UPSC Prelims 2025 Q83: Science & Technology – Space
- (a) Only one
- (b) Only two
- (c) All the three
- (d) None
Answer: (c) All the three
Explanation
Space Missions and Microgravity Research
| Mission | Type | Microgravity Research? | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Axiom-4 | Commercial mission to ISS (includes India's Shubhanshu Shukla) | YES | Axiom missions operate aboard the International Space Station (ISS) - the world's premier microgravity research laboratory. ISS hosts experiments in biology, physics, medicine, materials science under microgravity. |
| SpaDeX | ISRO's Space Docking Experiment | YES | SpaDeX (launched Dec 2024) demonstrated orbital docking - a technology prerequisite for future Indian space station and crew missions. The docked configuration enables microgravity experiments. |
| Gaganyaan | ISRO's human spaceflight program | YES | Gaganyaan is designed for human spaceflight. One of its explicit objectives includes microgravity research on the crew and experiments carried aboard. |
All three encourage microgravity research → Answer: All the three
Microgravity Research — Why It Matters:
| Field | Microgravity Benefit |
|---|---|
| Biology | Studies cell behaviour without gravity (cancer research, protein crystallisation) |
| Physics | Fluid dynamics, combustion, material science without gravity effects |
| Medicine | Drug development, bone loss studies, cardiovascular effects |
| Materials | New alloys, semiconductors grown in zero-gravity |
Answer: (c) All the three.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. 'Only one' would mean only one of the three missions involves microgravity. All three have microgravity research as a component — ISS (Axiom-4), docking technology (SpaDeX), and human spaceflight (Gaganyaan).
- (b) Incorrect. 'Only two' would exclude one mission. All three — Axiom-4 (ISS), SpaDeX (docking for future station), and Gaganyaan (human spaceflight with experiments) — support microgravity research.
- (c) CORRECT. All three missions encourage and support microgravity research. Axiom-4 directly uses ISS labs. SpaDeX enables future microgravity platforms. Gaganyaan will carry microgravity experiments.
- (d) Incorrect. 'None' would mean none of these missions involve microgravity — clearly incorrect given Axiom-4 operates on the ISS, the world's largest microgravity laboratory.
Key point
Axiom-4 = ISS microgravity. SpaDeX = docking for future microgravity platform. Gaganyaan = human spaceflight + microgravity experiments. All three support microgravity research.
Remember
Axiom-4 (ISS), SpaDeX (orbital docking), and Gaganyaan (human spaceflight) all support microgravity research. ISRO's Shubhanshu Shukla is India's astronaut on the Axiom-4 mission.
Common mistakes
- Thinking SpaDeX is just a docking technology demo with no science value — docking is the gateway to building space stations where microgravity research happens.
- Not knowing Shubhanshu Shukla's Axiom-4 mission — India's astronaut on ISS is a direct participation in microgravity research.
- Underestimating Gaganyaan's science objectives — it carries specific microgravity payload experiments beyond just demonstrating human spaceflight capability.
Exam tip
Axiom-4 = India's Shubhanshu Shukla on ISS (2025). SpaDeX = Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Dec 2024 launch, first Indian docking in orbit. Gaganyaan = crewed by 2025-26. All three connect to ISRO's larger human spaceflight and microgravity research programme.
Sources
- ISRO — Gaganyaan Mission Objectives
- ISRO — SpaDeX (Space Docking Experiment) Mission Report
- NASA — Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4): crewed mission to the International Space Station (2025)