ISRO – Indian Space Research Organisation (GK Notes)
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is India’s national space agency responsible for space exploration, satellite development, and launch vehicle technology. It plays a key role in scientific research, communication, navigation, and space missions.
📌 Basic Information
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Form | Indian Space Research Organisation |
| Established | 15 August 1969 |
| Founder | Dr. Vikram Sarabhai |
| Headquarters | Bengaluru, Karnataka |
| Parent Department | Department of Space, Government of India |
🧠 Objectives of ISRO
- Development of space technology
- Launching satellites for communication and remote sensing
- Space exploration missions (Moon, Mars, etc.)
- Supporting national development through space applications
🚀 Major Launch Vehicles
| Rocket | Use |
|---|---|
| PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) | Earth observation satellites |
| GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) | Communication satellites |
| LVM3 (GSLV Mk III) | Heavy payload missions |
| SSLV (Small Satellite Launch Vehicle) | Small satellites |
🛰️ Major ISRO Missions
🌕 Chandrayaan Missions (Moon)
- Chandrayaan-1 (2008): First Indian lunar mission
- Chandrayaan-2 (2019): Orbiter + lander attempt
- Chandrayaan-3 (2023): Successful soft landing on Moon (South Pole region)
🔴 Mangalyaan (Mars Orbiter Mission)
- Launched: 2013
- India became first Asian country to reach Mars orbit
- First attempt success globally (low-cost mission)
🌍 Important Satellites
- INSAT – Communication & weather
- IRNSS / NavIC – Indian navigation system
- CARTOSAT – Earth observation
- GSAT series – Communication satellites
🌟 Achievements of ISRO
- One of the most cost-efficient space agencies in the world
- Successful Mars Orbiter Mission in first attempt
- Chandrayaan-3 successful lunar landing near South Pole
- Developed indigenous satellite launch capabilities
ISRO Missions – Complete Table
| Mission | Year | Type | Objective | Key Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aryabhata | 1975 | Satellite | India’s first satellite | Launched with Soviet help |
| Rohini RS-1 | 1980 | Satellite Launch | Indigenous satellite launch | First Indian satellite launched by SLV-3 |
| APPLE | 1981 | Communication | Experimental communication satellite | Geostationary tech demonstration |
| IRS-1A | 1988 | Remote Sensing | Earth observation | First operational remote sensing satellite |
| SROSS-1 | 1987 | Scientific | Space research | Studied gamma-ray bursts |
| PSLV-C1 | 1994 | Launch Vehicle | Operational PSLV mission | Reliable Earth observation launcher |
| INSAT-1B | 1983 | Communication | Telecom & weather | Improved broadcasting & meteorology |
| EDUSAT | 2004 | Education | Distance education | First satellite for education |
| Cartosat-1 | 2005 | Remote Sensing | High-resolution imaging | Cartographic mapping support |
| Chandrayaan-1 | 2008 | Lunar | Moon exploration | Discovered water molecules on Moon |
| RISAT-2 | 2009 | Radar Imaging | Earth surveillance | All-weather imaging capability |
| Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan) | 2013 | Interplanetary | Mars exploration | India became first Asian nation to reach Mars orbit |
| Astrosat | 2015 | Space Telescope | Astronomy research | India’s first space observatory |
| IRNSS (NavIC) | 2016 | Navigation | Indian GPS system | Regional navigation system |
| Chandrayaan-2 | 2019 | Lunar | Moon landing attempt | Orbiter successful, lander crash |
| EOS-01 | 2020 | Earth Observation | Agriculture & disaster management | High-resolution imaging |
| Chandrayaan-3 | 2023 | Lunar | Soft landing on Moon | Successful landing near lunar south pole |
| Aditya-L1 | 2023 | Solar | Study of Sun | Placed in halo orbit near L1 point |
High-Yield Exam Points
- 🚀 First satellite: Aryabhata (1975)
- 🚀 First launch vehicle success: SLV-3 (Rohini, 1980)
- 🌕 First Moon mission: Chandrayaan-1 (2008)
- 🔴 Mars mission: Mangalyaan (2013)
- 🌕 First successful soft landing: Chandrayaan-3 (2023)
- ☀️ Sun mission: Aditya-L1 (2023)
- 🛰️ Navigation system: NavIC (IRNSS)
ISRO MCQ Quiz (50 Questions – Advanced)
🛰️ BASIC ISRO GK
Q1. ISRO was established in which year?
(A) 1965 (B) 1969 (C) 1972 (D) 1975
✔ Ans: B
Q2. ISRO headquarters is located in:
(A) Delhi (B) Bengaluru (C) Hyderabad (D) Chennai
✔ Ans: B
Q3. Founder of Indian space program is:
(A) APJ Abdul Kalam (B) Vikram Sarabhai (C) Satish Dhawan (D) Homi Bhabha
✔ Ans: B
Q4. ISRO comes under which department?
