RAS question
India's Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) can place satellites of what mass into Low Earth Orbit?
Correct answer: (D) Up to 500 kg.
India's Small Satellite Launch Vehicle can place a single satellite of up to 500 kg into a 500 km Low Earth Orbit.
Explanation
ISRO lists the SSLV's payload capability as a single satellite of up to 500 kg in a 500 km planar orbit, placing it in the Low Earth Orbit range. SSLV can also place 300 kg into Sun Synchronous Orbit. For Low Earth Orbit, SSLV's relevant payload figure is 500 kg, not a general payload figure for every orbit. ISRO also gives the vehicle configuration: SSLV uses three solid propulsion stages and a liquid module as the terminal stage, known as the Velocity Trimming Module.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Up to 100 kg is too low because ISRO specifies SSLV can carry a single satellite up to 500 kg in a 500 km orbit.
- (B) Up to 2000 kg is outside the SSLV capability and belongs to a heavier-launcher range, not the small-satellite vehicle.
- (C) Up to 1000 kg exceeds SSLV's Low Earth Orbit capability, which is capped at 500 kg for a single satellite.
Concept
The relevant RAS Science and Technology area covers India's launch-vehicle capabilities and orbit-specific payload limits. RAS repeats such facts because ISRO missions and indigenous launch systems are standard current-affairs-linked science topics.