Space Technology
Space technology for UPSC — ISRO's launch vehicles, orbits, satellite systems, Moon, Mars and Sun missions, Gaganyaan, and space-sector reform.
SyllabusGS III · Awareness in the fields of IT, space, computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and IPR
Space is the most consistently asked area of Science and Technology. Prelims tests the hard facts behind headlines: which launch vehicle carried which mission, what a geostationary or sun-synchronous orbit is, where the Lagrange point L1 lies, and what NavIC does. Mains GS III asks why a developing country runs a space programme, how space serves governance (disaster warning, agriculture, navigation, communication), and what opening the sector to private firms means.
Key sub-topics in this chapter
| Sub-topic | What to know |
|---|---|
| Launch vehicles | SLV-3 → PSLV → GSLV → LVM3 → SSLV; propellant types; cryogenic stage |
| Orbits | LEO, MEO, GEO/GSO, sun-synchronous, GTO, Lagrange points |
| Satellite systems | INSAT/GSAT, IRS/EOS, RISAT, NavIC |
| Science missions | Chandrayaan-1/2/3, Mars Orbiter Mission, AstroSat, Aditya-L1, XPoSat |
| Human spaceflight | Gaganyaan, Bharatiya Antariksh Station |
| Reform | IN-SPACe, NSIL, Indian Space Policy 2023, FDI liberalisation |
Start with the topic note, then use the revision sheet and practice set to test yourself.