India Returns to Space: Shubhanshu Shukla Aboards ISS After 41 Years

The human space programme of India experienced a great leap when Shubhanshu Shukla became the first Indian reality astronaut to ever be a part of a mission to the International Space Station (ISS) after more than 41 years. Axiom-4 mission (Ax-4) was a SpaceX Dragon capsule launched on the Kennedy Space Center, U.S. Together with the crew, Shukla will occupy 14 days of performing scientific research, engaging in outreach, and business development. This mission has been the start of the revived human space exploration in India. The message which was carried to space by Shukla made it clear that this mission is not only an individual travel but the beginning of the human space programme of India.

Context

• The Axiom-4 mission includes Shubhanshu Shukla who is in India to travel to the ISS and the first Indian astronaut to have travelled to the ISS in 41 years, in the first step of a human space programme in India. 

• The mission will be scientific based and commercial based in space.

Key Points

India Has Reentered Space (After 41 Years):

• The 1st Indian in space since Rakesh Sharma (1984) is Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla.

• Axiom-4 part of the mission to the International Space Station (SS).

Details of Axiom-4 Mission

• Carried out by: Axiom Space (based in the US); spacecraft: SpaceX Crew Dragon

• Rocket: Falcon 9 rocket

• Mission Type: ISS private spaceflight mission

• Time: about 14 days

• A portion of: NASA-Axiom collaboration (4th in sequence following Ax-1, Ax-2, plus Ax-3)

 International Crew Members

• Commander: Peggy Whitson (USA)

• Pilot: Shubhanshu Shukla (India)

• Specialists: Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski (Poland), Tibor Kapu (Hungary)

Objectives

• Foster Low Earth Orbit (LEO) business (e.g. space tourism, R&D)

• Foster the scientific experiments under the microgravity (materials, bio, Earth observation)

• Promote international space science cooperation

• Add to the development of commercial space stations

Importance for India

• Indian astronauts first to be present in a plate mission to ISS on a commercial basis

• Is a portent of increasing ISRO-NASA cooperation

• Gaganyaan mission precursor mission (after 2025)

• Artemis Accords training received by NASA during the visit to the US by PM (2023)

About ISS

• An international space station at an altitude of ~400 km above the ground

• NASA, Roscosmos, ESA, JAXA with CSA joint project

• Rep. earth 16/day; velocity approx. 7.66km/sec

• A crew of 7 permanent astronauts that are researching in the microgravity

Key Facts Gp Capt. Shubhanshu Shukla

• Indian Air Force officer, commissioned in 2006.

• Chosen as prime astronaut to the Axiom-4 mission (2024) to the ISS.

• Background: Lucknow, Born (1985); NDA, MTech ( Aerospace), IISc Bengaluru.

• Trained at Yuri Gagarin Centre, Russia and ISRO facility.

• Has about 2,000 flight hours on different aircrafts such as Su-30 MKI, MiG-21/29.

• He was named as one of the four astronauts to fly in India Gaganyaan missions (after 2025).

• Will be India’s first astronaut to board the ISS.

Conclusion

The Axiom-4 mission and the journey of Shubhanshu Shukla to the ISS is a significant step in India in space explorations. Being scientifically oriented, geared towards international relations, as well as commercial space affairs, this mission marks the origin of the Indian human space programme making the nation one of the leading actors of global space exploration. With the current developments in India in the space sector, this country has set its sights on a self-sufficient space activity in the near future.