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).

Mission Objectives

• Commercial Space Endeavors
• International Collaboration
• Research and Development