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 INSAT-3E Mission —its objectives, timelines, key technologies, and strategic implications.

ISRO INSAT-3E Mission Overview

INSAT-3E was developed by ISRO as part of its efforts in the field of Communication.To carry out its objectives, INSAT-3E targeted Geostationary Orbit.

• INSAT-3E lifted off using the Ariane 5G V162.
• The launch took place at Kourou, French Guiana.
• INSAT-3E focused primarily on fulfilling the objective of Augment communication services, VSAT, TV broadcasting.
• As a secondary focus, INSAT-3E was intended to Tele-education services.
• According to available records, the mission status is Decommissioned.

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Timeline & Milestones of ISRO INSAT-3E Mission

• The launch of INSAT-3E took place on September 28, 2003.
• The primary mission life of INSAT-3E is projected to conclude around April 2014 (ran out of oxidizer).

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ISRO INSAT-3E Mission Technical Specifications

To accommodate its scientific payloads and orbit profile, the spacecraft was configured with 2775 kg lift-off mass, I-2K bus.The orbital profile—Geosynchronous Orbit, 55° East longitude—was selected to support the execution of both primary and secondary goals of the mission.

• The frequency bands used in INSAT-3E included C-band, Extended C-band, optimized for its orbital path and payload needs.
• INSAT-3E relied on Communication satellite technology to fulfill its technical goals.

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INSAT-3E Launch Information

• INSAT-3E was launched on September 28, 2003.
• The launch of INSAT-3E was carried out by the Ariane 5G V162.
• All pre-launch procedures were conducted at Kourou, French Guiana.

Who are the Stakeholders & Collaborators?

Mission responsibilities were distributed among ISRO.ISRO worked with Arianespace (Launch) to support the mission.

• International coordination with Launch by European company helped advance some of the secondary goals of INSAT-3E.

Outputs, Applications & Impact of ISRO INSAT-3E Mission

INSAT-3E is recognized for achieving Served for over 10 years.The mission supported both research and practical applications through its data, including Communication, broadcasting services data.

• Moved to graveyard orbit was taken into account during the missions planning and execution.
• The mission’s outcome supports national needs through civilian applications like Communication, VSAT services, television.
• Communication infrastructure highlights the role of INSAT-3E in India’s strategic space program.
• Post-mission phases for INSAT-3E may involve scaling up efforts through advanced programs such as INSAT/GSAT series, ensuring sustained benefits and impact.

ISRO INSAT-3E Space Mission Risks, Failures & Mitigation

• Ran out of oxidizer was acknowledged in the mission evaluation summary of INSAT-3E.
• Corrective steps like Decommissioned and moved to graveyard orbit were carried out to prevent recurrence in later missions.

UPSC Relevance of ISRO INSAT-3E Space Mission

• The UPSC Prelims also tests awareness of Indias achievements in international cooperation and indigenous technology, where ISRO plays a significant role.
• Questions involving disaster Management, like flood or cyclone monitoring, can be strengthened by citing ISRO’s satellite imagery and forecasting support systems.
• Real-life stories of scientists, mission delays, and persistent problem-solving offer examples of ethical leadership and perseverance under constraints.
• Students with PSIR, Sociology, or Public Administration optionals can use ISRO case studies to demonstrate state capacity, institutional success, or public sector innovation.

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. Chandrayaan-3 is the third Moon mission by Indias space agency ISRO. Consider the following statements about various lunar missions:
1. The United States is the only country that has successfully landed humans on the Moon.
2. The Chang'e 4 mission, conducted by China, successfully achieved the ambitious goal of collecting lunar samples from the Moon's surface and returning them to Earth.
3. LUNA and VIPER are a series of missions including orbiters, landers, and rovers sent by Russia to study the Moon.
How many of the statements are correct?
1. only one
2. only two
3. All are correct
4. None is correct
Answer: only one
Solution: The correct answer is only one. Statement 1 is correct as the United States is the only country that has successfully landed humans on the Moon. Statement 2 is incorrect because the Chang'e 4 mission did not return samples to Earth; it was the Chang'e 5 mission that did. Statement 3 is also incorrect because LUNA and VIPER are not missions sent by Russia.

Q2. Where did ISRO conduct the first ignition trial for the SCE-200 semi-cryogenic engine?
1. Bengaluru, Karnataka
2. Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu
3. Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
4. Hyderabad, Telangana
Answer: Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu
Solution: ISRO conducted the first ignition trial for the SCE-200 semi-cryogenic engine at its facility in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu. The SCE-200 is a semi-cryogenic engine developed by ISRO for its future launch vehicles, using a combination of liquid oxygen and kerosene as propellants.

