AOnly i & ii
BOnly iii & iv
COnly i & iii
DOnly ii & iv
Answer:
B. Only iii & iv
Read Explanation:
About Axiom Missions:
Axiom Space is a private American aerospace company that facilitates commercial space missions to the International Space Station (ISS).
These missions are crucial for expanding access to space, conducting commercial research, and fostering private-sector involvement in space exploration.
Axiom-1, launched in April 2022, marked the first all-private astronaut mission to the ISS.
Axiom-3, launched in January 2024, included the first Turkish astronaut, demonstrating international collaboration beyond traditional government agencies.
Axiom-4 is a planned future mission, anticipated to launch in late 2024 or early 2025. The final crew composition and specific scientific payloads are typically announced closer to the launch date.
Analysis of the Statements:
Statement i: Shubhanshu Shukla is the India's first astronaut on the International Space Station.
Factual Status: This statement is incorrect.
Key Fact for Competitive Exams: As of early 2024, no Indian citizen has flown to the International Space Station (ISS).
Important Historical Context:
Rakesh Sharma was the first and only Indian citizen to go to space, flying aboard the Soviet Salyut 7 space station in 1984 as part of the Intercosmos program. He holds the distinction of being India's first cosmonaut/astronaut.
Kalpana Chawla and Sunita Williams are notable astronauts of Indian origin, but they were U.S. citizens when they flew with NASA.
Shubhanshu Shukla is one of the four astronaut-designates for India's indigenous Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission. They are currently undergoing rigorous training for India's first human spaceflight, which is distinct from an ISS mission.
Statement ii: The mission carried seed varieties developed by Kerala Agricultural University and the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology.
Factual Status: While specific details for Axiom-4's exact payloads are not widely public or finalized, space missions frequently carry biological experiments, including seed varieties, to study the effects of microgravity on plant growth and development. Collaborations between Indian institutions and international space agencies/companies for such experiments are increasingly common. However, without a confirmed announcement for Axiom-4 specifically, its definitive correctness cannot be ascertained solely based on general plausibility.
Competitive Exam Relevance: Space biology and agricultural experiments in space are significant areas of research. Questions on specific payloads often test awareness of current scientific collaborations and mission objectives.
Statement iii: The A1-4 crew includes members from India, the USA, France and Germany.
Factual Status: This statement is incorrect.
Key Fact: The official crew manifest for Axiom-4 is determined by Axiom Space and its partners, and as of now, this specific combination of nationalities has not been confirmed for the mission. Axiom missions typically involve a mix of private astronauts and representatives from various countries, but the exact composition varies for each mission. For example, Axiom-3 had crew members from Turkey, Italy, Sweden, and the USA.
Statement iv: Falcon 9 is a reusable, two-stage rocket designed and manufactured by NASA.
Factual Status: This statement is incorrect.
Key Fact for Competitive Exams: While Falcon 9 is indeed a highly successful reusable, two-stage orbital rocket, it is designed, manufactured, and operated by SpaceX, a private American aerospace manufacturer founded by Elon Musk.
Important Distinction: NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) is the U.S. government agency responsible for space programs. While NASA is a major client of SpaceX and frequently uses Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon for its missions (e.g., resupplying the ISS, transporting astronauts), NASA does not design or manufacture the rocket itself.