UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — What is India’s first orbital data centre satellite?
Q1. With reference to the 'Pathfinder' orbital data centre satellite project, consider the following statements:
1. Pixxel is the partner responsible for designing, building, launching and operating the satellite.
2. Sarvam is the partner providing the on-board AI models for training and inference in orbit.
3. The satellite is being developed under the direct operational ownership of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
4. The satellite integrates a hyperspectral imaging payload along with its compute payload.
Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?
- Pixxel is the partner responsible for designing, building, launching and operating the satellite.
- Sarvam is the partner providing the on-board AI models for training and inference in orbit.
- The satellite is being developed under the direct operational ownership of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
- The satellite integrates a hyperspectral imaging payload along with its compute payload.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 1, 2 and 4
- C. 2, 3 and 4
- D. 1, 3 and 4
Q2. Which one of the following companies is the lead satellite developer and operator of 'Pathfinder', described as India's first orbital data centre satellite?
- A. Sarvam
- B. Digantara
- C. Pixxel
- D. GalaxEye
Q3. With reference to the 'Pathfinder' satellite, consider the following features:
1. It is planned as a 200 kg-class satellite intended for a Low Earth Orbit.
2. It is scheduled to reach orbit as early as the fourth quarter of 2026.
3. It will carry datacentre-class GPUs for on-board AI training and inference.
4. It is conceived as a constellation of three satellites jointly operated by ISRO and DRDO.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- It is planned as a 200 kg-class satellite intended for a Low Earth Orbit.
- It is scheduled to reach orbit as early as the fourth quarter of 2026.
- It will carry datacentre-class GPUs for on-board AI training and inference.
- It is conceived as a constellation of three satellites jointly operated by ISRO and DRDO.
- A. 1 only
- B. 3 and 4
- C. 4 only
- D. 2 and 4
Q4. What is the approximate mass class of the 'Pathfinder' orbital data centre satellite being built by Pixxel and Sarvam?
- A. 50 kg
- B. 200 kg
- C. 500 kg
- D. 1000 kg
Q5. With reference to how 'Pathfinder' differs from conventional remote-sensing satellites, consider the following statements:
1. Unlike conventional satellites that typically rely on radiation-hardened low-power processors, Pathfinder will carry datacentre-class GPUs of the kind used in terrestrial AI workloads.
2. Unlike conventional satellites that primarily relay raw data to ground stations for processing, Pathfinder is designed to perform AI training and inference directly in orbit.
3. Unlike conventional remote-sensing missions, Pathfinder will fly without any imaging payload and is dedicated solely to on-board compute.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Unlike conventional satellites that typically rely on radiation-hardened low-power processors, Pathfinder will carry datacentre-class GPUs of the kind used in terrestrial AI workloads.
- Unlike conventional satellites that primarily relay raw data to ground stations for processing, Pathfinder is designed to perform AI training and inference directly in orbit.
- Unlike conventional remote-sensing missions, Pathfinder will fly without any imaging payload and is dedicated solely to on-board compute.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3