Indian Astronauts for Axiom-4 mission

India has shortlisted two astronaut-designates for the upcoming Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station.

Indian Astronauts for Axiom-4 mission:

• Indian astronauts Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair have been shortlisted to go to the U.S. to train for the upcoming Axiom-4 mission.
• A National Mission Assignment Board recommended two Gaganyatris (astronauts) as prime astronauts and a backup Mission Pilot for this mission.
• Group Captain Shukla will be the prime mission pilot and Group Captain Nair will be the back-up.
• It can be recalled that the India-U.S. joint statement during the official state visit of Prime Minister to the U.S. in June 2023 envisions a joint ISRO-NASA effort to the ISS.
• The Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) of ISRO entered into a Space Flight Agreement (SFA) for its upcoming Axiom-4 mission to the ISS.
• The assigned crew members will be finally approved to fly to the International Space Station by the Multilateral Crew Operations Panel (MCOP).

About Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4):

• It is the 4^th private spaceflight to the International Space Station, operated by Axiom Space and utilizing a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft.
• Scheduled to launch in 2024, this mission is a collaboration with NASA and marks Axiom Space’s fourth mission following Axiom Missions 1, 2, and 3.
• Axiom-4 aims to continue pioneering efforts to establish a sustainable human presence in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
• The mission’s objectives include facilitating commercial activities in space, such as scientific research, technological development, and space tourism.
• It will help demonstrate the viability of commercial space stations as platforms for business and innovation.
• It will carry a diverse crew of astronauts from different countries, reflecting the growing international interest in space exploration and strengthening partnerships between nations.
• Axiom-4 is expected to be a short-duration mission, lasting approximately 14 days.
• During their time aboard the International Space Station, the crew will conduct scientific experiments, perform technology demonstrations, and engage in educational outreach.
• Research and development are also key components of the mission, with various scientific experiments and technological tests planned in the unique microgravity environment of space.
• Research areas include materials science, biology, and Earth observation, which have the potential to yield groundbreaking discoveries and innovations.
• The mission will use a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft launched atop a Falcon 9 rocket.
• The crew will consist of professional astronauts and private individuals, including researchers and potentially tourists, who have undergone rigorous training for the mission.

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