26th June 2025 (28 Topics)
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India Returns to Space (Axiom-4 Mission)
Context
On June 25, 2025, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla became the second Indian astronaut (after Rakesh Sharma in 1984) to travel to space. He is the first Indian to go to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) — marking India’s return to human spaceflight after 41 years.
About the Mission
- Ax-4 is a commercial mission by Axiom Space in collaboration with NASA, ISRO, and international partners.
- Launched via SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Crew Dragon spacecraft “Grace” from Kennedy Space Center, Florida.
- Four-member international crew:
- Shubhanshu Shukla (India) – Mission Pilot
- Peggy Whitson (USA) – Commander
- Tibor Kapu (Hungary)
- Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski (Poland)
- Objective: 14-day stay on ISS to conduct 60+ scientific experiments in microgravity.
- Axiom Mission 4 will carry out approximately 60 scientific experiments and outreach activities involving 31 countries, including India, the US, Poland, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Nigeria, UAE, and several European nations.
- The research will span areas like human health, space agriculture, microgravity physics, and climate technology.
- This mission also aims to demonstrate the growing role of private companies in facilitating international human spaceflight and the expanding use of the ISS for commercial and diplomatic initiatives.
Significance of the Mission
- Revival of Indian Human Spaceflight: It is the first step towards Gaganyaan Mission (planned 2027). It is symbolic and strategic return to space after 4 decades.
- ISRO-NASA Collaboration: It fulfils joint commitment from earlier Indo-US summits. Coordination on scientific experiments, astronaut training, and space diplomacy.
- Science and R&D: Experiments on food & nutrition, microgravity-based seed germination (methi, moong), and human physiology. Involvement of Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and ISRO.
- Representation and Legacy: Shukla is a 39-year-old Indian Air Force pilot with 2,000+ hours of flying experience. He was selected in 2019 for Gaganyaan training (India's astronaut corps).
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