GS3 PYQ (Mains Answer Writing): Space Technology | Science & Technology for UPSC CSE PDF Download

Q1. What is India's plan to have its own space station and how will it benefit our space Programme? ( UPSC GS3 Mains)

Answer: 

Introduction

India’s plan to set up its own space station, led by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), marks a major leap in the nation’s space exploration journey. This ambitious project reflects India’s growing technological capabilities and its resolve to secure a strong position in the global space arena.

Plan and Timeline

• Space Station Construction: ISRO envisions building a 20-ton space station within the next decade, designed to support microgravity experiments.
• Gaganyaan Mission: Serving as a precursor, this mission will demonstrate India’s ability to send humans into space and test critical technologies such as life-support systems and spacecraft re-entry mechanisms.
• Astronaut Training: Indian astronauts, or vyomanauts, will undergo intensive training covering physical fitness, technical expertise, and emergency response protocols for long-term space operations.
• Module Development: The station’s modules will be designed, manufactured, and rigorously tested on Earth before launch.
• Launch and Assembly: Modules will be sent into orbit and carefully assembled in space—a complex process demanding precision and coordination.
• Operational Phase: Once complete, the station will function for around 15 years, with astronauts regularly rotating in and out for research missions.
• International Partnerships: Although an Indian-led initiative, ISRO is open to collaborations for joint experiments and shared facilities.

Benefits to India’s Space Programme

• Scientific Research: A permanent platform in orbit will enable cutting-edge experiments in microgravity, similar to those conducted on the International Space Station.
• Technological Innovation: The project will drive advancements in spacecraft engineering, life-support systems, and orbital assembly techniques, boosting India’s aerospace sector.
• Global Recognition: Joining the elite club of nations with space stations will elevate India’s status on the world stage and encourage greater global cooperation.
• Space Economy Growth: The venture can attract commercial investment and stimulate the domestic space economy, much like SpaceX’s influence in the US.

Potential Applications

• Microgravity Research: For example, protein crystallization experiments could accelerate drug discovery and medical breakthroughs.
• Telecommunication: Improved satellite technology could enhance connectivity, especially in remote regions.
• Climate Studies: The station could support Earth observation missions that aid climate research and mitigation strategies, similar to NASA’s climate monitoring efforts.

Conclusion

India’s space station project promises to be a transformative milestone—advancing scientific discovery, driving technological progress, fostering international cooperation, and boosting economic growth. With its successful execution, India is poised to strengthen its role as a major power in global space exploration.

​Q2. India has achieved remarkable successes in unmanned space missions including the Chandrayaan and Mars Orbiter Mission, but has not ventured into manned space mission. What are the main obstacles to launching a manned space mission, both in terms of technology and logistics? Examine critically.  (UPSC GS3 Mains)

Answer:

India has been able to carry out unmanned spaced mission but lacks the full fledged capabilities in manned space missions. Although some developments have taken place in terms of technology and logistics, India is still facing some hurdles in launching manned space missions.

Technology

• India lacks the technology to carry heavy payloads into space.
• Full capabilities in re-entry technologies are yet to be developed.
• India could not get international cooperation in the field such as cryogenic technology at early stage.
• ISRO is planning to launch manned space programme by 2021-24. Towards this end, it has unveiled a prototype of its first crew capsule (4 metre high module) designed to carry two people into low earth orbit.
• India in 2017 launched the GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) Mark 3 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre. It carried a three ton payload, including “Crew Module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment (CARE)”. However the third stage of cryogenic technology in GSLV is still not fully developed. GSLV Mark 3 will also be upgraded and tested to carry payloads upto 8 tonnes.
• India is also working on Space Capsule Recovery Experiment-2 (SRE-2) that will demonstrate critical technologies required for recoverable launch vehicles.

