Overview

• The Axiom Mission 4, India's first astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS), has been rescheduled from May 29 to June, ISRO Chairman V Narayanan announced.
• Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the mission pilot, will join a multinational crew led by veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson for a 14-day ISS expedition.
• ISRO and DRDO have developed Indian food items, including moong dal halwa, rice dishes, and mango nectar, for Shukla to consume in space, alongside NASA-approved international cuisine.
• The mission, costing Rs 550 crores, will include seven experiments in agriculture, food, and human biology to support future space programs like Gaganyaan.
• This collaboration between ISRO, NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX marks a significant step in India's human spaceflight ambitions and global space partnerships.