Explanation

Microgravity research refers to scientific studies conducted in near weightless conditions, where physical, biological, and material processes behave differently from those on Earth.

Statement I: Axiom-4
This statement is correct. Axiom Space’s Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) includes several experiments related to human physiology, biotechnology, and space agriculture under microgravity conditions.

Statement II: SpaDeX
This statement is debatable. ISRO’s SpaDeX mission is primarily designed to demonstrate autonomous docking technology in space. However, payloads associated with the mission under the POEM-4 platform also carried out experiments in microgravity conditions.

UPSC appears to have not considered SpaDeX as a mission supporting microgravity research, possibly because its primary objective was docking technology demonstration rather than scientific microgravity experimentation.

Statement III: Gaganyaan
This statement is correct. Indian Space Research Organisation’s Gaganyaan mission includes planned biological and physical science experiments in microgravity conditions during crewed spaceflight.

Therefore, UPSC officially considered only Axiom-4 and Gaganyaan as missions supporting microgravity research.

Correct Answer: (B) Only two