GS3 – S&T
Context:
Indian Air Force officer Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will become the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission.
About the Ax-4 Mission
- Organizer:
Axiom Space (U.S.-based private space company), in collaboration with NASA. - Launch Vehicle:
SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida. - Mission Type:
Private astronaut mission to the ISS – the fourth such mission by Axiom. - Mission Duration:
Up to 14 days aboard the ISS.
Significance for India
- Marks India’s return to crewed space missions after Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 flight aboard Soyuz T-11.
- First time an Indian astronaut will visit the ISS.
- Represents a milestone in Indo-U.S. space collaboration.
- Part of a NASA-ISRO joint effort to deepen cooperation in human spaceflight.
International Significance
- Includes the first astronauts from Poland and Hungary to live on the ISS.
- Emphasizes global collaboration in private spaceflight and low-Earth orbit (LEO) science missions.
Scientific Focus
The Ax-4 mission involves ~60 experiments across multiple domains:
- Materials Science
- Research into new materials’ behavior under microgravity for future aerospace and industrial applications.
- Biology and Space Health
- Studying human physiological changes in space.
- Research into countermeasures for long-duration space travel.
- Earth Observation
- High-resolution imaging for climate, weather, and geographic studies.
- India-Focused Space Research
- Microgravity Crop Study:
- Fenugreek and green gram grown in space.
- Aims to understand growth patterns and gene expression.
- Supports space agriculture and dietary planning.
- Edible Microalgae Research:
- Studies impact of space conditions on metabolism and genetics of microalgae strains.
- Aims to use algae as a sustainable food source in space.
- Food System Innovation:
- Developing resilient, space-adapted food systems for long-duration missions (e.g., Moon, Mars).
Strategic Implications
- Boosts India’s credentials in human spaceflight ahead of Gaganyaan.
- Expands India’s participation in international commercial space missions.
- Promotes scientific diplomacy and public-private partnerships in space research.