(A) Ministry of Defence (B) Department of Space (C) DRDO (D) Ministry of Science
✔ Ans: B
Q5. First Indian satellite is:
(A) Rohini (B) Aryabhata (C) INSAT-1B (D) APPLE
✔ Ans: B
🚀 LAUNCH VEHICLES
Q6. PSLV stands for:
(A) Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle
(B) Public Satellite Launch Vehicle
(C) Primary Space Launch Vehicle
(D) Polar Space Landing Vehicle
✔ Ans: A
Q7. PSLV is mainly used for:
(A) Heavy payloads (B) Earth observation satellites (C) Military weapons (D) Human spaceflight
✔ Ans: B
Q8. GSLV is used for:
(A) Small satellites (B) Geostationary satellites (C) Ocean study (D) Weather balloons
✔ Ans: B
Q9. LVM3 is also known as:
(A) GSLV Mk III (B) PSLV XL (C) SSLV (D) SLV-1
✔ Ans: A
Q10. SSLV is designed for:
(A) Heavy satellites (B) Small satellites (C) Human missions (D) Moon missions
✔ Ans: B
🌕 MOON MISSIONS
Q11. Chandrayaan-1 launched in:
(A) 2005 (B) 2008 (C) 2010 (D) 2012
✔ Ans: B
Q12. Chandrayaan-1 discovered:
(A) Helium (B) Water molecules on Moon (C) Oxygen (D) Gold
✔ Ans: B
Q13. Chandrayaan-2 launched in:
(A) 2017 (B) 2018 (C) 2019 (D) 2020
✔ Ans: C
Q14. Chandrayaan-3 achieved:
(A) Crash landing
(B) Successful soft landing
(C) Failed launch
(D) Orbital failure
✔ Ans: B
Q15. Chandrayaan-3 landed near:
(A) Moon equator (B) South pole region (C) North pole (D) Far side only
✔ Ans: B
🔴 MARS MISSION
Q16. Mangalyaan was launched in:
(A) 2012 (B) 2013 (C) 2014 (D) 2015
✔ Ans: B
Q17. India became first Asian country to reach Mars orbit in:
(A) First attempt (B) Second attempt (C) Third attempt (D) Failed attempt
✔ Ans: A
Q18. Mangalyaan mission cost was approximately:
(A) $4 million (B) $74 million (C) $700 million (D) $1 billion
✔ Ans: B
☀️ SOLAR & SPACE SCIENCE
Q19. Aditya-L1 is related to study of:
(A) Moon (B) Mars (C) Sun (D) Jupiter
✔ Ans: C
Q20. Aditya-L1 is placed at:
(A) Earth orbit (B) L1 point (C) Moon surface (D) Mars orbit
✔ Ans: B
Q21. Astrosat is India’s:
(A) Communication satellite (B) Space telescope (C) Navigation system (D) Weather satellite
✔ Ans: B
🛰️ SATELLITE SYSTEMS
Q22. NavIC is used for:
(A) Internet (B) Navigation (C) Weather (D) Defense only
✔ Ans: B
Q23. INSAT satellites are used for:
(A) Communication & weather
(B) Mining
(C) Military weapons
(D) Space travel
✔ Ans: A
Q24. CARTOSAT is used for:
(A) Earth imaging (B) Navigation (C) Solar study (D) Ocean mapping only
✔ Ans: A
Q25. RISAT satellites are used for:
(A) Radar imaging (B) TV broadcast (C) Internet (D) Space tourism
✔ Ans: A
🚀 ADVANCED ISRO FACTS
Q26. First Indian satellite launched from India was:
(A) Aryabhata (B) Rohini RS-1 (C) APPLE (D) INSAT
✔ Ans: B
Q27. SLV-3 was developed under leadership of:
(A) Vikram Sarabhai (B) APJ Abdul Kalam (C) Satish Dhawan (D) U R Rao
✔ Ans: B
Q28. ISRO’s launch site is located at:
(A) Chennai (B) Sriharikota (C) Kochi (D) Mumbai
✔ Ans: B
Q29. SHAR stands for:
(A) Space Harbour And Research
(B) Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR
(C) Satellite Handling and Research
(D) Science Hub Area Range
✔ Ans: B
Q30. ISRO’s human space mission is called:
(A) Chandrayaan (B) Gaganyaan (C) Mangalyaan (D) Astrosat
✔ Ans: B
Q31. The first communication satellite of India was:
(A) INSAT-1B
(B) APPLE
(C) GSAT-10
(D) EDUSAT
✔ Ans: B
Q32. India’s space program is globally known for being:
(A) High cost and low output
(B) Cost-effective and efficient
(C) Only defense-oriented
(D) Fully private sector driven
✔ Ans: B
Q33. PSLV is mainly used for placing satellites in:
(A) Geostationary orbit
(B) Polar orbit
(C) Lunar orbit
(D) Deep space orbit
✔ Ans: B
Q34. The rover of Chandrayaan-3 is named:
(A) Vikram
(B) Pragyan
(C) Arya
(D) Surya
✔ Ans: B
Q35. The lander of Chandrayaan-3 is named:
(A) Vikram
(B) Pragyan
(C) Bharat
(D) Shakti
✔ Ans: A
Q36. ISRO’s space observatory mission is:
(A) NavIC
(B) Astrosat
(C) Cartosat
(D) RISAT
✔ Ans: B
Q37. Aryabhata satellite was launched with the help of:
(A) USA
(B) USSR
(C) France
(D) Japan
✔ Ans: B
Q38. Mangalyaan mission is also known as:
(A) MOM
(B) LVM3
(C) PSLV-C25
(D) Chandrayaan
✔ Ans: A
Q39. Aditya-L1 mission is placed at:
(A) Earth surface
(B) Moon surface
(C) Lagrange Point 1
(D) Mars orbit
✔ Ans: C
Q40. ISRO is globally recognized for:
(A) Military dominance
(B) Cost-effective space missions
(C) Private space monopoly
(D) Nuclear missions
✔ Ans: B
Q41–Q50 (Key Facts)
- First rocket: Nike-Apache (US collaboration)
- First satellite launch vehicle: SLV-3
- Chandrayaan-1 orbit discovery: water molecules
- NavIC full form: Navigation with Indian Constellation
- ISRO motto: space for national development
- PSLV most reliable launcher
- GSLV used for geostationary orbit
- Aditya-L1 studies solar corona
- ISRO uses reusable launch concepts in future plans
- Gaganyaan = India’s human space mission
Disclaimer
This quiz is created for educational and competitive exam preparation purposes only and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Indian Space Research Organisation