The National Investigation Agency (NIA) of India has filed another supplementary chargesheet against Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a key accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, in a special court.
Axiom-4 Mission: India's young astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is soon to complete his historic space journey and return to Earth. NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) has announced that all four astronauts participating in the Axiom-4 mission will safely return from the International Space Station (ISS) on July 14, 2025.
Shubhanshu Shukla, who is playing the role of Pilot in this mission, is one of India's first privately trained astronauts. He is joined on this mission by astronauts from the United States, Poland, and Hungary. The mission was launched in collaboration between Axiom Space and NASA to conduct scientific research and technical tests in space.
What did NASA say?
Steve Stich, Manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, while speaking to the media on Thursday, said that the activities of the Axiom-4 mission are being continuously monitored. He said: "We are working on the station program and are closely monitoring the progress of the Axiom-4 mission. According to the current plan, the spacecraft will undock from the ISS on July 14, after which the crew will return to Earth."
Shubhanshu Shukla becomes a scientist and 'farmer' in space
During this mission, Shubhanshu Shukla not only played the role of a pilot but also contributed to Space Agriculture. He experimented with growing moong and fenugreek seeds through Petri dishes in the ISS. The purpose of this experiment was to understand how the germination of seeds and the initial development of plants occur in a Microgravity Environment. He kept the plants grown in the ISS freezer and also shared their photos. By studying the future generations of these seeds, potential changes in Genetic Mutation, Nutrient Profile, and Microbial Ecosystem will be understood.
Axiom-4 Mission: An example of global cooperation
The Axiom-4 mission was launched on June 25, 2025, from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. After a journey of about 28 hours, the Crew Dragon spacecraft successfully docked with the ISS on June 26. The list of astronauts included in the mission is as follows:
- Shubhanshu Shukla (India) – Pilot
- Peggy Whitson (USA) – Commander
- Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski (Poland) – Mission Specialist
- Tibor Kapu (Hungary) – Mission Specialist
- Peggy Whitson is an experienced NASA astronaut and played the role of Commander.
This journey of Shubhanshu Shukla is a new chapter for India towards scientific achievements. While ISRO is engaged in preparing for the human space mission Gaganyaan, the active participation of Indian citizens in such international partnerships indicates that India is now moving towards global Space Leadership.
