Why in News?
ISRO stated that the Axiom-4 mission to the ISS, involving Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, will offer critical insights for India’s Gaganyaan mission. It aids astronaut readiness, mission planning, and showcases Indian handicrafts as cultural ambassadors in space.
Description:
About International Space Station (ISS):
- A large, habitable space laboratory orbiting ~400 km above Earth.
- Joint project of NASA (USA), Roscosmos (Russia), ESA (Europe), JAXA (Japan), CSA (Canada).
- Operational since 1998; serves as the world’s premier microgravity research platform.
- Supports experiments in biology, physics, astronomy, materials science.
- Planned retirement around 2030–2031, with controlled deorbiting.
- Commercial successors like Axiom Station will eventually replace its role.
About Axiom Mission 4 (2025):
- Fourth private astronaut mission by NASA & Axiom Space.
- Launched by SpaceX from Kennedy Space Center on June 24–25, 2025.
- Spacecraft: Crew Dragon “Grace.”
- Docked with ISS ~16 hours after launch for a planned 14-day mission.
- Crew of 4:
- Commander: Peggy Whitson (USA)
- Pilot: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla (India)
- Mission Specialists from Poland and Hungary.
- Highlights increasing commercial and international collaboration in spaceflight.
Shubhanshu Shukla’s Historic Achievement:
- First Indian to reach ISS via a commercial mission.
- Second Indian in space after Rakesh Sharma (1984).
- Group Captain in the Indian Air Force.
- Mission Pilot aboard Dragon spacecraft.
- Symbolizes India’s entry into the commercial human spaceflight era.
- Bridges over a 40-year gap since India’s last human spaceflight.
Key Scientific Objectives Relevant to India:
- 60 experiments from 31 countries, including ISRO-designed studies.
- Examples:
- Microgravity crop growth (moong, methi) for space food systems.
- Human physiology studies to manage muscle loss in space.
- Mental health research for spacecraft computer design.
- Life-support systems with cyanobacteria and microalgae for future spacecraft.
Long-Term Vision for India’s Space Program
- Gaganyaan: First crewed indigenous mission by 2027.
- Bharatiya Antariksh Station: First module by 2028; full station by 2035.
- Crewed lunar mission planned by 2040.
- Goal to capture 8% of global space market, grow space economy to $44 billion by 2033.
- Strengthens diplomatic ties through space collaboration with countries like Russia, France, Australia.
La Excellence IAS Academy, the best IAS coaching in Hyderabad, known for delivering quality content and conceptual clarity for UPSC 2025 preparation.
FOLLOW US ON:
◉ YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/@CivilsPrepTeam
◉ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaExcellenceIAS
◉ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laexcellenceiasacademy/
GET IN TOUCH:
Contact us at info@laex.in, https://laex.in/contact-us/
or Call us @ +91 9052 29 2929, +91 9052 99 2929, +91 9154 24 2140
OUR BRANCHES:
Head Office: H No: 1-10-225A, Beside AEVA Fertility Center, Ashok Nagar Extension, VV Giri Nagar, Ashok Nagar, Hyderabad, 500020
Madhapur: Flat no: 301, survey no 58-60, Guttala begumpet Madhapur metro pillar: 1524, Rangareddy Hyderabad, Telangana 500081
Bangalore: Plot No: 99, 2nd floor, 80 Feet Road, Beside Poorvika Mobiles, Chandra Layout, Attiguppe, Near Vijaya Nagara, Bengaluru, 560040
