UPSC CSE Prelims
Question 53
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 ?
View correct answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Correct Option: A
Explanation: PSLV is widely used for Earth-observation satellites in polar/sun-synchronous orbits; GSLV family vehicles lift heavier communications satellites toward geostationary transfer orbits. Neither orbit nor stage claims 2–3 are accurate.
Statement/Pair-wise Analysis:
Statement/Item 1: Correct - PSLV commonly launches Earth-observation satellites; GSLV vehicles are designed for heavier geosynchronous communications payloads.
Statement/Item 2: Incorrect - Most relevant PSLV payloads are in polar/sun-synchronous orbits; appearing fixed in the sky describes geostationary orbit, not typical PSLV use.
Statement/Item 3: Incorrect - GSLV Mk III/LVM3 is a three-stage configuration (solid boosters, liquid core and cryogenic upper stage), not the stated four-stage rocket.
Option-wise Analysis:
A: Correct - includes all and only the true statements/items.
B: Incorrect - includes incorrect statement/items 2, 3; omits correct statement/item 1.
C: Incorrect - includes incorrect statement/item 2.
D: Incorrect - includes incorrect statement/item 3; omits correct statement/item 1.