Shubhanshu Shukla Enters Quarantine for Historic Ax-4 Mission, Set to Be First Indian on ISS

Indian Astronaut-Designate Shubhanshu Shukla Enters Quarantine for Historic ISS Mission

Indian Air Force pilot Shubhanshu Shukla, astronaut-designate for India's ambitious Gaganyaan human spaceflight program, has officially entered pre-launch quarantine along with his three crewmates. They are preparing for the Axiom Mission-4 (Ax-4), a private astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS) scheduled for launch on June 8th, 2025. Shukla's will be the first Indian astronaut to visit the orbiting laboratory.

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Axiom Mission-4 ready for Historic Launch

The Ax-4 mission, a collaboration with NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), is set to launch SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The launch is targeted for 6:41 PM IST on June 8th, pending final reviews. Group Captain Shukla will serve as the pilot for this mission, commanded by Peggy Whitson, a veteran former NASA astronaut and current Director of Human Spaceflight at Axiom Space. The crew also includes mission specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski from Poland (ESA) and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. Axiom Space held a ceremonial send-off for the crew before they commenced their quarantine period.

Vital Mission for India's Human Spaceflight Program

During their anticipated 14-day stay aboard the ISS, the Ax-4 crew will conduct a variety of microgravity experiments, technology demonstrations, and public outreach initiatives. ISRO has selected seven Indian scientific experiments for the mission. This flight is significant as it marks the first government-backed human spaceflight for India, Poland, and Hungary in over four decades; Rakesh Sharma was the last Indian national in space in 1984. ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan highlighted that while the mission involves an expenditure of around ₹550 crore, the benefits in terms of training, exposure to international facilities, and joint experimental experience are "phenomenal." This mission is a crucial to India's Gaganyaan program, slated for the next two years, and the planned Bhartiya Antriksh Station (Indian Space Station) by 2035.

Shubhanshu Shukla's entry into pre-launch quarantine indicates the final phase of preparation for a landmark spaceflight. The Ax-4 mission not only represents a historic moment for Indian human space exploration but also provides invaluable experience and data that will directly contribute to the nation's future endeavors in sustaining a human presence in space.

Picture Courtesy: Navbharat Live