- Shubhanshu Shukla becomes the first Indian to visit the International Space Station (ISS) on Axiom Space's private AX-4 mission, more than four decades after Rakesh Sharma's historic mission.
- The Ax-4 mission, whose crew includes astronauts from Poland and Hungary, will conduct approximately 60 scientific experiments, several of them focused on biology, nutrition, and space technology.
- Shukla and his mission colleagues will spend 14 days aboard the ISS, where in addition to research, they will share educational experiences with students and Indian society.
- This experience will provide ISRO with key insights for the future Gaganyaan human spaceflight project and the development of the Indian space industry.
The Indian space scene is experiencing a turning point after the announcement that the group captain Shubhanshu Shukla will be in charge of piloting Axiom Space's Ax-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS)This mission marks a milestone, as it is the First time in over 40 years that an Indian citizen will be present on the ISS, the largest orbital laboratory on the planet, which has generated enormous expectations in India and its scientific community.
Shukla's adventure not only represents a personal achievement, but also represents the India's return to the forefront of international manned exploration, opening a new chapter in the collaboration between ISRO, NASA, the European Space Agency and private companies such as Axiom Space.
Ax-4 Mission: A Historic Step for India and International Cooperation
The Ax-4 mission is comprised of an international team consisting of Shubhanshu Shukla (pilot and Indian representative), Peggy Whitson (NASA Commander and Veteran Astronaut), Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski (Poland) and Tibor Kapu (Hungary). Takeoff scheduled for June 10 From the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the mission will be carried out using a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle and the Crew Dragon capsule. In addition to breaking a long silence on Indian crewed flights, the mission also marks the return of Poland and Hungary to space after more than 40 years.
The crew will remain on board the ISS for two weeks., during which time they will carry out around 60 scientific investigations—seven of them awarded to ISRO—and other technological outreach and experimentation activities.
Intense preparation and great national symbolism
Shubhanshu Shukla has undergone a rigorous international training process, which included stays at training centers for NASA, ESA, and the Japanese Aerospace Agency (JAXA), in addition to previous experience at the Institute of Aerospace Medicine and the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Russia. The astronaut, a native of Lucknow (northern India) and with more than 2.000 hours of military flight experience, was chosen from among the four Indian Air Force officers shortlisted for the national manned spaceflight program.
Antes del lanzamiento, The team has followed a strict quarantine period, where hygiene and health control measures have been stepped up, minimizing the risk of disease transmission that could jeopardize the mission. Shukla also will carry with him artifacts designed in India and traditional Indian dishes to share with their colleagues in orbit, a way to bring the country's culture and creativity closer to the international environment.
Activities and experiments on board the ISS
Shukla's role will be essential not only in piloting the craft during docking, but also in key experiments.. Among the studies, research stands out on cultivation of food seeds in microgravity (such as fenugreek and moong), microalgae growth to explore their uses as food or life support systems, and experiments related to the nutrition and recovery of extremophile organisms like tardigrades. Some projects are specifically geared towards understand how plants grow in space, with a view to future missions to the Moon and Mars.
The onboard menu will include typical Indian dishes developed by ISRO and DRDO, such as aam ras, moong dal halwa and rice-based options, along with a specific plan to assess the viability of Indian food in future extended missions.
Impact on India's space future
Shukla's experience on the ISS will serve as starting point and test bench for the launch of the Gaganyaan program, the first fully Indian manned mission planned for the coming years. ISRO's objective is to consolidate a self-sufficient capability in long-duration missions., life support and food technologies, and lay the groundwork for a future national space station and expeditions to the Moon.
Indian participation It has the crucial contribution of start-ups, technology companies and public-private collaboration, which are driving the modernization of the national space sector. Access to international facilities, the liberalization of the sector, and support for new companies place the India in an increasingly competitive position en el escenario global.
Shubhanshu Shukla's flight not only breaks a symbolic barrier after more than 40 years of waiting, but also represents a Huge leap in India's scientific, technological and educational projectionThe Ax-4 mission represents the consolidation of international cooperation and an unprecedented opportunity to accelerate major Indian human exploration projects, bring research closer to young people, and strengthen the national space industry for the coming decades.
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