Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is poised to make historical past as the primary Indian in house in 40 years.
Shukla has been named the ‘prime’ astronaut for the groundbreaking ISRO-NASA mission to the Worldwide Area Station (ISS).
Thus far, Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma stays the only Indian to have ventured into house, conducting this feat throughout an Indo-Soviet mission in 1984.
ISRO stated Shukla, 39, together with Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, 48, have been chosen for the Axiom-4 mission, a collaboration between India and the USA.
Whereas Shukla is the first astronaut, Nair serves because the backup, able to step in if mandatory. The mission underscores India’s rising capabilities in house exploration, constructing on the legacy of Rakesh Sharma, the one Indian to have been in house until now.
Shukla and Nair are amongst 4 Indian Air Pressure officers shortlisted for India’s first manned house mission, Gaganyaan, tentatively set for subsequent yr.
Their coaching will intensify over the following eight weeks, making ready them for this historic journey. Each officers have undergone rigorous preparation, demonstrating India’s dedication to its formidable house program.
The Axiom-4 mission, between non-public house firm Axiom Area and NASA, can be launched by a SpaceX rocket. Becoming a member of Shukla on the mission are astronauts from Poland, Hungary, and the USA. The settlement for India’s participation was finalized throughout Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s go to to the USA final yr.
The Axiom-4 spacecraft will dock with the ISS for 14 days, carrying not solely astronauts but in addition cargo and provides for the station. The precise launch date stays undecided, with NASA’s web site suggesting a timeframe no sooner than October 2024, and Poland’s house company indicating the mission would possibly happen subsequent yr.
A fighter pilot from Lucknow, UP, Shukla was commissioned within the IAF in 2006 and has collected over 2,000 hours of flying expertise throughout varied plane together with Sukhoi-30 MKIs and MiG-21s. Backup astronaut Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, from Thiruvazhiyad, Kerala, is a recipient of the Sword of Honour on the Air Pressure Academy, Nair has over 3,000 hours of flying expertise and has served as a Class-A flying teacher and check pilot.
His in depth background consists of commanding a Sukhoi-30 squadron and coaching at prestigious establishments like the USA Employees School.
The Gaganyaan mission will profit from the expertise gained by this ISS mission, furthering India’s goals in human spaceflight. ISRO Chairman Somanath highlighted the mutual advantages of the Indo-US collaboration, emphasizing how this mission will improve the Gaganyaan venture by integrating superior coaching and insights from the ISS.
