Context:
Prime Minister inaugurates three Space Infrastructure Projects in Kerala worth around Rs 1800 crore
3 Space Infrastructure Projects:
- PSLV Integration Facility (PIF) –
- Location – Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota
- Aim – To boost frequency of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)launches from 6 to 15 per year.
- Semi-cryogenics Integrated Engine and Stage Test facility –
- Location – ISRO Propulsion Complex at Mahendragiri
- Aim – To enable development of semi-cryogenic engines and stages, which will increase payload capability of present launch vehicles.
- Equipped with – Liquid Oxygen and kerosene supply systems to test engines up to 200 tons of thrust.
- Trisonic Wind Tunnel –
- Location – Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram
- Objective – For aerodynamic testing for characterisation of rockets and aircraft during flight in atmospheric regime.
Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre:
- Location – Trivandrum, Kerala
- VSSC – It is the lead Centre of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) under Department of Space.
- Named in memory of – Dr Vikram A Sarabhai (father of Indian Space Programme)
- Major programmes – Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) and Rohini Sounding Rockets and the development of Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mk Ill, Reusable Launch Vehicles
- Significance – Virtual Launch Control Centre (VLCC) at VSSC played an important role in launch of LVM3 vehicle carrying Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft.
Gaganyaan Mission:
- PM also reviewed Gaganyaan Mission progress
- Bestowed ‘astronaut wings’ to 4 astronaut-designates – Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair, Angad Prathap, Ajit Krishnan, and Shubhanshu Shukla.
Source: PIB
Previous Year Question
With reference to ‘AstroSat’, the astronomical observatory launched by India, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. Other than the USA and Russia, India is the only country to have launched a similar observatory into space.
2. AstroSat is a 2000 kg satellite placed in an orbit at 1650 km above the surface of the Earth.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2016 Prelims]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (d)
Explanation:
Statement 1 is not correct: Other than the USA and Russia, India is not the only country to have launched such an observatory. The European Space Agency and Japan have also launched such observatories in space besides India.
Statement 2 is not correct: ASTROSAT had a lift-off mass of about 1513 kg (not 2000 kg) and it was launched into a 650 km orbit inclined at an angle of 6 degree to the equator by PSLV-C30.
