Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force has taken a significant step towards making history. He is set to become the first Indian Air Force officer and astronaut to travel to the International Space Station (ISS). This historic journey will take place in May 2025 as part of Ax-4 (Axiom Mission 4).
New Delhi: A new chapter is about to be added to the history of Indian space travel. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force will soon be heading towards the International Space Station (ISS). He will be sent into space in May 2025 under Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4). With this journey, Shubhanshu Shukla will become the second Indian to go into space after Rakesh Sharma and the first Indian astronaut to reach the ISS.
A Major Opportunity Before Gaganyaan
Shukla has also been selected for India's ambitious human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan. Therefore, the Ax-4 mission will provide him with crucial flight experience in space. Through this mission, he will gain valuable knowledge related to life, research, and operations in space, which will be extremely beneficial for Gaganyaan.
The Mission Crew and Global Partnership
Ax-4 will comprise four astronauts. The mission will be led by former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson. She will be joined by Tibor Káposzta from Hungary and Sławosz Uznański-Wisiński from Poland. This will be the first time astronauts from Hungary and Poland will reach the ISS. The Ax-4 mission will launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida using a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft to reach the ISS. During the mission, all astronauts will spend approximately 14 days aboard the space station, participating in scientific experiments, educational activities, and commercial research.
Prasant Nair Appointed as Backup
If, for any reason, Shubhanshu Shukla is unable to participate in the mission, Group Captain Prasant Balakrishnan Nair has been designated as the backup astronaut. This backup system is a crucial strategy for any contingency, an integral part of space missions.
Ax-4 is not just a space journey; it also symbolizes the growing space cooperation between India and the United States. Technological exchange and joint projects between NASA and ISRO are paving the way for the future.
Why is this Mission Special?
* Shubhanshu Shukla will be the first Indian to reach the ISS.
* Three successful private missions (Ax-1, Ax-2, Ax-3) have already preceded Ax-4.
* A significant training opportunity on a global platform for India before Gaganyaan.
* A unique example of partnership between India, the United States, Poland, and Hungary.
