Q1. Which of the following best describes ‘OptoSAR’ technology used in Mission Drishti?
(a) A technology that uses optical fibres to transmit SAR data to ground stations
(b) A satellite system that combines optical imaging and Synthetic Aperture Radar on a single platform for simultaneous data capture
(c) A radar system that converts optical images into radio frequency signals for all-weather transmission
(d) A ground-based fusion of optical and radar data collected from separate satellites
Q2. Consider the following statements about Mission Drishti:
- It was launched aboard an ISRO PSLV rocket from Sriharikota.
- It is the world’s first satellite to simultaneously combine optical and SAR imaging.
- It was developed by GalaxEye Space, a Bengaluru-based private startup.
- The satellite weighs 190 kg, making it India’s largest privately built Earth observation satellite.
Which of the above statements are correct?
(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2, 3 and 4 only
(c) 1, 2 and 4 only
(d) All of the above
Q3. The term ‘Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO)’, in which Mission Drishti has been placed, refers to:
(a) An orbit in which the satellite always faces the Sun for uninterrupted solar power generation
(b) An orbit in which the satellite passes over the same location at approximately the same local solar time each day
(c) A geostationary orbit optimised for solar observation satellites
(d) An orbit where the satellite’s speed is synchronised with the Earth’s rotation around the Sun
Q4. Which of the following institutions/bodies is responsible for providing regulatory clearance and promoting private participation in India’s space sector?
(a) ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation)
(b) DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation)
(c) IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre)
(d) DoT (Department of Telecommunications)
Q5. Which of the following applications is NOT a primary use case of Mission Drishti’s OptoSAR imaging capability?
(a) All-weather border surveillance for defence purposes
(b) Monitoring crop health during monsoon cloud cover
(c) Deep-sea ocean floor mapping using sonar technology
(d) Disaster response mapping through smoke and storm clouds
Answers with explanations
A1. (b) OptoSAR stands for Optical + Synthetic Aperture Radar. Mission Drishti is the world’s first satellite to integrate both optical (multispectral) and SAR sensors on a single platform, capturing data from both simultaneously using GalaxEye’s proprietary SyncFused technology. Option (a), (c) and (d) are all incorrect descriptions of this technology.
A2. (b) — Statements 2, 3 and 4 only Statement 1 is incorrect: Mission Drishti was launched aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California — not from Sriharikota. Statements 2, 3, and 4 are all factually correct. GalaxEye is indeed a Bengaluru-based private startup, the satellite weighs 190 kg (India’s largest private EO satellite), and it is the world’s first operational OptoSAR satellite.
A3. (b) A Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO) is a nearly polar orbit in which the satellite passes over any given point on Earth’s surface at approximately the same local solar time each day. This ensures consistent lighting conditions for optical imagery, making it ideal for Earth observation satellites. It is not a geostationary orbit and has no relation to solar power optimisation or the Earth’s revolution around the Sun.
A4. (c) IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre) was established in 2020 as an autonomous body under the Department of Space to act as a single-window agency for authorising and promoting private sector participation in space activities. ISRO is the national space agency focused on government missions; DRDO handles defence R&D DoT manages telecommunications.
A5. (c) Deep-sea ocean floor mapping using sonar technology is an entirely different domain that requires underwater acoustic sensing — it has no relation to satellite-based SAR or optical imaging. All other options — border surveillance (a), crop monitoring through clouds (b), and disaster mapping through smoke (c) — are well-established and primary applications of Mission Drishti’s all-weather, day-night imaging capability.