Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla to Lead Indo-US Space Mission to ISS
New Delhi, India – Indian Air Force Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla has been chosen as the main astronaut for the upcoming Indo-US mission to the International Space Station (ISS), announced by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). This mission is part of a joint effort between ISRO and NASA, following a state visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US in June 2023.
Joint ISRO-NASA Effort
The Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) of ISRO has signed a Space Flight Agreement (SFA) with Axiom Space Inc, a NASA-identified service provider, for the Axiom-4 mission to the ISS. The National Mission Assignment Board has recommended two Gaganyatris: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla as the prime Mission Pilot and Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair as the backup.
Training and Mission Goals
The selected astronauts will start their training in the first week of August. During the mission, they will conduct scientific research and technology demonstrations on the ISS, as well as participate in space outreach activities. The experience gained will benefit India’s Human Space Program and strengthen ISRO-NASA cooperation.
Gaganyaan Mission
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 four chosen Indian Air Force pilots, including Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla, were trained at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre in Russia. The mission is expected to launch in 2024-25.
Technological Preparations
ISRO is developing critical technologies for the Gaganyaan mission, including a human-rated launch vehicle, life support systems, and crew emergency escape provisions. Various precursor missions will test these technologies before the actual human spaceflight.
India’s Space Achievements
In 2023, India achieved significant milestones with the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon’s South Pole and the launch of Aditya-L1, India’s first solar mission. These accomplishments have bolstered India’s position in the global space economy and fueled the private space sector. Future goals include establishing the ‘Bharatiya Antariksha Station’ by 2035 and sending an 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 means something that involves both India and the United States. In this case, it is a space mission that both countries are working on together.
Space Mission -: A space mission is a journey or task that astronauts undertake in space. They usually go to places like the International Space Station (ISS) to do experiments and research.
ISS -: ISS stands for International Space Station. It is a large spacecraft that orbits the Earth, where astronauts from different countries live and work.
ISRO -: ISRO stands for Indian Space Research Organisation. It is India’s space agency that works on space missions and satellite launches.
NASA -: NASA stands for National Aeronautics and Space Administration. It is the United States’ space agency that explores space and conducts scientific research.
Astronaut -: An astronaut is a person who is trained to travel and work in space. They conduct experiments and help us learn more about space.
Training -: Training is the process of learning and practicing skills. Astronauts go through special training to prepare for their missions in space.
Scientific Research -: Scientific research is the process of studying and experimenting to learn new things. Astronauts do research in space to understand more about science and space.
Gaganyaan project -: The Gaganyaan project is India’s mission to send humans into space. It aims to show that India can successfully conduct human spaceflights.
Human Spaceflight -: Human spaceflight means sending people into space. It involves astronauts traveling in spacecraft to explore and conduct experiments.
Milestones -: Milestones are important achievements or events. In space exploration, milestones are significant accomplishments like launching satellites or sending astronauts to space.