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Launch vehicles, satellites and applications

Launch vehicles, satellites and what they are used for: rockets and their engines, Earth observation, communication and navigation satellites, orbits, and the launches of each year. Prelims has asked about the orbits of the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) satellites and the uses of Indian Remote Sensing satellites.

UPSC has asked

  • Prelims 2023: countries with their own satellite navigation system
  • Prelims 2018: the orbits of the IRNSS satellites
  • Prelims 2018: India's satellite launch vehicles and the orbits they serve
  • Prelims 2015: uses of Indian Remote Sensing satellites

Showing 3 of 6 subjects, those that changed from 16 to 31 July 2026.Show all

Vikram-1

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Prelims and Mains

Vikram-1 is a four stage launch vehicle about 22 metres tall, built by Skyroot Aerospace of Hyderabad, with three solid stages and a restartable liquid upper stage called the Orbital Adjustment Module. It can place about 350 kg in low Earth orbit, or about 290 kg in a 500 km sun synchronous orbit. Its airframe is carbon fibre composite and its liquid engine is 3D printed as a single piece, which removes the joints and seals where conventional engines leak. Skyroot's Vikram-S (2022) and Agnikul's Agnibaan (2024) were suborbital flights, which cross into space without reaching the speed needed to stay in orbit.

What changed

  1. 18 Jul 2026New subject

    • Vikram-1 lifted off from the first launch pad at Sriharikota on Mission Aagaman and placed six technology demonstration payloads in a low Earth orbit of about 450 km.
    • It is the first privately built Indian rocket to reach orbit, and India is the third country, after the United States and China, whose private industry has done so.
    • It was a developmental flight. Skyroot plans two more before commercial service, and a larger Vikram-2 for 2027.

    Mains: the 2020 space reforms have now produced launch capability as well as satellites and applications.

    PIB, 18 Jul 2026: Vikram-1 Mission Strengthens India's Position in the Global Commercial Market: Dr. Jitendra Singh (opens in a new tab) · The Hindu, 18 Jul 2026: The materials and methods that made the Vikram-1 launch unique (opens in a new tab) · The Indian Express, 18 Jul 2026: Vikram-1 becomes India's first privately built rocket to reach orbit (opens in a new tab)

ISRO's launch capacity

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Prelims and Mains

ISRO launches from Sriharikota, where a third launch pad is being built for next generation vehicles, and is building a second launch site at Kulasekarapattinam in Tamil Nadu that will also serve private launches.

What changed

  1. 23 Jul 2026New subject

    • A Third Launch Pad has been approved at Sriharikota for next generation vehicles, and the launch complex at Kulasekarapattinam in Tamil Nadu is being built as India's second launch site, which will also serve private launches.
    • Under development are a 200 tonne semi cryogenic engine burning refined kerosene with liquid oxygen, a liquid oxygen and methane engine, booster recovery by vertical landing, and the partially reusable Next Generation Launch Vehicle.
    • India crossed 100 launches from Sriharikota, and the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle has been transferred to industry.
    • The Department of Space's share of the Union Budget has slipped from 0.40 to 0.26 per cent since 2021 to 22.

    PIB, 23 Jul 2026: PARLIAMENT QUESTION: INDIA’S SPACE LAUNCH PROGRAMME (opens in a new tab) · PIB, 30 Jul 2026: PARLIAMENT QUESTION: GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS OF INDIA’S SPACE PROGRAMME (opens in a new tab)

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