Consider the following pace missions : I. Axiom-4 II. SpaDeX III. Gaganyaan How many of the space missions given above encourage and support micro-gravity research?

1. A. Only one
2. B. Only two
3. C. All the three
4. D. None

Answer: C

Explanation

All three listed space missions encourage and support microgravity research. I. Axiom-4: This is a private spaceflight mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Missions to the ISS, whether governmental or private, routinely conduct microgravity research across various disciplines, including medicine, materials science, and biology, leveraging the unique space environment. II. SpaDeX (Space Docking Experiment): This is an Indian mission primarily aimed at demonstrating autonomous docking capabilities. While its main goal is technological, such missions often include opportunities for microgravity studies, especially concerning the behavior of fluids, materials, and systems in orbit. III. Gaganyaan: India’s first human spaceflight program, Gaganyaan, aims to send astronauts into space. A key scientific objective of human spaceflight missions is to conduct microgravity research, particularly in life sciences, space medicine (studying human adaptation to space), and materials science. Therefore, all three missions support microgravity research. Space exploration and its scientific applications are significant topics for UPSC Science & Technology.