Shubhanshu Shukla, an Indian Air Force officer, is set to become the second Indian to travel to space. He is likely to fly to the International Space Station (ISS) in May this year as part of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4). This was announced by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in an update about the mission.
Who is Shubhanshu Shukla?
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has been selected as the astronaut-designate and mission pilot for Ax-4. His selection comes after the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) identified him as a key astronaut for India’s upcoming Gaganyaan mission, which aims to send Indian astronauts into space.
If all goes as planned, Shukla will follow in the footsteps of Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, who became the first Indian in space in 1984.
He will be joined by three other astronauts on the mission:
- Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut and mission commander
- Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland
- Tibor Kapu from Hungary
India has also selected Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair as a backup astronaut. He will step in if Shukla is unable to fly.
What is Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4)?
Ax-4 is the fourth private astronaut mission to the ISS. It is organised by Axiom Space, a private space company based in Houston, Texas. The mission is planned to launch from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida using a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, which will be carried into orbit by a Falcon 9 rocket.
Once the astronauts reach the space station, they will spend up to 14 days there. During their stay, they will conduct scientific research, participate in outreach programs, and engage in commercial activities.
This mission is part of a special agreement between NASA and ISRO. As per the agreement, India purchased a seat for its astronaut on the Axiom mission. Interestingly, this collaboration might be exempt from the trade tariffs introduced by former US President Donald Trump.
Past private missions to ISS
Axiom Space has already completed three private missions to the ISS:
- Axiom Mission 1 (April 2022): Four astronauts stayed for 17 days.
- Axiom Mission 2 (May 2023): Crew members spent eight days in space.
- Axiom Mission 3 (January 2024): The crew lived on the ISS for 18 days.
Ax-4 will launch just a few months after Indian-origin NASA astronaut Sunita Williams returned to Earth. She spent a total of 286 days in space before coming back.
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