Consider the following statements:
1. 1. India launched its first full-fledged meteorological satellite (METSAT) in September 2002.
2. 2. For the first time, the space vehicle PSLV- C4 carried a payload of more than 1000 kg into a geosynchronous orbit.
Which of these statements is/are correct?
A
Only 1
B
Only 2
C
Both 1 and 2
D
Neither 1 nor 2
Correct Answer: Option A
Explanation
1 Statement 1 is correct. India successfully launched its first dedicated meteorological satellite, named METSAT (later renamed Kalpana-1), on September 12, 2002.
2 Statement 2 is correct. The launch vehicle PSLV-C4, which carried METSAT into space, placed the satellite (weighing 1060 kg) into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). This marked the first time the PSLV carried a payload significantly more than 1000 kg into such an orbit.