More than a year since Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed him as one of India’s astronaut-designates for the ambitious Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is ready to create history today with the Axiom-4 mission. The Indian Air Force (IAF) officer will embark on Wednesday on the Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) for a 14-day science mission.
Shukla, also known as ‘Shux,’ will serve as the mission pilot alongside astronauts from the United States, Poland, and Hungary. The mission, commanded by Axiom Space, a private aerospace firm, is part of larger initiatives to open up access to space and lay the groundwork for a future private space station.
Boarding Space on SpaceX’s Dragon Falcon-9
Shukla will ride SpaceX’s trusty Dragon spacecraft, mounted on top of the Falcon 9 rocket, for a planned launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 12:01 p.m. IST on Wednesday. Following several delays because of technical and weather-related problems, the mission is now ready to take off.
Peggy Whitson, a veteran American astronaut, will lead the Axiom-4 mission. With experience in several spaceflights, Whitson will facilitate the successful launch, conduct scientific experiments in microgravity, and the final splashdown in July.
Post-launch, the Dragon spacecraft will take around 28 hours to travel to the ISS. The docking at the station is scheduled for 4:30 pm IST on June 26, assuming the mission takes place on schedule.
Executing Seven Indian Experiments in Microgravity
Shukla will conduct seven science experiments designed in India for microgravity, developed by researchers and academic institutions across the country. The experiments are meant to collect valuable data that will facilitate India’s sustained spaceflight ambitions, particularly the Gaganyaan program.
Tushar Phadnis, ISRO Group Head for Microgravity Platforms and Research, informed India Today Science that India’s contribution to the Axiom Mission 4 will give “invaluable operational experience” for Indian spaceflights in the future.
One experiment specifically targets the impact of microgravity on seed germination, which will directly influence crew nutrition and the development of sustainable food systems for future Indian space missions. Meanwhile, the other experiments focus on the survival capabilities of tardigrades (water bears), muscle regeneration, and astronaut cognitive function using electronic displays.
Axiom-4: Outreach, Motivation, and a Message to India
Shukla will also join space outreach events, addressing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and students of Indian schools and colleges during the 14-day mission.
Before embarking on the mission, Shukla had a moving message, “I want to tell the people of India, this mission is a milestone, and I appeal to India to pray for the success of the mission. Even stars are within reach.”
A test pilot, a combat commander, and now an astronaut, Shubhanshu Shukla is ready to make the most difficult flight of his life. As India holds its breath for the lift-off, this mission marks a critical milestone in the country’s journey towards achieving its long-term space goals.
