Instructions: Read the Assertion (A) and Reason (R) carefully. Choose the correct option:
Assertion (A): India launched the South Asian Satellite (SAS) in 2017 for use by SAARC nations.
Reason (R): The SAS was launched from the Sriharikota spaceport, and its terminals were installed in all SAARC countries.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
Correct Answer:-
A is true, but R is false.
Explanation:-
Assertion (A) is true because India successfully launched the South Asia Satellite (also known as GSAT-9) on May 5, 2017, as a gift to SAARC nations to facilitate communication, disaster management, and connectivity among the member countries.
Reason (R) is false because, although the satellite was indeed launched from the Sriharikota spaceport (Satish Dhawan Space Centre), the statement regarding the installation of terminals is not entirely accurate. While many SAARC countries (such as Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka) benefited from the project, Pakistan opted out of the project, meaning terminals were not installed in all SAARC countries.
Key Points
The South Asia Satellite (GSAT-9) was developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) with a mission life of 12 years. Its primary objective is to support satellite communication applications in the South Asian region, offering services like tele-medicine, tele-education, and weather forecasting.
Important Questions and Answers
Question: Which launch vehicle was used to launch the South Asia Satellite (GSAT-9)?
Answer: It was launched using the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F09).
Question: What is the main purpose of the South Asia Satellite?
Answer: The main purpose is to foster regional cooperation and provide a robust communication network for socio-economic development across South Asian countries.