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Indian Astronaut Aboard ISS After 41 Years

26 Jun 2025 GS 3 Science & Technology
Indian Astronaut Aboard ISS After 41 Years Click to view full image

  • Historic Milestone:
    Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla becomes the first Indian astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and the first Indian in space after 41 years (after Rakesh Sharma in 1984).

  • Mission Name:
    Part of the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission, launched by Axiom Space in collaboration with SpaceX and NASA.

  • Launch Details:

    • Launched from: Kennedy Space Center, Florida, USA.

    • Launch Time: 12:01 p.m. (local time) on Wednesday.

    • Vehicle: Falcon 9 rocket with a SpaceX Dragon crew capsule.

  • Crew Composition:

    • Commander: Peggy Whitson (USA)

    • Pilot: Shubhanshu Shukla (India)

    • Mission Specialists: Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski (Poland), Tibor Kapu (Hungary)

  • Duration & Activities:

    • Targeted docking with ISS: ~4:30 p.m. IST on Thursday.

    • Mission duration: 14 days aboard ISS.

    • Activities: Conducting ~60 scientific experiments, outreach, and commercial tasks.

    • Participating countries: Research from 31 countries.

                     
Significance for India:

    • Marks the beginning of India's human space programme.

    • Paves the way for ISRO's Gaganyaan mission and future Indian space collaborations.

    • Symbolic transition from payload provider to human presence in space.

Geopolitical and Technological Relevance:

    • Strengthens India’s global position in space diplomacy.

    • Showcases India's growing astronautical capabilities in partnership with private and international agencies.



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