With reference to India’s satellite launch vehicles, consider the following statements:
- PSLVs launch the satellites useful for Earth resources monitoring whereas GSLVs are designed mainly to launch communication satellites.
- Satellites launched by PSLV appear to remain permanently fixed in the same position in the sky, as viewed from a particular location on Earth.
- 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?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2018 Prelims]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 2
(d) 3 only
Answer: (a)
Explanation:
Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)
- It is India’s third-generation launch vehicle, often referred to as the “Workhorse of ISRO” because of its ability to consistently deliver various satellites to Low Earth Orbits.
- This four-stage launch vehicle employs liquid rocket engines for its second and fourth stages and solid rocket motors for its first and third stages.
- Its primary objective is to launch earth-observation or remote-sensing satellites weighing up to 1750 Kg to Sun-Synchronous circular polar orbits with altitudes ranging from 600-900 Km.
Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV)
- GSLV is developed and operated by ISRO primarily for deploying communication satellites.
- The GSLV Mk 3 is a heavy-duty launch vehicle with three stages, including a liquid booster and a cryogenic upper stage, capable of carrying up to 4 tons of satellites into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) or up to 10 tons to Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
- As these satellites are in geo-synchronous orbits, they appear to stay in a fixed position in the sky when viewed from a specific location on Earth.
