India’s space programme, led by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), has evolved from modest beginnings into one of the most respected space agencies in the world. Over the years, ISRO has designed and executed a range of missions—from satellite navigation, Earth observation, interplanetary exploration, to solar studies—that have not only enhanced India’s technological self-reliance but also contributed to global scientific collaboration. Its cost-effective approaches and mission diversity—from Chandrayaan and Mangalyaan to Aditya-L1 and the upcoming Gaganyaan—have become case studies in innovation.

For UPSC aspirants, ISROs journey is more than current affairs—it directly intersects with the syllabus of General Studies Paper 3 (Science & Technology), provides examples for GS Paper 2 (International Relations, Governance), and can enrich perspectives in the Essay Paper, Ethics, and even Optional subjects like Geography or PSIR. In this article, we will explore detailed insights about ISRO Rohini Technology Payload (RTP) Mission —its objectives, timelines, key technologies, and strategic implications.

ISRO Rohini Technology Payload (RTP) Mission Overview

ISRO launched Rohini Technology Payload (RTP) to support objectives related to Experimental / Launch vehicle monitoring.The intended zone of activity for Rohini Technology Payload (RTP) was Earth Orbit (intended).

• As part of its launch strategy, Rohini Technology Payload (RTP) used SLV-3E1 for orbital insertion.
• SHAR Centre, Sriharikota hosted the missions launch activities.
• The core purpose behind Rohini Technology Payload (RTP) was to Monitor SLV-3 launch vehicle performance during its first flight.
• The mission’s progress is marked by the status Launch unsuccessful / Failed to orbit.

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Timeline & Milestones of ISRO Rohini Technology Payload (RTP) Mission

• Rohini Technology Payload (RTP) was launched on 10/08/1979.
• The primary mission objectives are expected to be completed by Failed to orbit.

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ISRO Rohini Technology Payload (RTP) Mission Technical Specifications

Rohini Technology Payload (RTP) adopted a design featuring Mass 35 kg; Power 3W; Spin stabilized, launched successfully via SLV-3E1.The choice of LEO (intended); Did not achieve orbit aligned with the mission’s overall strategy for scientific observation and technical validation.

• For this Experimental / Launch vehicle monitoring effort, the scientific payloads onboard included Instruments to monitor launch vehicle parameters, ensuring compatibility with its planned orbit.
• First experimental flight of SLV-3 were implemented as part of the engineering design of Rohini Technology Payload (RTP).

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Rohini Technology Payload (RTP) Launch Information

• The mission timeline of Rohini Technology Payload (RTP) began with its launch on 10/08/1979.
• ISRO selected the SLV-3E1 to carry the Rohini Technology Payload (RTP) mission.
• The spacecraft was sent into orbit from SHAR Centre, Sriharikota.

Who are the Stakeholders & Collaborators?

ISRO were involved in various phases of the mission.

Outputs, Applications & Impact of ISRO Rohini Technology Payload (RTP) Mission

Rohini Technology Payload (RTP) generated data outputs including Some telemetry data during ascent.

• In addition to its technical objectives, the mission also looked at Satellite crashed into Bay of Bengal.
• With its technical capabilities, Rohini Technology Payload (RTP) helps advance sectors such as LV performance monitoring (intended).
• Rohini Technology Payload (RTP) supports sectoral priorities and government initiatives through SLV-3 first developmental flight (intended).
• The success and findings of Rohini Technology Payload (RTP) are likely to inform and guide the development of subsequent missions like RS-1 as part of ISRO’s continued technological progression.

ISRO Rohini Technology Payload (RTP) Space Mission Risks, Failures & Mitigation

Launch vehicle malfunction affected the early or post-launch phases of Rohini Technology Payload (RTP).

• ISRO reported a deviation in planned operations due to Carrier rocket SLV-3E1 partially successful; satellite didn't orbit.
• Corrective steps like Analysis led to improvements for SLV-3 E2 were carried out to prevent recurrence in later missions.
• The mission experience provided insights such as Important data for SLV-3 development despite failure.

UPSC Relevance of ISRO Rohini Technology Payload (RTP) Space Mission

• Missions like Chandrayaan, Mangalyaan, and Aditya-L1 have frequently appeared in previous year questions, highlighting the importance of knowing mission-specific features.
• ISRO missions are highly relevant to UPSC Mains, particularly in GS Paper III, where candidates must understand the role of space technology in development, disaster management, communication, and governance.
• Missions like Mangalyaan (Mars Orbiter Mission), which combined low-cost execution with high-impact outcomes, reflect the ethical dimensions of responsible innovation.
• Missions like Cartosat or Resourcesat allow candidates to bring satellite-based data into answers dealing with urban planning, hydrology, and land-use studies.

