Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Indian astronauts designated for the Gaganyaan Mission to the International Space Station (ISS) have arrived in the United States to commence their training at Axiom Space, a Houston-based commercial space company.
ISRO has selected Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair for this mission. Group Captain Shukla is the primary astronaut, while Group Captain Nair serves as the backup for the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission. Their training, which will last several months, will take place at Axiom Space, NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, and SpaceX.
Axiom Space confirmed that the two Indian Air Force test pilots have joined their rigorous astronaut training regimen. The crew is expected to spend up to 14 days aboard the ISS in 2025. “Axiom-4 will launch to the orbiting laboratory aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft from Florida,” stated Axiom Space. However, the exact launch date has not yet been disclosed.
The Ax-4 mission crew includes American astronaut Commander Peggy Whitson, Mission Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla of India, Mission Specialist Slawosz Uznanski from the European Space Agency (ESA)/Poland, and Mission Specialist Tibor Kapu of Hungary. This mission continues Axiom Space’s efforts to facilitate global research, innovation, and collaboration in low-Earth orbit.
Michael Suffredini, CEO of Axiom Space, remarked, “Ax-4 represents Axiom Space’s continued efforts to build opportunities for countries to research, innovate, test, and engage with people around the world while in low-Earth orbit. This mission broadens horizons for nations with ambitious goals of advancing scientific, technological, and economic pursuits.”
Dr. Peggy Whitson, a trained biochemist and America’s most experienced astronaut with 675 days in space, is the designated Commander of the Ax-4 mission. “I look forward to commanding my second commercial human spaceflight mission with Axiom Space,” said Dr. Whitson. “With a culturally diverse crew, we are not only advancing scientific knowledge but also fostering international collaboration.”
Axiom Space has a history of successful missions, including the first all-private mission to the space station, the first Saudi female astronaut, and the first Turkish astronaut. The inclusion of Indian and Hungarian astronauts in the Ax-4 mission underscores Axiom Space’s commitment to global partnership and exploration.
The Indian government has invested in acquiring the astronaut seat for this mission, highlighting the nation’s commitment to advancing its space capabilities. As the Gaganyaan Mission progresses, the collaboration with Axiom Space, NASA, and SpaceX marks a significant step in India’s space exploration journey.
