Possible UPSC questions
Prelims
- With reference to the Axiom-4 mission, consider the following statements:
1. It is a government-funded NASA resupply flight to the ISS.
2. The crew includes India’s Shubhanshu Shukla and is launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9.
Which of the above is/are correct? - Liquid oxygen (LOX), widely used in modern launch vehicles, must be kept below approximately –183 °C because:
A) It prevents cavitation in turbopumps.
B) It remains in liquid phase only at cryogenic temperatures.
C) It avoids spontaneous polymerisation.
D) It minimises the risk of ignition during tanking.
Mains
“India’s participation in privately led commercial missions such as Axiom-4 marks a shift in global space cooperation. Discuss the implications for India’s human-spaceflight roadmap and its space-industry ecosystem.”
Context and mission profile
Axiom-4 (Ax-4) is the fourth private astronaut flight organised by US-based Axiom Space under NASA’s “private astronaut mission” programme. The four-member crew—Commander Peggy Whitson (USA), Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla (India), and Mission Specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski (Poland) and Tibor Kapu (Hungary)—was to spend ~14 days on the International Space Station (ISS), conducting around 60 micro-gravity experiments as well as outreach events. NASA contracts Axiom for ISS access, while Axiom in turn hires SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon capsule. For India, Ax-4 would have put an Indian in Earth orbit after a 40-year gap, provided flight experience ahead of ISRO’s Gaganyaan programme, and deepened India–US space ties under the 2023 strategic initiative. nasa.govspacenews.com
Why the launch was scrubbed
During a routine “static-fire” engine test on 8 June, SpaceX engineers detected a liquid-oxygen (LOX) leak in the Falcon 9 booster. LOX serves as the oxidiser, mixing with rocket-grade kerosene in Merlin engines; any leak compromises thrust and poses combustion-hazard risks. Because LOX instantly flashes into invisible vapour at ambient temperature, pinpointing its source involves painstaking cryogenic inspections, bubble or helium-mass-spectrometry tests, and cold-flow trials. SpaceX therefore stood down from the 11 June window, opting for repairs and re-inspection before announcing a fresh date. spacenews.comindiatoday.in
Additional complicating factors
Launches to the ISS must hit precise orbital “windows” that minimise propellant use and ensure an open docking port. Although such windows recur every few days, they must also fit around other visiting vehicles—such as Russian Progress cargo craft—and around lighting constraints for safe rendezvous. NASA and Roscosmos were already assessing an unrelated pressure anomaly in an ISS service module; the Ax-4 delay gives teams time to ensure the station is fully ready. nasa.gov
Relevance to UPSC syllabus
- Science & Tech (GS-III): Demonstrates advances in commercial human spaceflight, cryogenic-propulsion safety, and international collaboration—areas frequently asked in prelims and mains.
- International Relations (GS-II): Highlights space diplomacy and India–US technology cooperation, aligning with questions on strategic partnerships.
- Economy & Industry: The ₹500-crore ISRO spend showcases public investment in private missions, relevant for topics on public–private partnerships and NewSpace economics.
For aspirants, tracking such missions enriches answers on India’s emerging space-policy framework, private-sector participation under IN-SPACe, and the technological challenges India must master before launching Gaganyaan. The episode also provides a live case study on risk management in complex engineering projects—a recurring theme in UPSC analytical questions.
