The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), established on August 15, 1969 under the vision of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, serves as India’s primary national space agency. Operating under the Department of Space, ISRO has established a global reputation for cost-effective engineering and scientific precision. Milestone achievements include the indigenously developed Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV/LVM3), the Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan-1), the historic Chandrayaan-3 landing near the lunar south polar region in 2023, and the Aditya-L1 solar observatory situated at the Sun-Earth Lagrangian point L1.
High-yield conceptual summaries for competitive exams and rapid revision.
ISRO was founded on August 15, 1969, succeeding INCOSPAR established in 1962.
Chandrayaan-3 achieved a historic soft landing near the lunar south pole on August 23, 2023 (celebrated as National Space Day).
PSLV is known as the workhorse launch vehicle of ISRO with over 50 successful satellite deployments.
Aditya-L1 was launched in September 2023 to study the solar corona, photosphere, and solar wind dynamics from the L1 halo orbit.
Showing 25 Curated Questions333 Total in Bank
1ID: GK-SPCE-00108
mediumIsro Missions
ISRO set a world record on 15 February 2017 aboard PSLV-C37 by launching how many satellites into orbit in a single mission?
Verified Explanation
PSLV-C37 successfully deployed 104 satellites into a sun-synchronous orbit, demonstrating ISRO's high-precision multi-payload orbital injection capabilities.
2ID: GK-SPCE-00120
mediumIsro Missions
The "RLV-TD" (Reusable Launch Vehicle - Technology Demonstrator) program of ISRO is developing technology for what spaceflight capability?
Verified Explanation
ISRO conducted autonomous landing missions (LEX-01, LEX-02, LEX-03) at Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) Chitradurga, verifying autonomous runway landing algorithms.
3ID: GK-SPCE-00135
hardIsro Missions
The "XPoSat" (X-ray Polarimeter Satellite), launched by ISRO on 1 January 2024 aboard PSLV-C58, made India only the second nation in the world (after NASA's IXPE) to operate what?
Verified Explanation
XPoSat carries two scientific payloads developed by Raman Research Institute and ISRO: POLIX (Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays) and XSPECT (X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing).
4ID: GK-SPCE-00147
hardIsro Missions
The "SCRAMJET" (Supersonic Combustion Ramjet) technology flight-tested by ISRO in August 2016 from Sriharikota uses which fuel-oxidizer combination during hypersonic atmospheric flight?
Verified Explanation
ISRO's scramjet test demonstrated supersonic combustion in an atmospheric air-breathing engine at Mach 6 for 5 seconds, laying groundwork for reusable hypersonic spaceplanes.
5ID: GK-SPCE-00164
easyISRO Missions & Launch Vehicles
What was the popular name of ISRO's Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), successfully inserted into Martian orbit on its maiden attempt in September 2014?
Verified Explanation
Mangalyaan (Mars Orbiter Mission) was launched on November 5, 2013, making ISRO the fourth space agency and the first Asian nation to reach Martian orbit, and the first in the world to do so on its first attempt.
6ID: GK-SPCE-00226
mediumISRO Missions & Launch Vehicles
ISRO's planned planetary orbiter mission 'Shukrayaan-1' is designed to study the surface geology and atmosphere of which planetary neighbor?
Verified Explanation
Shukrayaan-1 (Venus Orbiter Mission) is ISRO's planned scientific mission to study the atmospheric chemistry, cloud dynamics, and surface radar volcanism of Venus.
7ID: GK-SPCE-00238
mediumISRO Missions & Launch Vehicles
The NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) joint Earth observation satellite utilizes which dual-frequency radar configuration?
Verified Explanation
NISAR is the first satellite to carry dual-frequency radar: NASA's L-band (24 cm wavelength) and ISRO's S-band (9 cm wavelength) SAR to measure global surface changes with millimetre precision.
8ID: GK-SPCE-00270
easyISRO Missions & Launch Vehicles
Which launch vehicle of ISRO is famously nicknamed the "Workhorse of ISRO" due to its consistently high success record?
Verified Explanation
The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) is known as the workhorse of ISRO, having launched prestigious missions including Chandrayaan-1, Mangalyaan, and Aditya-L1.
9ID: GK-SPCE-00284
mediumISRO Missions & Launch Vehicles
Which heavy-lift launch vehicle of ISRO, formerly known as GSLV Mk III, injected Chandrayaan-3 and OneWeb satellite constellations into precise orbits?
Verified Explanation
LVM3 (formerly GSLV Mk III) is ISRO's heavy-lift rocket capable of placing 4,000 kg satellites into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) and 8,000 kg into LEO.
10ID: GK-SPCE-00290
mediumISRO Missions & Launch Vehicles
Which small-satellite rocket was developed by ISRO specifically to cater to the low-cost, on-demand launch of up to 500 kg payloads to Low Earth Orbit?
Verified Explanation
SSLV (Small Satellite Launch Vehicle) is ISRO's three-stage all-solid rocket designed for quick turn-around and low-cost launches of mini, micro, and nano satellites.
11ID: GK-SPCE-00302
easyISRO Missions & Launch Vehicles
What is the name of India's first dedicated space observatory mission launched by ISRO in September 2023 to study the Sun from the Sun-Earth L1 point?
Verified Explanation
Aditya-L1 was launched by ISRO aboard PSLV-C57 on 2 September 2023 to monitor solar coronal heating, solar flares, and space weather from a halo orbit around Lagrangian point L1.
12ID: GK-SPCE-00314
easyISRO Missions & Launch Vehicles
Which heavy-lift launch vehicle of ISRO, capable of launching 4,000 kg satellites into GTO, launched Chandrayaan-3 and is designated for the Gaganyaan mission?
