IAF Group Captain and Isro’s astronaut-candidate Shubhanshu Shukla, who has been selected as India’s Gaganyatri for the International Space Station (ISS) mission in partnership with Nasa and US space agency Axiom, has reached the US to take part in a specialised training session for his maiden space trip.
Axiom Space announced on Monday that it is partnering with India (through Isro), Poland (with European Space Agency’s support) and Hungary to send three national astronauts to the space station on Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), the company’s next commercial human spaceflight mission to the orbiting space laboratory.
The crew assigned to Ax-4 includes commander Peggy Whitson, mission pilot Shubhanshu Shukla, mission specialist Slawosz Uznanski of ESA/Poland, and mission specialist Tibor Kapu of Hungary. Welcoming Shukla and other crew, Axiom Space said X: “Welcome to Houston #Ax4! This week the crew… will begin training with their commander AstroPeggy.” The Ax-4 crewmembers begin training with Axiom Space, NASA and SpaceX.
The mission will place significant emphasis on scientific research, technology demonstrations, and the commercialisation of space. Additionally, the mission aims to foster cooperation by sharing knowledge, resources and opportunities with our partners, solidifying these nations as leaders within the growing space community.
Back in India, Isro chairman S Somanath said a Gaganyatri will be “conducting five experiments”, some of which have been developed in India and will be onboard Axiom-Mission 4. During an online interaction with citizens, Somanath said, “We will also conduct some international experiments in collaboration with other space agencies, which are currently under discussion and at development stages.”
He further elaborated that when an Indian astronaut goes to the ISS, the objective is not just limited to experiments but also encompasses the entire process of learning. “A Gaganyatri flying to the ISS will help us understand how India should prepare for Gaganyaan. When the astronaut experiences the flight, we can learn from how they conduct the mission and how the spacecraft docks with the ISS. Working with an international crew already stationed there will provide us with valuable knowledge. The prime astronaut on this mission will also receive training on how to conduct the mission,” the Isro chief added.
Welcoming the Indo-US partnership, NASA administrator Bill Nelson posted on X: “Congratulations, ISRO. We look forward to welcoming the first ISRO astronaut to the International Space Station! This is a monumental step forward for the US-India partnership in space.”
Meanwhile, Shukla’s family in Lucknow is elated on his selection. His father, Shambhu Dayal Shukla, a retired govt officer, said the family is not nervous about the expedition but filled with pride. His mother, Asha Shukla, described Shubhanshu, their youngest child, as “cool-minded” and someone who handles every situation calmly.
Axiom Space announced on Monday that it is partnering with India (through Isro), Poland (with European Space Agency’s support) and Hungary to send three national astronauts to the space station on Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), the company’s next commercial human spaceflight mission to the orbiting space laboratory.
The crew assigned to Ax-4 includes commander Peggy Whitson, mission pilot Shubhanshu Shukla, mission specialist Slawosz Uznanski of ESA/Poland, and mission specialist Tibor Kapu of Hungary. Welcoming Shukla and other crew, Axiom Space said X: “Welcome to Houston #Ax4! This week the crew… will begin training with their commander AstroPeggy.” The Ax-4 crewmembers begin training with Axiom Space, NASA and SpaceX.
The mission will place significant emphasis on scientific research, technology demonstrations, and the commercialisation of space. Additionally, the mission aims to foster cooperation by sharing knowledge, resources and opportunities with our partners, solidifying these nations as leaders within the growing space community.
Back in India, Isro chairman S Somanath said a Gaganyatri will be “conducting five experiments”, some of which have been developed in India and will be onboard Axiom-Mission 4. During an online interaction with citizens, Somanath said, “We will also conduct some international experiments in collaboration with other space agencies, which are currently under discussion and at development stages.”
He further elaborated that when an Indian astronaut goes to the ISS, the objective is not just limited to experiments but also encompasses the entire process of learning. “A Gaganyatri flying to the ISS will help us understand how India should prepare for Gaganyaan. When the astronaut experiences the flight, we can learn from how they conduct the mission and how the spacecraft docks with the ISS. Working with an international crew already stationed there will provide us with valuable knowledge. The prime astronaut on this mission will also receive training on how to conduct the mission,” the Isro chief added.
Welcoming the Indo-US partnership, NASA administrator Bill Nelson posted on X: “Congratulations, ISRO. We look forward to welcoming the first ISRO astronaut to the International Space Station! This is a monumental step forward for the US-India partnership in space.”
Meanwhile, Shukla’s family in Lucknow is elated on his selection. His father, Shambhu Dayal Shukla, a retired govt officer, said the family is not nervous about the expedition but filled with pride. His mother, Asha Shukla, described Shubhanshu, their youngest child, as “cool-minded” and someone who handles every situation calmly.