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21h ago

Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to Pilot Ax-4 Mission to ISS on May 29

Shukla will become the first Indian to visit the International Space Station, joining a multinational crew for a 14-day mission aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft.

Indian Airforce (IAF) pilot Group Captain and ISRO astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla (L) has been named pilot for Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), a private spaceflight for the International Space Station (ISS).
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Ax-4 mission key to Gaganyaan prep; Shubhanshu Shukla to lead all 7 experiments: Isro
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Overview

  • The Ax-4 mission, launching from Kennedy Space Center, will carry Shubhanshu Shukla as pilot alongside crew members from Poland and Hungary, under the command of NASA veteran Peggy Whitson.
  • This marks India’s return to human spaceflight after 40 years, following Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 mission aboard a Soviet Soyuz spacecraft.
  • Shukla will lead seven ISRO-designed microgravity experiments, focusing on agriculture, human biology, and cognitive performance, advancing India's Gaganyaan program.
  • The mission exemplifies international collaboration between NASA, SpaceX, Axiom Space, and ISRO, with India contributing $60 million for its participation.
  • The Ax-4 mission provides critical operational experience for India’s future human spaceflight initiatives, including the Gaganyaan program and plans for a national space station by 2035.