Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Poised to Make History as Pilot of Axiom-4 Mission to the ISS

In a monumental step for India’s space program, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force (IAF) will pilot the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2025.

Background

The Ax-4 mission is the result of a bilateral agreement between India and the US. Over a year ago, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official visit to the US.
It was announced that an Indian astronaut would travel to the ISS.
Following this, ISRO signed a space flight agreement with Axiom Space, an American provider of human spaceflight services.

Team

Shukla and his backup, fellow Indian astronaut Group Captain Prashanth Nair, both IAF test pilots, will join an international crew for the mission.
Alongside Shukla, specialists Slawosz Uznanski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary will join the Ax-4 mission, marking their nations’ first ISS missions.

Role of Shubhanshu Shukla

As the Ax-4 pilot, Shukla will assist in critical spacecraft operations like navigation and docking.
He’ll also undergo rigorous training to handle emergencies, perform system checks, and manage microgravity experiments, ensuring he’s fully prepared for the mission’s success.

Training

The Ax-4 crew will undergo intense training at facilities like NASA, SpaceX, ESA, and JAXA, mastering ISS systems, safety protocols, and technology demonstrations.
The mission will utilize SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft, renowned for their advanced docking capabilities and life support systems, ensuring the crew’s safety.

Time Period

The Ax-4 crew will spend up to 14 days aboard the ISS, representing historic returns to space for India, Poland, and Hungary.
The mission highlights Axiom Space’s efforts to revolutionize access to low-Earth orbit, promoting international cooperation and advancing space exploration.

About Axiom-4 Mission

Axiom Mission 4 (or Ax-4) is a private spaceflight to the International Space Station.
It is operated by Axiom Space and uses a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft.
The flight is in collaboration with NASA and will be the fourth flight of Axiom Space after Axiom Mission 1, Axiom Mission 2 and Axiom Mission 3.
Scheduled to launch in 2024, Axiom-4 will continue the company’s pioneering efforts to establish a sustainable human presence in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).