UPSC Mains 2023 GS3 Q16 — Space Technology
What is the main task of India's third moon mission which could not be achieved in its earlier mission? List the countries that have achieved this task. Introduce the subsystems in the spacecraft launched and explain the role of the Virtual Launch Control Centre' at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre which contributed to the successful launch from Sriharikota. (Answer in 250 words )
Question Decoded — examiner's intent
- Directive verbs
- What isListIntroduceexplain
- Scope keywords
- India's third moon missionachieved in its earlier missionsubsystems in the spacecraftVirtual Launch Control CentreVikram Sarabhai Space Centresuccessful launch from Sriharikota
- Implicit sub-parts
- Identify 'Soft Landing' as the primary missed objective of Chandrayaan-2.
- Categorize the propulsion module, lander module, and rover as distinct subsystems.
- Differentiate the role of VSSC (Thiruvananthapuram) from SDSC (Sriharikota) regarding the 'Virtual' aspect of the launch.
- Briefly link the technological leap from Chandrayaan-2 failures to Chandrayaan-3 success.
- Common pitfalls
- Spending too much space on the history of ISRO or Chandrayaan-1 instead of focusing on the specific 'task' missed (Soft Landing).
- Confusing the Vikram lander and Pragyan rover as a single unit rather than distinct subsystems.
- Failing to explain the 'Virtual' nature of the VLCC, mistakenly suggesting the physical launch happened at VSSC.
- Providing an exhaustive list of all ISRO achievements instead of sticking to the four specific countries that achieved soft landing.
- Dimensions required
- Technological/TechnicalGeopolitical (International Comparison)Operational/LogisticalScientific Objectives
- Marks allocation hint
Allocate 2-3 marks for identifying the soft landing and the 4-country list. Dedicate 6 marks to the detailed introduction of the Propulsion, Lander, and Rover subsystems. Reserve the final 6 marks for a technical explanation of the VLCC's remote monitoring and system-check capabilities, ensuring the 250-word limit is balanced between description and technical analysis.
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