Q3. Consider the following statements about the humanoid's skull for the Gaganyaan mission:
1. The humanoid's skull is designed and developed by experts at the ISRO Inertial Systems Unit, Thiruvananthapuram.
2. The skull weighs 800 grams and measures 200 mm x 220 mm.
3. It is made from a high-strength aluminum alloy to withstand pressure and vibration.
Which of the statements given above is/are incorrect?
1. 1 and 2 only
2. 1 only
3. None
4. 1, 2, and 3
Answer: option 3
Solution: All statements are correct. The humanoid's skull has been designed and developed by experts at the ISRO Inertial Systems Unit in Thiruvananthapuram. It weighs 800 grams and has dimensions of 200 mm x 220 mm. It is constructed from a high-strength aluminum alloy to endure the pressure and vibration experienced during the mission.

Q4. In the context of Chandrayaan - 3, the names of Lander and Rover respectively are -
1. Vikram and Pragyan
2. Vikram and Aditya
3. Aditya and Vikram
4. Pragyan and Aditya
Answer: Vikram and Pragyan
Solution: Vikram is the name of the lander used in the Chandrayaan-3 mission, and Pragyan is the name of the rover. Vikram is named after Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, the father of the Indian space program, while Pragyan means wisdom in Sanskrit.

Q5. Which space organisation has successfully conducted the cheapest mars mission?
1. ISRO
2. NASA
3. Roscosmos
4. JAXA
Answer: ISRO
Solution: The Indian Space Research Organisation ISRO successfully conducted the Mars Orbiter Mission, also known as Mangalyaan, which is the cheapest Mars mission ever. Launched on 5 November 2013, it entered Mars' orbit on 24 September 2014, with a total cost of approximately INR 450 crore.

Q6. Who among the following have been selected to be the astronauts on Indias first crewed mission to space?
I. Wing Commander Shubanshu Shukla
II. Group Captain P. Balakrishnan Nair
III. Group Captain Pankaj M. Sinha
IV. Group Captain Ajit Krishnan
V. Group Captain Angad Pratap
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
1. I, II, III and V
2. I, III, IV and V
3. I, II, III and IV
4. I, II, IV and V
Answer: I, II, IV and V
Solution: Wing Commander Shubanshu Shukla, Group Captain P. Balakrishnan Nair, Group Captain Ajit Krishnan, and Group Captain Angad Pratap have been selected to be the astronauts for Indias first crewed mission to space. Group Captain Pankaj M. Sinha is not selected for this mission.

Q7. When is GAGANYAAN, the manned project of ISRO, proposed to launch?
1. December 2021
2. November 2021
3. October 2021
4. September 2021
Answer: December 2021
Solution: Gaganyaan is India’s first manned mission to space, expected to be launched in December 2021, as proposed by ISRO. The mission aims to send a three-member crew to space for a minimum of seven days.

Q8. The Aditya L1 (first space-based observatory-class solar mission) was launched on?
1. September 2, 2023
2. September 9, 2023
3. September 2, 2022
4. October 2, 2023
Answer: September 2, 2023
Solution: The Aditya L1 mission is India's first space-based observatory-class solar mission, launched by ISRO on September 2, 2023. Its primary objective is to study the Sun's outermost layers, including the photosphere, chromosphere, and corona.

Q9. Which one of the following PSLVs, launched by ISRO, is not correctly matched with their Missions?
1. a
2. b
3. c
4. d
Answer: PSLV C57 - DS-SAR
Solution: PSLV C57 was launched by ISRO to deploy the DS-SAR satellite, which is not associated with ISRO's primary mission portfolio. The matching of PSLV C57 with DS-SAR is incorrect in terms of ISRO's internal mission objectives.

Q10. The term Axiom Mission 4 Ax-4, recently seen in the news, refers to:
1. NASA’s latest crewed lunar landing mission under the Artemis program
2. The fourth government-backed Indian astronaut training program conducted by ISRO
3. A private astronaut mission to the International Space Station involving India and other countries
4. An EU-sponsored deep space telescope launch under ESA’s Cosmic Vision 2050
Answer: option 3
Solution: Axiom Mission 4, featuring Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, is the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, led by Axiom Space in collaboration with NASA, SpaceX, and ISRO.