Indian Astronauts Picked for Axiom-4 Mission

  • The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has chosen two astronauts from those trained for the Gaganyaan mission to participate in the Axiom-4 mission.
  • These astronauts will be sent to the International Space Station (ISS), in collaboration with NASA, based in the United States.

 

The Axiom-4 Mission

  • Axiom-4 mission is a collaborative project between NASA and Axiom Space, a privately funded space infrastructure developer from America.
  • The mission, which is the fourth one by private astronauts, aims to launch in August 2024 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
  • Aspirations for the mission include docking with the ISS for a span of fourteen days.
  • Indian astronauts will be trained by NASA, alongside international partners and SpaceX, focussing on spacecraft systems and emergency readiness.

Status of India's Gaganyaan Program

  • The Gaganyaan human spaceflight is projected to fly post-2025.
  • The launch of manned flights will only occur following two successful unmanned missions.

About the International Space Station (IS)

  • The ISS is a continuously crewed laboratory orbiting Earth, 400 kilometres above the surface.
  • It hosts astronauts and cosmonauts and serves as a unique science lab with research in various fields such as medicine, technology, and science.
  • The ISS is a collaborative effort involving 15 countries and five space agencies including NASA, Roscosmos, ESA, JAXA, and CSA.
  • The ISS crew orbits the Earth every 90 minutes at a speed of 7.66 km/sec. Hence, in 24 hours, it orbits the Earth 16 times, witnessing 16 sunrises and sunsets.
  • American astronaut, Peggy Whitson, holds the US record for spending the most total time in space, totaling 665 days.
  • The ISS began its journey in 1998, with parts sent and assembled in orbit. It has been continuously crewed since the year 2000.

Upcoming ISRO Initiatives

  • India is preparing to establish the country's first-ever space station by 2035.
  • ISRO has plans to construct a 20-ton space station to support microgravity experiments within the coming decade.