UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — How reusability can lead to sustainable, cost-effective access to space

Q1. Which one of the following ISRO centres serves as the lead centre for the development of the Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) programme, including the Pushpak technology demonstrator?

  • A. Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), Valiamala
  • B. Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram
  • C. U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), Bengaluru
  • D. Space Applications Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad

Q2. With reference to the Reusable Launch Vehicle Landing Experiment (RLV-LEX) series carried out by ISRO with external partners, consider the following organisations: 1. Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), DRDO 2. Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC) 3. Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad 4. Indian Air Force (IAF) Which of the above is/are correctly identified as collaborating partners in the RLV-LEX missions?

  1. Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), DRDO
  2. Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC)
  3. Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad
  4. Indian Air Force (IAF)
  • A. 1 and 4 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q3. As recognised in the Department of Space Year End Review 2025, how many autonomous Reusable Launch Vehicle Landing Experiments (RLV-LEX) using the winged 'Pushpak' vehicle has ISRO successfully completed in the LEX series?

  • A. Two
  • B. Three
  • C. Four
  • D. Five

Q4. In the context of ISRO's reusable launch vehicle roadmap, the term 'Orbital Re-entry Vehicle (ORV)' refers to which one of the following?

  • A. A capsule-shaped crew module that splashes down in the sea after re-entry, similar to the Gaganyaan crew module
  • B. A winged body that will be launched to orbit by an ascent vehicle and will subsequently re-enter the atmosphere for an autonomous approach and horizontal landing on a runway
  • C. An expendable upper stage that is recovered from low Earth orbit using a deployable parachute
  • D. A semi-cryogenic booster recovered after a vertical propulsive landing on a drone ship

Q5. With reference to the design and configuration of ISRO's Pushpak Reusable Launch Vehicle Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD), consider the following features: 1. A lift-off mass of about 1.75 tonnes 2. A wingspan of about 3.6 metres 3. Around 600 heat-resistant tiles on its underside for thermal protection 4. A cryogenic upper-stage engine integrated within the winged body for orbital insertion Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. A lift-off mass of about 1.75 tonnes
  2. A wingspan of about 3.6 metres
  3. Around 600 heat-resistant tiles on its underside for thermal protection
  4. A cryogenic upper-stage engine integrated within the winged body for orbital insertion
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 2 and 4 only