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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

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