• Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair have been selected for an upcoming Indo-US mission to the International Space Station (ISS), the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced.

• Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s name has been recommended as the primary astronaut and Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair will be his backup, ISRO said.

• This has been done on the recommendation of the NASA-identified service provider Axiom Space Inc.

• Shukla and Nair are among the four astronauts, whose names were announced by Modi earlier this year for India’s maiden human spaceflight mission next year. Two other pilots were Group Captain Ajit Krishnan and Group Captain Angad Pratap.

• The ISRO said its Human Space Flight Centre has entered into a space flight agreement with US’ Axiom Space Inc, for its fourth mission to the ISS and a National Mission Assignment Board has recommended two ‘gaganyatris’ (astronauts) — Group Captain Shukla (prime) and Group Captain Nair (backup).

• The assigned crew members will be finally approved to fly to the International Space Station by the Multilateral Crew Operations Panel (MCOP). The recommended ‘gaganyatris’ will commence their training for the mission from the first week of August 2024.

• During the mission, the ‘gaganyatris’ will undertake selected scientific research and technology demonstration experiments on board the ISS and engage in space outreach activities.

• The experiences gained during this mission will be beneficial for the Indian Human Space Programme and it will also strengthen human space flight cooperation between ISRO and NASA.

• India and the US are collaborating to send an Indian astronaut to the International Space Station in 2024. 

Axiom-4 Mission

• Axiom Mission 4 (or Ax-4) is a private spaceflight to the International Space Station.

• The flight will be launched in October 2024 and will last 14 days.

• It will be operated by Axiom Space and use a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft.

Key Objectives of Axiom-4 Mission:

• Commercial Space Exploration: Axiom-4 aims to showcase the viability of commercial space stations as platforms for business and innovation. This mission is a step towards establishing a commercially viable space industry.

• Scientific Research: The mission will conduct a variety of scientific experiments in the unique microgravity environment of the International Space Station (ISS). These experiments will contribute to advancements in fields such as medicine, technology, and our overall understanding of the universe.

• International Collaboration: By involving astronauts from different countries, Axiom-4 fosters global cooperation in space exploration and technology development. This international participation helps strengthen partnerships and shared goals in space research.

• Technology Demonstration: Axiom-4 serves as a testbed for new technologies and systems, including innovations in spacecraft design, life support systems, and communication networks. This helps in validating and refining technologies for future missions.

• Public Inspiration: By highlighting human achievements in space, Axiom-4 aims to inspire future generations to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), encouraging the next wave of innovators and explorers.

Importance of Axiom Mission

• Paving the Way for Space Tourism: Axiom-4 represents a critical milestone in making space travel more accessible to a broader audience, potentially creating new opportunities and markets within the space industry.

• Expanding Human Presence in Space: The mission supports the long-term objective of establishing a sustainable human presence in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and beyond, contributing to the future of space habitation and exploration.

• Technological Advancements: Axiom-4 provides a platform for conducting experiments and testing new technologies, which can drive innovation and progress across various fields, from spacecraft design to life support systems.

• Global Cooperation: By involving international participants, Axiom-4 enhances global collaboration in space exploration, which is essential for addressing global challenges, advancing scientific knowledge, and fostering international partnerships.

• Inspiring Future Generations: The mission showcases the potential of human spaceflight, serving as a source of inspiration for young people to pursue careers in STEM fields and contribute to the future of space exploration and technological development.

International Space Station

• A partnership between European countries (represented by European Space Agency), the United States (NASA), Japan (JAXA, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), Canada (CSA, Canadian Space Agency) and Russia (Roscosmos), the International Space Station is the world’s largest international cooperative programme in science and technology.

• The International Space Station weighs almost 400 tonnes and covers an area as big as a football pitch. 

• It would have been impossible to build the Space Station on Earth and then launch it into space in one go. There is no rocket big enough or powerful enough. To get round this problem the ISS was taken into space piece-by-piece and gradually built in orbit, approximately 400 km above the Earth’s surface. This assembly required more than 40 missions.

• The first piece of the ISS was launched in 1998. A Russian rocket launched that piece. After that, more pieces were added. Two years later, the station was ready for people. 

• The first crew arrived on November 2, 2000. People have lived on the space station ever since. 

• The ISS circles the Earth taking 90-93 minutes. The exact number of orbits per day is usually less than 16 (generally 15.5 to 15.9 orbits/day).

• The ISS is the ninth space station to be inhabited by crews, following the Soviet and later Russian Salyut, Almaz, and Mir stations as well as Skylab from the US.

• The unique microgravity laboratory has hosted more than 3,000 research investigations from over 4,200 researchers across the world.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants.)