With reference to 'Astrosat', the astronomical observatory launched by India, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. Other than USA and Russia, India is the only country to have launched a similar observatory into space.
2. Astrosat is a 2000 kg satellite placed in an orbit at 1650 km above the surface of the Earth.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Correct Answer: Option D
Explanation
1. Statement 1 is incorrect. While Astrosat is a significant achievement for India, making it one of the few nations with a multi-wavelength space-based astronomical observatory, it is not accurate to say only USA and Russia have launched similar observatories. The European Space Agency (ESA) and Japan (JAXA) have also launched major space observatories (e.g., ESA's XMM-Newton, Japan's Suzaku).
2. Statement 2 is incorrect. Astrosat's lift-off mass was approximately 1513 kg, not 2000 kg. Furthermore, it was placed into a 650 km Low Earth Orbit (LEO), not an orbit at 1650 km above the surface of the Earth.
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