Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is set to travel to the International Space Station subsequent month as a part of an Axiom-4 mission, 4 many years after Rakesh Sharma’s iconic spaceflight onboard Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft, Union Minister Jitendra Singh stated on Friday (April 18, 2025).
Mr. Singh made the remarks after reviewing the work of the Department of Space and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in New Delhi.
“Group Captain Shukla’s journey is more than just a flight – it’s a signal that India is stepping boldly into a new era of space exploration,” Mr. Singh stated.
ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan made a presentation on numerous upcoming space missions.
ISRO is set to launch the NISAR satellite tv for pc – developed collectively with NASA – in June on board the GSLV-Mark 2 rocket, Mr. Singh stated, including that in July the space company will put in orbit BlueBird Block-2 satellites of US-based AST SpaceCellular Inc. utilizing the heavy-lift LVM-3 rocket.
Mr. Singh stated Group Captain Shukla’s mission, scheduled for May, marks a milestone in India’s increasing worldwide space collaborations.
A embellished take a look at pilot with the Indian Air Force, Group Captain Shukla was shortlisted underneath ISRO’s Human Spaceflight Program and is among the many prime contenders for the Gaganyaan mission.
His journey aboard the Axiom-4 mission is anticipated to supply vital hands-on expertise in spaceflight operations, launch protocols, microgravity adaptation, and emergency preparedness – all important for India’s crewed space ambitions, an official assertion stated.
“What sets Shukla’s mission apart is its strategic importance. Unlike the symbolic undertones of India’s first human spaceflight, this time the focus is on operational readiness and global integration,” it stated.
The assertion stated Group Captain Shukla’s participation underscores India’s rising engagement with public-private worldwide partnerships in space and its resolve to emerge as a severe contender in human space exploration.
Mr. Singh stated the collaboration with worldwide companions and the strategic momentum of tasks like Gaganyaan mirror India’s dedication to changing into a world chief in space expertise.
The minister stated these efforts weren’t solely scientific in nature but in addition aligned with the imaginative and prescient of a developed and self- reliant India.
ISRO additionally plans to launch the PSLV-C61 mission carrying the EOS-09 satellite tv for pc, which is provided with a C-band artificial aperture radar, able to capturing high-resolution photos of Earth’s floor underneath all climate circumstances, day or evening.
Another vital milestone would be the Test Vehicle-D2 (TV-D2) mission, designed to simulate an abort state of affairs and show the Gaganyaan Crew Escape System.
The mission consists of sea restoration operations for the Crew Module, mimicking procedures deliberate for India’s first human spaceflight, he stated.
Published – April 18, 2025 07:40 pm IST
