India has marked a significant milestone in its space exploration journey with the successful launch of the Axiom-4 mission, carrying Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the country’s second astronaut to venture into space.
Shukla, a 39-year-old Indian Air Force test pilot, piloted the mission alongside a multi-country crew, including former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland, and Tibor Kapu from Hungary.
The Axiom-4 mission, a collaborative effort between NASA, India’s space agency ISRO, European Space Agency (ESA), and SpaceX, aims to conduct 60 scientific experiments during the two-week stay on the International Space Station (ISS).
Seven of these experiments are from India, focusing on topics such as crop seed behavior in space, microalgae growth, and tardigrades’ survival in microgravity. These experiments will contribute significantly to our understanding of space and its effects on biology and microgravity.
Upon liftoff, Group Captain Shukla exclaimed, “We’re back in space after 41 years and what an amazing ride it’s been… This is not the start of my journey to the ISS, this is the beginning of India’s human spaceflight.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the successful launch, stating that the Indian astronaut “carries with him the wishes, hopes and aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians”.
Shukla’s mission is a stepping stone for India’s ambitious space plans, including sending an astronaut to the Moon by 2040 and setting up a space station by 2035. The experience gained during this trip will immensely help ISRO’s efforts, particularly in preparation for India’s first-ever human space flight, scheduled for 2027. ISRO has paid 5 billion rupees ($59 million) to secure Shukla’s seat on Ax-4 and his training.
During his time on the ISS, Shukla will have a busy schedule, including interactions with Indian students and a possible conversation with Prime Minister Modi. The mission marks a significant step in India’s space exploration journey, demonstrating the country’s growing prowess in space technology and its commitment to becoming a global leader in the field.