Logistics

• India is depended mainly on single type of launch vehicle such as that of PSLV which hampers the capacity expansion of the programme.
• India does not have its own global navigation system.
• Funding and finance is essential to develop various equipments, technology  and new tools required in the coordination of a manned space programme. But ISRO is still waiting for the government approval and funding for a human space flight programme.
• Some scientists hold the view that private players have much more flexibility, freedom and risk taking abilities than the state owned agencies. Thus there should be more participation of private players in space programmes. India must realize that China launched its manned space mission to space in 2016 and will establish its permanent space station by 2022. Therefore India should also increase its footprints in manned space mission capabilities at the earliest.

Q3. Discuss India’s achievements in the field of Space Science and Technology. How the application of this technology has helped India in its socio-economic development? (UPSC GS3 Mains)

Answer:

India has became a significant global player in space science and technological(S&T) developments. The credit goes to ISRO and government’s support for it. India has formally coordinated its various organisations related to space programme in 1972 by constituting the space commission and the Development of Space (DOS). Both of these institutes are Umbrella organisations which direct and regulate India’s space programme.
Achievements in Space S&T:

• Mars Orbiter Mission: India’s first inter planetary mission, the Mars Orbiter Spacecraft was successfully launched onboard PSLV-C25. It made India to become one of the four nations in the world to send space mission to Planet Mars. Mars Orbiter Mission is mainly intended to establish the Indian technological capability to reach Martian orbit and to explore Mars surface features, morphology, mineralogy and Martian atmosphere by indigenous scientific instruments.
• PSLV – A Workhorse Launch Vehicle: India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), with a proven track record of 24 successful flights, has provided the country the crucial autonomy in ‘access to space’. During the last decade, PSLV had 15 successively successful flights and has placed 23 Indian satellites and 31 foreign satellites into orbit.
• India’s Mission to Moon: India’s maiden moon exploration mission ‘Chandrayaan-1’ was launched in October 2008 for mapping the lunar surface with high resolution remote sensing and study the chemical and mineralogical composition. This mission has enabled to detect the presence water molecules on the lunar surface, which has set new directions of lunar explorations in the global community. Recently Chandrayaan 2 successfully put orbiter in moon’s orbit but failed to do soft landing on moon.
• Indian Cryogenic Engine & Stage: The successful flight testing of indigenous cryogenic stage onboard GSLV-D5 Flight. Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) is capable of placing 2 Tonne class communication satellite into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) and India is one among six countries in the world to demonstrate such launch capability to GTO with the use of complex cryogenic technology.
• Remote Sensing and National Natural Resource Management System: The Indian Remote Sensing Satellites (IRS) System, with currently 11 satellites in orbit, is one of the largest constellations of remote sensing satellites in operation in the world today. It provides inputs for management of natural resources and various developmental projects across the country using space based imagery.
• Space Capsule Recovery: A leap-frog in Indian Launch Vehicle Technology was achieved in 2007 through the Space Capsule Recovery Experiment Mission SRE-1 which established India’s technological capability to recover an orbiting satellite with precise re-entry trajectories.

Socio-Economic development through application of space technology:

• Survey of various mineral and natural resources have been made possible through remote sensing.
• Management of these resources, their development conservation and formulation of various policies are effectively done with the use of information derived through remote sensing.
• Various meteorological services including information about monsoon, climate flood, cyclonic activities etc are provided through the technologies.
• It has developed communication technology in India.
• They have proved very useful in spread of education. Even in remote areas, the expertise educations have been made possible through the talk back channels of INSAT-3D satellite.
• They have helped in environment conservation programmes estimation of agricultural production and water resources information’s.
• Green revolution had been made possible through this technology.
• The concept of “Gramsat” satellites have emerged to provide the basic requirements of villages.
• Apart from these various uses, the space programme has helped in social cultural and scientific consolidation and harmony.

In these ways, the space programme has given a push to every aspect of our national policies and programmes contributing widely towards socio-economic, development of India, besides economic and scientific progress. It is time to make the application of space technologies to everyday lives. There is lot of scope and potential in this regard.