Past UPSC Mains PYQs on ISRO Space Missions

Q1. Discuss the role of the private sector in the growth of the space industry in India. How has the governments policy of 2023 affected it? (2023, GS Paper 3 - Science & Technology)

Q2. What is India’s plan to have its own space station and how will it benefit our space programme? (2022 & 2019, GS Paper 3 - Science & Technology)

Q3. Space has been the next big frontier for mankind after sea and land. In this context, discuss Indias policy and preparedness for space wars. (2019, GS Paper 3 - Science & Technology)

Q4. Discuss the utility of the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) for India. (2016, GS Paper 3 - Science & Technology)

Q5. What do you understand by Standard Positioning Systems and Precision Positioning Systems in the GPS era? Discuss the advantages India perceives from its ambitious IRNSS programme employing just seven satellites. (2015, GS Paper 3 - Science & Technology)

Past UPSC Prelims PYQs on ISRO Space Missions

Q1 [2025]: GPS-Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) uses a system of ground stations to provide necessary augmentation. Which of the following statements is/are correct in respect of GAGAN?

I. It is designed to provide additional accuracy and integrity.
II. It will allow more uniform and high quality air traffic management.
III. It will provide benefits only in aviation but not in other modes of transportation.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) I, II and III
(b) II and III only
(c) I only
(d) I and II only

Correct Answer: (d) I and II only

Explanation: Statements I and II correctly describe the core purpose and benefit of the GAGAN system. (I) GAGAN is designed to augment GPS signals by correcting for errors, which provides much greater accuracy and guarantees the integrity (reliability) of the positioning information. (II) This enhanced accuracy and reliability directly enables more precise aircraft routing and landing procedures, thus improving the uniformity and quality of air traffic management.

Q2 [2022]: If a major solar storm (solar flare) reaches the Earth, which of the following are the possible effects on the Earth?

1. GPS and navigation systems could fail.
2. Tsunamis could occur at equatorial regions.
3. Power grids could be damaged.
4. Intense auroras could occur over much of the Earth.
5. Forest fires could take place over much of the planet.
6. Orbits of the satellites could be disturbed.
7. Shortwave radio communication of the aircraft flying over polar regions could be interrupted.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1, 2, 4 and 5 only
(b) 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7 only
(c) 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7 only
(d) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7

Answer: The correct answer is (c).

Explanation: A major solar storm can disrupt GPS, power grids, satellite orbits, polar radio communication, and cause auroras, but cannot trigger tsunamis or forest fires.

Q3 [2020]: The experiment will employ a trio of spacecraft flying in formation in the shape of an equilateral triangle that has sides one million kilometres long, with lasers shining between the craft.” The experiment in question refers to

(a) Voyager-2
(b) New horizons
(c) Lisa Pathfinder
(d) Evolved LISA

Answer: The correct answer is (d) Evolved LISA.

Explanation: Evolved LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) is a planned space-based gravitational wave observatory by ESA and NASA, using three spacecraft in a triangular formation with laser beams to detect cosmic gravitational waves.

Q4 [2016]: Consider the following statements:

The Mangalyaan launched by ISRO

1. is also called the Mars Orbiter Mission
2. made India the second country to have a spacecraft orbit the Mars after USA
3. made India the only country to be successful in making its spacecraft orbit the Mars in its very first attempt

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: c) 1 and 3 only

Explanation: Mangalyaan is the informal name of Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), launched by ISRO on 5 November 2013 and India is the only nation to date to have succeeded on its maiden attempt.

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UPSC Practice Questions on ISRO Space Missions

Q1. In October 2022, ISRO chairman announced expected launch year of Chandrayaan 3 in ______.
1. 2030
2. 2027
3. 2025
4. 2023

Answer: 4
Solution: ISRO chairman announced that Chandrayaan 3 is expected to be launched in 2023, which is two years later than its initial planned launch year of 2021. Chandrayaan 3 is the third lunar exploration mission by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It is aimed at conducting further studies on the Moon's surface, particularly in the south polar region, where water molecules have been detected.

Option 1, i.e., 2030, is incorrect as it is too far away from the expected launch year. Option 2, i.e., 2027, and option 3, i.e., 2025, are also incorrect as they are not the exact launch year announced by the ISRO chairman.

The previous Chandrayaan missions, Chandrayaan 1 and Chandrayaan 2, were launched in 2008 and 2019, respectively. Chandrayaan 1 was India's first lunar mission, which discovered water molecules on the Moon's surface. Chandrayaan 2 aimed to make a soft landing on the Moon's south polar region but had a communication failure during the final stages of landing.

Q2. In January 2022, S Somanath has been appointed as the tenth chairman of ________.
1. RBI
2. DRDO
3. ISRO
4. SEBI

Answer: 3
Solution: In January 2022, S Somanath has been appointed as the tenth chairman of ISRO. S Somanath is an Indian space scientist who has been associated with ISRO for over three decades. He has played a key role in the development of India's space program and has been instrumental in the success of several missions. As the chairman of ISRO, Somanath will be responsible for overseeing the organization's activities, including the development and launch of satellites, space research, and exploration. Somanath takes over from K Sivan, who served as the chairman of ISRO from 2018 to 2022. During his tenure, Sivan oversaw several successful missions, including the Chandrayaan-2 lunar mission and the launch of the PSLV-C51 rocket.

