Shubhanshu Shukla: India's First Astronaut to Pilot Axiom Mission 4 to ISS
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Mission Name | Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) |
| Organizers | Axiom Space and NASA |
| Launch Vehicle | SpaceX Dragon capsule atop Falcon 9 rocket |
| Mission Duration | Up to 14 days |
| Launch Date | Spring 2025 |
| Crew Composition | - Peggy Whitson (Mission Commander, former NASA astronaut) |
| - Shubhanshu Shukla (Mission Pilot, Indian Air Force pilot) | |
| - Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski (Mission Specialist, Poland) | |
| - Tibor Kapu (Mission Specialist, Hungary) | |
| Shubhanshu Shukla | - Born: October 10, 1985, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh |
| - Indian Air Force pilot, commissioned in 2006 | |
| - Over 2,000 flight hours in aircraft like Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, and MiG-29 | |
| - Promoted to Group Captain in March 2024 | |
| Training | - Astronaut training at Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre, Russia |
| - SpaceX training for mission simulation and spacecraft systems | |
| Mission Objectives | - Scientific research in microgravity |
| - Educational outreach and commercial activities | |
| - Cultural outreach: showcasing Indian artifacts and yoga in space | |
| Significance for India | - First Indian astronaut to pilot a mission to the ISS |
| - Continues India's space legacy, 40 years after Rakesh Sharma's flight |