More than a year after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced during a visit to the US that an Indian astronaut would join a US mission to the International Space Station (ISS), the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is preparing to send Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla as part of a space flight agreement with Axiom Space, a NASA-identified service provider.
ISRO’s Human Space Flight Centre has recommended Shukla as the prime mission pilot and Group Captain Prashanth Nair as the backup. Final approval for their roles will be given by the multilateral crew operations panel.
Shubhanshu Shukla and Prashanth Nair are among the four astronauts-designate selected for India’s Gaganyaan mission, which aims to send astronauts to space. The training for their mission to the ISS will commence in the first week of August 2024, according to ISRO.
ISRO to Send Indian Astronaut to ISS on Axiom Space Mission, Marking Historic ISRO-NASA Partnership
The agreement with Axiom Space pertains to the upcoming Axiom-4 mission to the ISS, reinforcing the collaboration envisioned during Prime Minister Modi’s state visit to the US in June 2023.
The collaboration marks a significant milestone in the ISRO-NASA partnership. This joint effort underscores the vision shared during PM Modi’s visit, which included a commitment to enhanced spaceflight cooperation between the two agencies. ISRO emphasized that the mission will involve scientific research, technology demonstrations, and space-outreach activities conducted by the astronauts, including the Indian participant.
Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla’s participation in the mission will make him the second Indian citizen to travel to space. This mission is expected to provide valuable experience for India’s Human Space Programme and further strengthen the spaceflight cooperation between ISRO and NASA, highlighting India’s growing presence in international space exploration efforts.
