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RAS question

GSLV Mk II uses which cryogenic engine?

Correct answer: (A) CE-7.5.

GSLV Mk II uses the indigenously developed CE-7.5 cryogenic engine in its Cryogenic Upper Stage.

  1. (A)

    CE-7.5

  2. (B)

    RD-56

  3. (C)

    CE-20

  4. (D)

    Vikas

Explanation

GSLV Mk II is a three-stage launch vehicle whose third stage is the Cryogenic Upper Stage, or CUS. ISRO identifies CE-7.5 as India's first cryogenic engine, developed by the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre for this stage, with a maximum nominal thrust of 75 kN. This matches the exam explanation that GSLV Mk II uses the indigenous CE-7.5 engine in the CUS-12 upper stage. Earlier GSLV flights used Russian cryogenic stages, but ISRO records that the indigenous cryogenic stage was inducted from GSLV-D5 onwards in January 2014; the question therefore tests the present Mk II configuration, not the initial imported-stage phase.

Why the other options are wrong

  • (B) RD-56 refers to the Russian cryogenic engine associated with early GSLV flights, whereas GSLV Mk II's indigenous Cryogenic Upper Stage uses CE-7.5.
  • (C) CE-20 belongs to the GSLV Mk III/LVM3 context, while ISRO's GSLV Mk II page identifies CE-7.5 for the Mk II Cryogenic Upper Stage.
  • (D) Vikas is used in the second stage of GSLV and its liquid strap-ons, not as the cryogenic engine of the third stage.

Concept

This tests Indian launch-vehicle propulsion, especially the distinction between stages and engines in ISRO rockets. RAS repeatedly asks such facts because space technology links current affairs with core science-and-technology fundamentals.

Source

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