Returns to space: After 40 years, India to send astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to ISS in May

Returns to space: India is ready to knock at the International Space Station once again after 40 years. Union Minister Jitendra Singh said that after a long wait of four decades, Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is going to visit the International Space Station next month under the Axiom-4 mission. Singh said that this is not just an ordinary flight, but it shows that India is reaching a new level in space exploration.

Who is Shubhanshu Shukla

Shubhanshu Shukla is an experienced pilot of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and now he is going to become India's official astronaut. His journey started in June 2006, when he got commissioned in the fighter wing of the IAF. He has flown more than 2000 hours on fighter aircraft like Su-30 MKI, MiG-21 and MiG-29. In 2019, he was selected by ISRO and got astronaut training in Russia.

On 27 February 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi nominated him for the Gaganyaan mission (India's first manned space mission, which will be launched in 2025).

Axiom Space's X-4 Mission

ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan said that Shukla is fully prepared for the upcoming mission, which is expected to give him important practical experience that will support India's future human space flight initiatives. Shukla, a decorated test pilot of the Indian Air Force, was selected under ISRO's Human Space Flight Programme (HSP).

What is the mission?

The report said his participation in the X-4 mission is expected to provide important experiential insights into launch protocols, microgravity adaptation, emergency preparedness and operational spaceflight, all crucial elements for India's ambitions in human space exploration.

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Officials said what makes this mission different is its focus on practical preparations rather than a symbolic achievement. The report said Shukla's upcoming trip is an important step in India's deeper integration with global public-private partnerships in space, reflecting its resolve to emerge as a serious player in human space exploration.

Poland and Hungary astronaut will also be involved in this mission

Shukla's International Space Station mission will be carried out via the SpaceX Dragon vehicle led by former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson. Slavos Ujnanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary will travel with him in space.

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Summary

This will be India's first manned mission in which three astronauts will go to space for three days and then return. India is rapidly moving ahead in the space sector and is working on a plan to establish its own space station by 2035.