With reference to India’s satellite launch vehicles, consider the following statements :
- 1.PSLVs launch the satellites 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 on 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 ?
Show answer
Answer: A. Statement 1 is correct: PSLV mainly launches Earth observation satellites into polar orbits, and GSLV mainly launches communication satellites. Statement 2 is wrong: satellites that look fixed in the sky are geostationary ones, launched by GSLV, not PSLV. Statement 3 is wrong: GSLV Mk III has three stages (solid strap-ons, a liquid core stage and a cryogenic upper stage). So only 1.
Watch for: PSLV has four stages, so students wrongly give GSLV Mk III four stages too.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Wrong because PSLV satellites in polar orbits do not stay fixed in the sky.
- C. Wrong because statement 2 describes geostationary satellites launched by GSLV.
- D. Wrong because GSLV Mk III has three stages, not four.
Source to check: ISRO official website (isro.gov.in), 'Launchers: PSLV' and 'GSLV Mk III'
Answer from the official UPSC key. Written and fact-checked by AI against the official key. Spotted a mistake? Report it.