The Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) developed by ISRO is designed to:

Explanation

SSLV is meant for the small-satellite segment, not for replacing India's larger launch vehicles. The ISRO mission page describes it as a new small satellite launch vehicle developed to serve satellites up to 500 kg to Low Earth Orbit on a launch-on-demand basis. SSLV offers low-cost, on-demand launches for small satellites, with capability up to 500 kg to LEO and 300 kg to SSO. ISRO also notes that SSLV can launch mini, micro, or nanosatellites in the 10 to 500 kg class and offers low turn-around time, flexibility for multiple satellites, and minimal launch infrastructure. Option A captures its purpose precisely.

Why the other options are wrong

• (B) SSLV complements India's launch-vehicle range for small, on-demand payloads; it is not meant to replace PSLV completely.
• (C) A payload of over 5 tonnes is outside SSLV's small-satellite role, which is capped at 500 kg to LEO by ISRO.
• (D) SSLV is designed for Low Earth Orbit and small-satellite launches, not for interplanetary probe missions.

Concept

This tests the Science and Technology syllabus area on Indian space launch vehicles and their payload-orbit roles. RAS repeats such questions because ISRO missions are current-affairs-linked but require clear factual distinctions between launch vehicles.

Source

• Indian Space Research Organisation

Related questions

• 3D printing technology is also known as:
• A Geiger-Müller counter is used to detect:
• A scramjet engine differs from a ramjet in that it:
• A seismograph is used to:
• A VPN (Virtual Private Network) primarily provides:
• According to the 26 April 2026 Department of Space release, what was the approximate number of Indian space startups by early 2026?