Verified Explanation
LVM3 is ISRO's three-stage heavy-lift rocket, featuring two solid strap-on motors (S200), a liquid core stage (L110), and the indigenously developed cryogenic upper stage (C25/CE-20).
13ID: GK-SPCE-00340
mediumISRO Missions & Launch Vehicles
What is the name of the female-looking humanoid robot developed by ISRO to simulate human vital functions during uncrewed orbital test flights of the Gaganyaan mission?
Verified Explanation
Vyommitra ('space friend') is an AI-enabled half-humanoid robot designed by ISRO's Inertial Systems Unit (IISU) to monitor capsule environmental life support systems and switch controls during uncrewed Gaganyaan flights.
14ID: GK-SPCE-00342
hardISRO Missions & Launch Vehicles
Which collaborative Earth observation satellite developed jointly by NASA and ISRO features dual-frequency (L-band and S-band) polarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radar?
Verified Explanation
NISAR utilizes a 12-meter deployable mesh reflector antenna to combine NASA's L-band SAR and ISRO's S-band SAR, mapping global land and ice surface deformation at sub-centimeter precision every 12 days.
15ID: GK-SPCE-00364
easyISRO Missions & Launch Vehicles
What is the launch vehicle nicknamed the 'Workhorse of ISRO' that carried Chandrayaan-1 and the Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan)?
Verified Explanation
The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) has flown over 50 successful missions since its 1993 debut, earning the nickname 'Workhorse of ISRO' for launching Earth-observation and interplanetary probes.
16ID: GK-SPCE-00378
mediumISRO Missions & Launch Vehicles
What is the target destination and scientific objective of ISRO's Shukrayaan-1 mission?
Verified Explanation
Shukrayaan-1 is ISRO's planned orbiter to Venus equipped with synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and atmospheric spectrometers to investigate planetary surface processes, subsurface stratigraphy, and atmospheric chemistry.
17ID: GK-SPCE-00392
hardISRO Missions & Launch Vehicles
Which joint ISRO-NASA Earth-observing radar satellite mission utilizes dual-frequency L-band and S-band polarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) on a 12-meter deployable mesh reflector?
Verified Explanation
NISAR is a collaborative observatory using NASA's L-band (24 cm) and ISRO's S-band (9 cm) SweepSAR technology to map global land surface deformations, ice sheet dynamics, and ecosystem biomass changes every 12 days.
18ID: GK-SPCE-00490
easyISRO Missions & Launch Vehicles
On August 23, 2023, which ISRO mission made India the first nation to successfully achieve a soft landing near the lunar south pole?
Verified Explanation
ISRO's Chandrayaan-3 lander Vikram touched down successfully at Shiv Shakti Point near the Moon's south pole on August 23, 2023, making India the fourth nation to land on the Moon and the first near the south pole.
19ID: GK-SPCE-00502
mediumISRO Missions & Launch Vehicles
Which ISRO solar observatory spacecraft was launched in September 2023 and positioned around the Sun-Earth L1 Lagrange point?
Verified Explanation
Aditya-L1 was launched by ISRO aboard PSLV-C57 on September 2, 2023, and inserted into a halo orbit around Sun-Earth L1 point (1.5 million km from Earth) to observe the solar corona, chromosphere, and solar wind uninterrupted.
20ID: GK-SPCE-00514
hardISRO Missions & Launch Vehicles
Which indigenous cryogenic upper stage engine, developed by ISRO's Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), powers the third stage of the LVM3 rocket?
Verified Explanation
The CE-20 is ISRO's indigenous gas-generator cycle cryogenic engine operating on liquid oxygen (LOX) and liquid hydrogen (LH2), producing ~200 kN thrust in vacuum for the LVM3 cryogenic upper stage (C25).
21ID: GK-SPCE-00520
hardISRO Missions & Launch Vehicles
Which dedicated X-ray polarimetry satellite was launched by ISRO on January 1, 2024, to study celestial polarized X-ray emissions from pulsars and black hole binaries?
Verified Explanation
ISRO launched XPoSat aboard PSLV-C58 on January 1, 2024, carrying POLIX (RRI) and XSPECT (URSC) payloads, making India only the second country after the US (NASA IXPE) to operate a dedicated space-based X-ray polarimeter.
22ID: GK-SPCE-00532
easyISRO Missions & Launch Vehicles
On August 23, 2023, which ISRO mission achieved a historic soft landing near the south pole of the Moon?
Verified Explanation
ISRO's Chandrayaan-3 mission successfully landed its Vikram lander and Pragyan rover near the lunar south polar region on August 23, 2023, making India the 4th country to soft-land on the Moon.
23ID: GK-SPCE-00550
easyISRO Missions & Launch Vehicles
Which heavy-lift launch vehicle of ISRO, nicknamed 'Fat Boy' (Bahubali), launched Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3, and OneWeb satellites?
Verified Explanation
LVM3 (Launch Vehicle Mark-3, formerly GSLV Mk-III) is ISRO's most powerful three-stage rocket, capable of launching 4-tonne class satellites to GTO and 8 tonnes to LEO.
24ID: GK-SPCE-00552
mediumISRO Missions & Launch Vehicles
On which mission did ISRO become the first space agency in the world to reach Mars orbit on its maiden attempt?
Verified Explanation
ISRO's Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM / Mangalyaan), launched via PSLV-C25 in November 2013, successfully entered Martian orbit on September 24, 2014, on its very first attempt.
25ID: GK-SPCE-00570
mediumISRO Missions & Launch Vehicles
What is the name of the dual-frequency Synthetic Aperture Radar (L-band and S-band) joint Earth-observing satellite developed by NASA and ISRO?
Verified Explanation
NISAR is a joint collaboration between NASA and ISRO utilizing L-band (NASA) and S-band (ISRO) polarimetric radar to track global environmental and tectonic changes.