Which one of the following is not a launch vehicle technology?
MSLV
Understanding Launch Vehicle Technology
A launch vehicle is essentially a rocket system designed to carry a payload, such as a satellite or spacecraft, into space. These vehicles are critical for space exploration, communication, navigation, and Earth observation missions. Various countries and space agencies have developed their own launch vehicle technologies.
Analyzing Indian Launch Vehicles
In India, the primary space agency is the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). ISRO has developed and utilized several types of launch vehicles over the years to achieve its space objectives. Let's look at the options provided in the context of ISRO's launch vehicle program:
- GSLV: Stands for Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle. GSLV is one of ISRO's operational launch vehicles, primarily used for launching satellites into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). It is known for its capability to carry heavier payloads compared to its predecessors like PSLV.
- ASLV: Stands for Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle. ASLV was an early launch vehicle developed by ISRO in the 1980s. It was designed to augment the payload capacity compared to the earlier SLV-3 vehicle. Although no longer operational, it was an important step in the evolution of India's launch vehicle technology.
- PSLV: Stands for Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle. PSLV is ISRO's workhorse launch vehicle. It is renowned for its reliability and versatility, primarily used for launching satellites into Polar orbits and Sun-Synchronous orbits. It has also been used for launching spacecraft to the Moon (Chandrayaan) and Mars (Mars Orbiter Mission).
- MSLV: This acronym, MSLV, does not correspond to any known operational or historical launch vehicle technology developed by ISRO or commonly recognized in the global space industry as a standard launch vehicle type.
Identifying the Non-Launch Vehicle Technology
Based on the analysis of the options, GSLV, ASLV, and PSLV are established launch vehicle technologies developed and used by ISRO. MSLV, however, is not a recognized type of launch vehicle.
Therefore, the one that is not a launch vehicle technology among the given options is MSLV.
Revision Table: ISRO Launch Vehicles
| Acronym | Full Form | Status | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSLV | Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle | Operational | Polar & Sun-Synchronous orbits, lower Earth orbits |
| GSLV | Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle | Operational | Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO), heavier payloads |
| ASLV | Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle | Historical | Low Earth orbits (experimental stage) |
| MSLV | Not Applicable (Not a recognised ISRO launch vehicle) | Not Applicable | Not Applicable |
Additional Information on Launch Vehicles
Launch vehicles are multi-stage rockets. Each stage contains its own engine and fuel supply. As the fuel in a stage is depleted, that stage is jettisoned, making the remaining rocket lighter and allowing it to accelerate faster. This staging is crucial for reaching the high speeds and altitudes required to place a payload into orbit or send it on an interplanetary trajectory.
Types of orbits targeted by launch vehicles include:
- Low Earth Orbit (LEO): Used for satellites like the International Space Station, Earth observation satellites.
- Polar Orbit: Orbits passing over or near the poles, useful for scanning the entire Earth surface.
- Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO): A specific type of polar orbit where the satellite passes over any given point of the Earth at the same local solar time.
- Geosynchronous Orbit (GEO): An orbit at an altitude of approximately 35,786 km where a satellite's orbital period matches Earth's rotation period.
- Geostationary Orbit (GSO): A circular geosynchronous orbit directly above Earth's equator, making the satellite appear stationary from the ground.
- Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO): An elliptical orbit used to transfer a satellite from a lower orbit to a geosynchronous or geostationary orbit.
The choice of launch vehicle depends on the mass of the payload and the target orbit.
Important Questions from Science and Technology
Which of the following is India's first privately developed rocket launched by ISRO recently?
As of January 2020, which of the following countries had NOT independently launched a human into space?
In April 2019, scientists in ________ produced the world’s first 3D printed heart using human tissue.
In January 2020, China tested the world’s first high-speed driverless bullet train between Beijing and ________.
ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) successfully launched a remote sensing satellite of which country on 28th February 2021?
