched the Rohini satellite in **1980**, making India the sixth nation to achieve orbital launch capability. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [ASLV]: The Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle was a successor to SLV-3 but was not the first; [PSLV]: The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle is a much more advanced and current workhorse, developed much later; [GSLV]: The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle is a heavy-lift launch vehicle, developed long after SLV-3.

Correct Answer: B. Bengaluru

• **Bengaluru** = The headquarters of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is located in Antariksh Bhavan, Bengaluru, Karnataka. • **Antariksh Bhavan** — This building serves as the central administrative hub for all Indian space activities, coordinating various research and development centers. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [New Delhi]: New Delhi is the capital but not ISRO's headquarters; [Thiruvananthapuram]: This city houses the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), a major ISRO center, but not the headquarters; [Mumbai]: Mumbai is a major financial hub but has no direct ISRO headquarters.

Correct Answer: A. PSLV

• **PSLV** = The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle is renowned as India's 'Workhorse' due to its reliability and versatility in launching numerous satellites. • **Chandrayaan-1 and Mangalyaan** — PSLV was successfully used for significant missions, including India's first lunar and Mars missions, demonstrating its diverse capabilities. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [GSLV]: The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle is for heavier satellites into GTO, not known as the 'workhorse' for all orbits; [LVM3]: LVM3 is a heavy-lift launcher, primarily for GTO and lunar missions, but not the primary 'workhorse'; [SSLV]: The Small Satellite Launch Vehicle is a new, emerging launcher for small satellites, not yet established as the primary 'workhorse'.

Correct Answer: A. Gaganyaan

• **Gaganyaan** = This is the name of India's ambitious first manned space mission planned by ISRO. • **Three-member crew** — The mission aims to send a three-member crew to a low Earth orbit for up to **seven days**, marking a major step in human space exploration by India. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Akashyaan]: This is not a known ISRO mission name; [Suryayaan]: This name would imply a mission to the Sun (like Aditya-L1), not a manned mission; [Vyumyaan]: This is not a known ISRO mission name.

Correct Answer: B. 2008

• **2008** = The Chandrayaan-1 mission, India's first lunar probe, was launched in **October 2008**. • **Water molecules** — A significant achievement of Chandrayaan-1 was the confirmation of the presence of water molecules on the lunar surface, a major scientific breakthrough. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [2005]: No major lunar mission was launched by ISRO in 2005; [2010]: No major lunar mission was launched by ISRO in 2010; [2012]: No major lunar mission was launched by ISRO in 2012.

Correct Answer: A. Mangalyaan

• **Mangalyaan** = This is the popular name for ISRO's Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), which successfully entered Mars' orbit. • **2013** — Launched in **2013** using a PSLV rocket, Mangalyaan made India the first country to reach Mars on its maiden attempt. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Mangal-Doot]: This is a fictional or descriptive term, not the official mission name; [Red Planet Mission]: This is a generic description, not the specific name; [Astro-Mars]: This is not a known ISRO mission name.

Correct Answer: B. APPLE

• **APPLE** = The Ariane Passenger Payload Experiment (APPLE) was India's first experimental communication satellite. • **1981** — Launched in **1981** by a European Ariane rocket, APPLE provided crucial experience in building three-axis stabilized communication satellites, paving the way for future INSAT series. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [INSAT-1A]: INSAT-1A was the first operational multi-purpose satellite, launched after APPLE; [GSAT-1]: GSAT-1 was an experimental geostationary satellite launched in 2001; [Rohini]: Rohini satellites were experimental earth observation satellites, not communication satellites.

Correct Answer: B. Sun

• **Sun** = The 'Aditya-L1' mission is India's first dedicated solar observatory, designed to study the Sun's atmosphere and space weather. • **L1 Lagrange point** — Aditya-L1 is strategically positioned at the L1 Lagrange point, providing a continuous, unobstructed view of the Sun's corona and solar emissions. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Moon]: Missions like Chandrayaan study the Moon; [Mars]: Missions like Mangalyaan study Mars; [Venus]: While ISRO has plans for a Venus mission (Shukrayaan), Aditya-L1 is specifically for the Sun.

Correct Answer: B. Pragyan

• **Pragyan** = This six-wheeled rover successfully explored the lunar surface near the South Pole during the Chandrayaan-3 mission. • **Vikram lander** — Pragyan was carried inside the Vikram lander, which made a soft landing on the lunar surface on **August 23, 2023**, with 'Pragyan' meaning wisdom in Sanskrit. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Vikram]: Vikram was the name of the lander, not the rover; [Aakash]: This is not a component of the Chandrayaan-3 mission; [Sagar]: This is not a component of the Chandrayaan-3 mission.