Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla to Lead Indo-US Space Mission to ISS
Indian Air Force Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla has been selected as the prime astronaut for the upcoming Indo-US mission to the International Space Station (ISS), announced by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). This mission is a result of a joint statement signed between India and the US during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit in June 2023.
ISRO-NASA Collaboration
The Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) of ISRO has entered into a Space Flight Agreement with NASA-identified service provider Axiom Space Inc. for the Axiom-4 mission to the ISS. The National Mission Assignment Board has recommended Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla as the prime Mission Pilot and Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair as the backup.
The final approval for the crew members to fly to the ISS will be given by the Multilateral Crew Operations Panel (MCOP). Training for the mission will commence in the first week of August.
Mission Objectives
During the mission, the astronauts will conduct scientific research and technology demonstration experiments on the ISS. The experiences gained will benefit the Indian Human Space Program and strengthen ISRO-NASA cooperation.
Gaganyaan Project
The Gaganyaan project aims to demonstrate human spaceflight capability by launching a crew of three members to an orbit of 400 km for a three-day mission, returning them safely to Earth. The project includes the development of critical technologies such as a human-rated launch vehicle, Life Support System, and crew emergency escape provision.
In February, PM Modi announced the names of the four chosen Indian Air Force pilots for India’s first human space flight program, including Group Captain Prashanth Nair, Group Captain Ajit Krishnan, Group Captain Angad Pratap, and Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla. The mission is slated for a 2024-25 launch.
India’s Space Achievements
In 2023, India achieved significant milestones with the successful soft landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon’s South Pole and the launch of Aditya-L1, India’s first solar mission. These achievements have bolstered India’s standing in the global space economy and fueled the private space sector in India. Future goals include setting up ‘Bharatiya Antariksha Station’ by 2035 and sending the first Indian to the Moon by 2040.
Doubts Revealed
Wing Commander -: A Wing Commander is a high-ranking officer in the Indian Air Force. They are responsible for leading and managing air force units.
Indo-US -: Indo-US refers to something that involves both India and the United States. In this case, it means a space mission that both countries are working on together.
Space Mission -: A space mission is a journey or task that involves traveling to space to achieve specific goals, like scientific research or exploring new places.
ISS -: ISS stands for International Space Station. It is a large spacecraft that orbits Earth, where astronauts from different countries live and work.
ISRO -: ISRO stands for Indian Space Research Organisation. It is India’s space agency responsible for space research and exploration.
NASA -: NASA stands for National Aeronautics and Space Administration. It is the United States’ space agency responsible for space exploration and research.
Astronaut -: An astronaut is a person who is trained to travel and work in space.
Scientific Research -: Scientific research involves studying and experimenting to learn new things about the world and universe.
Technology Demonstrations -: Technology demonstrations are tests to show how new technologies work, often to see if they can be used in future missions or projects.
Human Space Program -: A Human Space Program is a project that involves sending humans into space to explore and conduct research.
Gaganyaan Project -: The Gaganyaan Project is India’s first mission to send humans into space. It aims to launch Indian astronauts into space by 2024-25.
