UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — PSLV-C62 strays from flight path, fails to launch satellite

Q1. How many satellites in total (including the primary payload and all co-passengers) were lost when the PSLV-C62 mission failed in January 2026?

  • A. 10
  • B. 14
  • C. 16
  • D. 20

Q2. With reference to the PSLV-C61 (May 2025) and PSLV-C62 (January 2026) missions, consider the following statements: 1. Both missions failed due to anomalies that originated in the third stage (PS3) of the launch vehicle. 2. PSLV-C62 was undertaken as the return-to-flight mission after the failure of PSLV-C61. 3. PSLV-C61 was the 64th flight of the PSLV, while PSLV-C62 was the 65th. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Both missions failed due to anomalies that originated in the third stage (PS3) of the launch vehicle.
  2. PSLV-C62 was undertaken as the return-to-flight mission after the failure of PSLV-C61.
  3. PSLV-C61 was the 64th flight of the PSLV, while PSLV-C62 was the 65th.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. The intended orbit for the EOS-N1 satellite onboard PSLV-C62 was a 'Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO)'. Which one of the following best defines a Sun Synchronous Orbit?

  • A. A near-polar, low Earth orbit in which the satellite passes over any given point of the Earth's surface at the same local solar (mean) time
  • B. An equatorial orbit at an altitude of about 36,000 km where the satellite always faces the Sun
  • C. A highly elliptical orbit in which the satellite's apogee is permanently aligned with the Sun-Earth line
  • D. A heliocentric orbit around the Sun synchronised with the Earth's orbital period

Q4. The PSLV-C62 mission, which failed in January 2026, was operated commercially under which one of the following entities?

  • A. NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), a Public Sector Enterprise under the Department of Space
  • B. Antrix Corporation Limited, under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry
  • C. Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe), under the Ministry of Science and Technology
  • D. Indian Space Association (ISpA), an industry body under the Ministry of Communications

Q5. With reference to the four stages of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) used in the PSLV-C62 mission, consider the following identifications: 1. First stage (PS1) — solid propulsion 2. Second stage (PS2) — solid propulsion 3. Third stage (PS3) — solid propulsion 4. Fourth stage (PS4) — liquid propulsion Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. First stage (PS1) — solid propulsion
  2. Second stage (PS2) — solid propulsion
  3. Third stage (PS3) — solid propulsion
  4. Fourth stage (PS4) — liquid propulsion
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3 only
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