UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Following the failure of the PSLV-C62 mission, here’s a quiz remembering the storied history of ISRO’s PSLV rocket

Q1. In February 2017, ISRO's PSLV-C37 mission set a then-world record by placing how many satellites into orbit in a single flight?

  • A. 88
  • B. 104
  • C. 143
  • D. 37

Q2. Which one of the following is the most powerful and most frequently flown operational variant of the PSLV, distinguished by the use of six extended (PSOM-XL) strap-on solid boosters around its first stage?

  • A. PSLV-CA (Core Alone)
  • B. PSLV-DL
  • C. PSLV-QL
  • D. PSLV-XL

Q3. In the context of ISRO's PSLV programme, the term 'POEM' refers to:

  • A. A ground-based propellant testing facility for the PSLV's solid first stage at Sriharikota.
  • B. The spent fourth stage (PS4) of the PSLV repurposed as a stabilised orbital platform to host scientific and commercial payloads.
  • C. An optical earth-observation imaging payload flown as a co-passenger on PSLV missions.
  • D. A polar tracking station network used to monitor PSLV launches from Sriharikota.