Previous Year Question
With reference to ‘Astrosat’, the astronomical observatory launched by India, which of the following statements is/are correct?
Other than USA and Russia, India is the only country to have launched a similar observatory into space.
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 codes given below.
Only 1
Only 2
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
Correct Answer: D
Detailed Solution
Statement 1 is not correct.
AstroSat is India’s first dedicated multi-wavelength space observatory.
However, India was not the only country other than the USA and Russia to have launched such a space observatory.
Japan and European countries/the European Space Agency had also launched space-based astronomical observatories.
Statement 2 is not correct.
AstroSat had a lift-off mass of approximately 1,515 kg, not 2,000 kg.
It was placed in a near-equatorial orbit approximately 650 km above the Earth with an inclination of about 6 degrees, not in an orbit at an altitude of 1,650 km.
It was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre aboard PSLV-C30 on 28 September 2015.
Its scientific instruments can simultaneously study astronomical objects in visible, ultraviolet and X-ray wavelength regions.