In a defining moment for India, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is all-geared to mark history. Shukla will pilot the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission to the International Space Station in Spring 2025. This mission is a major milestone for India as it is the first time an Indian astronaut steps aboard the ISS.

History Curated by Shubhanshu Shukla

The launch of Shubhanshu Shukla to ISS is an immense pride for Indian Space Aviation marking an end to the years of draught since 1984. The mission will take place from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, US. Shukla will become the first Indian astronaut to step aboard the ISS and only the second government-sponsored human spaceflight after Rakesh Sharma.

Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma

The Ax-4 mission stands on the footprints of Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, India’s first astronaut in 1984. Now after more than four decades, Shukla’s this achievement will not only represent India in space, but will also commence India’s journey in the International Space exploration.

AX-4 Mission: A Huge India-US Collaboration

AX-4 is a major mission happening between India and US. The mission is the successful aftermath of long-running India and US cooperation. The moment kicked off following the visit of Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi to US. The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) joined forces with Axiom Space, an American company specializing in human spaceflight, to support this groundbreaking project.

Training of Shubhanshu Shukla

As a part of this mission, Shukla and his backup, Group Captain Prashanth Nair have undergone rigorous training with renowned space agencies worldwide, including NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The duo currently completed extensive training at ESA’s European Astronaut Center in Cologne, Germany, where they studied communications systems and emergency response protocols within the ISS’s multinational environment.

Following their training at ESA, the crew proceeded to JAXA’s Tsukuba Space Center in Japan, where they gained valuable knowledge about the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM), also known as Kib. The training will ensure the astronauts efficient operations within the complex systems of the ISS.

About Ax-4 Mission

During the span of Ax-4 mission Shubhanshu Shukla and his team will spend up to 14 days aboard the ISS. The scientists will delve into groundbreaking scientific research and experiments in microgravity. The Indian astronaut is expected to conduct five key experiments during his time in space. The scientist will provide data that will be a treasure for future missions, including India’s ambitious Gaganyaan project.

Ax-4 mission marks a significant milestone, showcasing Indias growing prowess in space exploration while emphasizing the power of international collaboration in advancing scientific discovery. With Shukla’s this achievement, he embodies a new wave of astronauts who are shaping Indias promising future in space.

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