AXIOM-4 - PRIVATE ASTRONAUT MISSION TO THE ISS : SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

AXIOM-4 - PRIVATE ASTRONAUT MISSION TO THE ISS :  SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

NEWS: India selects 2 crew members for Axiom-4 mission to ISS

 

WHAT’S IN THE NEWS?

Shubhanshu Shukla and Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, Group Captains in the IAF, will train in U.S.; experience gained during the mission will be beneficial for human space programme, says ISRO

 

Astronaut Selection:

  • Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair selected for Axiom-4 mission training in the U.S.
  • Group Captain Shukla: Prime mission pilot.
  • Group Captain Nair: Back-up mission pilot.

 

Mission Overview:

  • Axiom-4: Fourth private astronaut mission to the ISS.
  • ISRO and NASA collaboration for the ISS mission.

 

Training and Approval:

  • Training starts in August 2024.
  • Final approval by the Multilateral Crew Operations Panel.

 

Mission Objectives:

  • Conduct scientific research and technology demonstrations on the ISS.
  • Engage in space outreach activities.

 

Significance:

  • Benefits for the Indian Human Space Program.
  • Strengthens ISRO-NASA human space flight cooperation.

 

Astronaut Background:

  • Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla:
    • NDA alumnus, commissioned in 2006.
    • Fighter combat leader, test pilot.
    • 2,000 hours of flying experience on various aircraft (Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, etc.).
  • Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair:
    • NDA alumnus, commissioned in 1998.
    • Sword of Honour recipient.
    • Cat A flying instructor, test pilot.
    • 3,000 hours of flying experience on various aircraft (Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, etc.).
    • Alumnus of the U.S. Staff College, DS at Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, and Flying Instructors School, Tambaram.

 

International Space Station (ISS) Overview

Description

  • Large, permanently crewed laboratory orbiting Earth.
  • Located 400 km above Earth's surface.

 Purpose

  • Unique science laboratory conducting research.
  • Advancements in medicine, technology, science, and understanding of Earth and the universe.

 Collaboration

  • Joint project of 15 countries.
  • Five space agencies involved: NASA (USA), Roscosmos (Russia), ESA (Europe), JAXA (Japan), CSA (Canada).

 Crew

  • International crew of seven people.
  • Lives and works on the ISS.
  • Travels at 7.66 km/sec.
  • Orbits Earth every 90 minutes, completing 16 orbits (16 sunrises and sunsets) in 24 hours.

 

Records

  • Peggy Whitson holds the US record for most total time in space: 665 days.

 History

  • First parts launched and assembled in orbit in 1998.
  • Continuously crewed since 2000.

 

 Source : https://epaper.thehindu.com/ccidist-ws/th/th_delhi/issues/93516/OPS/GOHD57AIT.1+GDJD57B55.1.html