After Sunita Williams, this Indian astronaut will fly to ISS
What's the story
In a historic first for India, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will fly on the upcoming Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) to the International Space Station (ISS).
The mission will mark India's foray into private space travel.
The Ax-4 mission will be launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft. It will last about 14 days and have a diverse crew of astronauts.
Crew profile
Meet Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla
Shukla is an ace pilot in the Indian Air Force.
Born on October 19, 1985 in Lucknow, he was commissioned into IAF's fighter wing in 2006.
As a test pilot, he has over 2,000 hours of flight experience. His flying repertoire includes various combat jets like Hawk, MiG-29, Sukhoi-30 MKI, and Dornier.
Last year, PM Narendra Modi announced Group Captain Shukla as one of the members of Gaganyaan crew.
Mission details
The diverse crew of Ax-4
Along with Shukla, the Ax-4 crew includes former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson as commander, European Space Agency astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski, and Tibor Kapu of Hungary.
While aboard the ISS, they will conduct scientific research and outreach initiatives, with a strong emphasis on commercial experiments.
The mission is part of a larger NASA-Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) collaboration, underscoring growing private sector participation in human spaceflight.
Collaboration
ISRO's role in Ax-4 mission
ISRO will monitor the Ax-4 mission, incorporating insights gained into Gaganyaan program.
Axiom Space, which aims to build first commercial space station, sees this mission as a crucial step toward that long-term vision.
As Dana Weigel, manager of NASA's ISS Program said, "Private astronaut missions help pave the way and expand access to the unique microgravity environment."
The significance of Ax-4 goes beyond its immediate objectives; it is a step toward greater international cooperation in space exploration and commercial activities.