Indian Astronaut Set to Soar to Space Station on June 8th aboard SpaceX Rocket
Get ready for liftoff! An Indian astronaut is poised to make history as part of the private crew launching to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on June 8th. This mission, managed by Axiom Space, marks a significant step in India's burgeoning space ambitions.
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, a decorated pilot from the Indian Air Force, will be part of the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), joining a multinational crew for a 14-day journey. This mission, organized by Axiom Space in collaboration with NASA and ISRO, will see Shukla become the second Indian ever to venture into space, following in the footsteps of Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma.
The Ax-4 mission will launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The crew will travel over 400 kilometers above Earth to the ISS, utilizing the same SpaceX rocket that recently brought astronaut Sunita Williams back after her extended stay. Shukla will serve as the mission pilot, working alongside Commander Peggy Whitson, a NASA veteran.
While the mission is estimated to cost over Rs 500 crore (over $60 million), India views this as an investment in its future in space. This mission is set to conduct almost 60 experiments and studies covering space medicine, robotics, material science, and biology. Seven experiments will be led by ISRO. These experiments represent collaboration from 31 countries, making this one of the most globally collaborative space missions.
The launch will not only serve scientific purposes, but also inspire young minds. While aboard the ISS, the Ax-4 astronauts will use ISS Ham radio to reach out to students on Earth, and teach them about life in space.
Looking ahead, India is planning to launch its first Gaganyaan crewed mission within the next two years, signifying India's official entry into the elite group of nations with human spaceflight capability. By 2028, ISRO aims to launch the first module of the Bharat Antariksha Station, aiming for a sustained Indian presence in space by 2035.
Axiom Space completed a Flight Readiness Review, clearing the team for launch. According to Axiom Chief of Mission Services Allen Flynt, “This is realizing the return to human spaceflight for these countries.”
What groundbreaking discoveries and advancements will result from the experiments conducted during this mission? How will this pave the way for India's future space endeavors? Share your thoughts and predictions in the comments below!
