The mission heralds India's ambitions in space exploration, with plans for a human spaceflight in 2027 and a lunar mission by 2040.
India's Axiom-4 Mission Marks Milestone Sending First Astronaut to Space in Over Four Decades
India's Axiom-4 Mission Marks Milestone Sending First Astronaut to Space in Over Four Decades
Historic launch celebrates Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla's journey into orbit.
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla's historic launch aboard the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission from NASA's Kennedy Space Center has ignited a wave of excitement across India, marking the country's return to manned spaceflight after 41 long years. This mission, which took off at 02:31 EDT on Wednesday, carries Shukla, who is the second Indian in space, into orbit. He will make history as the first Indian to visit the International Space Station (ISS) when the spacecraft docks, just over 26 hours post-launch.
Shukla's space journey follows that of Rakesh Sharma, who flew aboard a Soviet Soyuz spacecraft in 1984, establishing a legacy of space exploration that this new mission seeks to build upon. This Axiom Space mission is noteworthy not just for its significance to India, but for being a collaborative effort between NASA, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and the European Space Agency (ESA).
The Ax-4 crew also comprises astronauts from Poland and Hungary, marking their respective countries' returns to manned spaceflight after significant intervals; Shukla and his colleagues spent weeks in quarantine ahead of the launch.
The mission, which is a commercial flight operated by Axiom Space, plans to conduct a variety of scientific experiments during its two-week stay at the ISS—60 in total, including seven collaborative projects from India. The scientific objectives include studying crop seed responses to microgravity and the effects of tardigrades—a microscopic species resilient to extreme environments—on the space environment.
In Shukla's home city of Lucknow, celebrations ensued as locals gathered to watch the historic moment, reflecting the profound significance of this journey for millions across the nation. Shukla, who has over 2,000 flying hours as an experienced Indian Air Force pilot since 2006, expressed his profound excitement leading up to the mission, dedicating his journey to the aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians.
India has invested heavily in this mission, reportedly spending around 5 billion rupees (approximately $59 million) for Shukla's seat and training through Axiom Space. Following the mission, ISRO anticipates that the insights gained from Shukla's experience in space will significantly contribute to India's ongoing endeavors in space exploration, including future missions aimed at developing a space station by 2035 and a lunar landing by 2040. The nation's enthusiasm for this endeavor is palpable, spurring a surge of interest in science and technology among the younger generations.
Shukla's space journey follows that of Rakesh Sharma, who flew aboard a Soviet Soyuz spacecraft in 1984, establishing a legacy of space exploration that this new mission seeks to build upon. This Axiom Space mission is noteworthy not just for its significance to India, but for being a collaborative effort between NASA, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and the European Space Agency (ESA).
The Ax-4 crew also comprises astronauts from Poland and Hungary, marking their respective countries' returns to manned spaceflight after significant intervals; Shukla and his colleagues spent weeks in quarantine ahead of the launch.
The mission, which is a commercial flight operated by Axiom Space, plans to conduct a variety of scientific experiments during its two-week stay at the ISS—60 in total, including seven collaborative projects from India. The scientific objectives include studying crop seed responses to microgravity and the effects of tardigrades—a microscopic species resilient to extreme environments—on the space environment.
In Shukla's home city of Lucknow, celebrations ensued as locals gathered to watch the historic moment, reflecting the profound significance of this journey for millions across the nation. Shukla, who has over 2,000 flying hours as an experienced Indian Air Force pilot since 2006, expressed his profound excitement leading up to the mission, dedicating his journey to the aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians.
India has invested heavily in this mission, reportedly spending around 5 billion rupees (approximately $59 million) for Shukla's seat and training through Axiom Space. Following the mission, ISRO anticipates that the insights gained from Shukla's experience in space will significantly contribute to India's ongoing endeavors in space exploration, including future missions aimed at developing a space station by 2035 and a lunar landing by 2040. The nation's enthusiasm for this endeavor is palpable, spurring a surge of interest in science and technology among the younger generations.
