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Current Affairs-Topics
India has selected two astronauts for the Axiom-4 mission
India has selected two astronauts for the Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Shubhanshu Shukla will be the primary mission pilot and Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair will be the backup pilot. |
Mission Overview and Astronaut Selection
- India has selected two astronauts for the mission to the International Space Station (ISS)
- Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla: Primary mission pilot
- Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair: Backue Axiom-4
- Part of a collaboration between ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) and NASA
- Planned during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's U.S. visit in June 2023
- Space Flight Agreement signed with Axiom Space Inc.
Astronaut Profiles and Training
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla:
- Commissioned in the Indian Air Force (IAF) on June 17, 2006
- Fighter Combat Leader and Test Pilot
- Approximately 2000 flight hours
- Experience with Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, and MiG-29 aircraft
Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair:
- Commissioned on December 19, 1998
- Recipient of the Sword of Honour
- Category A Flying Instructor and Test Pilot
- Approximately 3000 flight hours
- Former commander of a Su-30 Squadron
- Alumnus of the United States Staff College
Training Schedule:
- Begins in the first week of August 2024
- Focuses on scientific research, technology demonstrations, and public outreach activities
- Takes place in the United States
Axiom-4 Mission Details and Crew
- Fourth private astronaut mission to the ISS
Crew composition:
-
- Commander: Peggy Whitson (USA)
- Pilot: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla (India)
- Mission Specialists: Sławosz Uznanski (Poland) and Tibor Kapu (Hungary)
- Crew approval by the Multilateral Crew Operations Panel (MCOP)
- Mission objectives include scientific research, technology demonstration experiments, and space outreach activities
Significance for India's Space Program
- Advances India's human spaceflight capabilities
- Strengthens cooperation between ISRO and NASA
- Serves as a precursor to the Gaganyaan mission, India's first crewed spaceflight
- Gaganyaan mission aims to demonstrate India's ability to conduct a three-day orbital flight with a safe return
- Four IAF test pilots, including Shukla and Nair, selected for Gaganyaan
- Primary training for Gaganyaan underway at ISRO's Astronaut Training Facility in Bengaluru
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