UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — What do two PSLV mission failures in a row mean for ISRO?
Q1. Which one of the following is described in official ISRO communications as the 'workhorse' launch vehicle of the Indian space programme, whose two consecutive missions failed in May 2025 and January 2026?
- A. GSLV Mk II
- B. LVM3 (GSLV Mk III)
- C. Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)
- D. Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV)
Q2. In the context of the PSLV-C61 and PSLV-C62 failures, the term 'PS3' refers to which one of the following?
- A. The liquid-propellant second stage powered by the Vikas engine
- B. The solid-propellant third stage of the PSLV
- C. The cryogenic upper stage used for geostationary missions
- D. One of the six strap-on solid boosters of the PSLV-XL configuration
Q3. Who was the Chairman of ISRO under whose tenure both the PSLV-C61 (2025) and PSLV-C62 (2026) mission failures occurred?
- A. K. Sivan
- B. S. Somanath
- C. V. Narayanan
- D. A.S. Kiran Kumar
Q4. With reference to the PSLV-C61 (2025) and PSLV-C62 (2026) missions, consider the following statements:
1. Both missions experienced anomalies in the third stage (PS3) of the PSLV.
2. PSLV-C61 carried the EOS-09 Earth Observation Satellite, whereas PSLV-C62 carried EOS-N1 along with co-passenger satellites.
3. PSLV-C61 was launched in May 2025 and PSLV-C62 was launched in January 2026.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Both missions experienced anomalies in the third stage (PS3) of the PSLV.
- PSLV-C61 carried the EOS-09 Earth Observation Satellite, whereas PSLV-C62 carried EOS-N1 along with co-passenger satellites.
- PSLV-C61 was launched in May 2025 and PSLV-C62 was launched in January 2026.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q5. The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), whose C61 and C62 missions recently failed, uses how many stages with solid and liquid propulsion systems used alternately?
- A. Two
- B. Three
- C. Four
- D. Five