RAS question
Aryabhata, India's first satellite, was launched in which year?
Correct answer: (D) 1975.
Aryabhata, India’s first satellite, was launched on April 19, 1975.
Explanation
Aryabhata is the milestone to remember because ISRO identifies it as India’s first satellite and records its launch date as April 19, 1975. The spacecraft was named after the famous Indian astronomer and, according to ISRO, was completely designed and fabricated in India before being launched by a Soviet Kosmos-3M rocket from Kapustin Yar. Its basic mission profile also explains why it matters in the Science and Technology timeline: it was a 360 kg scientific and experimental satellite carrying payloads for X-ray astronomy, aeronomy and solar physics. ISRO lists its nominal mission life as six months, while the spacecraft mainframe remained active until March 1981.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) 1969 refers to the formation of ISRO, not the launch year of Aryabhata.
- (B) 1980 is associated with the SLV-3 launch, whereas Aryabhata had already been launched in 1975.
- (C) 1983 relates to the launch of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme, not to India’s first satellite.
Concept
This tests the chronology of India’s space programme under Science and Technology. RAS often asks such landmark dates because they anchor larger themes such as ISRO’s institutional growth, indigenous satellite capability and launch-vehicle development.