RBI (Reserve Bank of India) is India's central bank, which regulates the country's monetary policy and manages the country's foreign exchange reserves. DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organization) is an agency of the Indian government responsible for the development of technology for use by the country's military forces. SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) is India's regulatory body for the securities market.

Q3. Consider the following questions regarding Aditya L1 Mission:
1. Aditya L1 is the first space-based Indian mission to study the Sun.
2. Lagrange point 1 (L1) of the Sun-Earth system, is about 150 million km from the Earth.
3. It will be launched by Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM-3).
How many of the statements given above are correct?
1. Only one
2. Only two
3. All three
4. None

Answer: 1
Solution: The correct answer is option 1. Aditya L1 is indeed the first space-based Indian mission to study the Sun, making statement 1 correct. However, statement 2 is incorrect as Lagrange Point 1 (L1) is approximately 1.5 million km from Earth, not 150 million km. Statement 3 is also incorrect as the Aditya L1 mission will be launched by the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), not LVM-3.

Q4. Which agency has recently launched Juice mission?
1. ISRO
2. European Space Agency (ESA)
3. Chinese Space Agency
4. NASA

Answer: 2
Solution: The correct answer is the European Space Agency (ESA). Recently, the European Space Agency is set to launch the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) mission to explore Jupiter and its icy moons, namely Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa. The mission is set to reach Jupiter in 2031 and was launched from French Guiana on an Ariane 5 launcher.

Q5. Who was awarded the prestigious International Astronautical Federation World Space Award for the success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission?
1. K. Sivan
2. A. S. Kiran Kumar
3. Dr. S. Somnath
4. G. Madhavan Nair

Answer: 3
Solution: The correct answer is Dr. S. Somnath. ISRO Chairman S. Somanath received the prestigious IAF World Space Award for Chandrayaan-3's success during a ceremony in Milan, Italy, recognizing India's excellence in space exploration.

Q6. In Feb, 2021, ISRO launched a satellite Amazonia-1 of ______ on board PSLV-C51 rocket from Sriharikota.
1. Argentina
2. Srilanka
3. Brazil
4. Peru

Answer: 3
Solution: The correct answer is Brazil. ISRO launched the Brazilian satellite Amazonia-1 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on February 28, 2021. Along with Amazonia-1, 18 other co-passenger satellites were also onboard the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C51).

Q7. Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: Docking is essential for servicing satellites, extending their operational life, and supporting future space missions.
Statement-II: It allows spacefaring components to be launched separately and assembled in space to form a larger module.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
1. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are true, and Statement-II is the correct explanation of Statement-I.
2. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are true, but Statement-II is not the correct explanation of Statement-I.
3. Statement-I is true, but Statement-II is false.
4. Statement-I is false, but Statement-II is true.

Answer: 1
Solution: The correct answer is option 1. Both statements are true, and Statement-II correctly explains the importance of docking mentioned in Statement-I. Docking enables in-orbit assembly of large modules by allowing smaller components to be launched individually, which is crucial for constructing space stations or modular spacecraft.

Q8. The Indian Space Research Organisation ISRO is preparing to conduct its 100th rocket launch from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on January 29. What is the name of the 100th rocket launch satellite by ISRO?
1. NVS-02
2. GSAT-19
3. Cartosat-3
4. IRNSS-1I

Answer: 1
Solution: The correct answer is NVS-02. On January 29, 2025, ISRO successfully launched its 100th mission, a historic achievement. The GSLV-F15 rocket, carrying the NVS-02 satellite, lifted off from Sriharikota's Satish Dhawan Space Centre at 6:23 AM IST.

Q9. The Aditya-L1 mission is aimed at studying:
1. The atmosphere of Venus
2. The surface of the Moon
3. The Sun's outermost layers
4. The asteroid belt

Answer: 3
Solution: The correct answer is the Sun's outermost layers. The Aditya-L1 mission is India's first solar mission launched by ISRO, specifically designed to study the outermost layers of the Sun, also known as the corona. The mission aims to provide crucial information about the solar atmosphere, magnetic field dynamics, and the impact of solar activities on the Earth's climate.

Q10. When did ISRO launch a microsatellite equipped with advanced payloads designed for environmental monitoring, disaster management and remote sensing applications?
1. 16 September 2024
2. 16 August 2024
3. 8 August 2024
4. 8 September 2024

Answer: 2
Solution: The correct answer is 16 August 2024. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched a microsatellite equipped with advanced payloads on 16 August 2024. The satellite is designed for environmental monitoring, disaster management, and remote sensing applications.