In a significant step forward for India’s space program, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has signed a Space Flight Agreement (SFA) with Axiom Space to send two Indian astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will be the primary mission pilot, while Group Captain Prashanth Nair will serve as the backup.
This development follows the announcement made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his official visit to the United States in June 2023, where he expressed India’s intention to send an astronaut to the ISS as part of a joint mission with NASA.
Both Nair and Shukla are among the four astronaut-designates selected for India’s ambitious Gaganyaan mission, which aims to send humans into space and safely return them to Earth. While the Gaganyaan program is ongoing, this collaboration with Axiom Space presents an opportunity for Indian astronauts to gain valuable experience on the ISS.
Axiom Space, a NASA-recognized service provider, will facilitate the Indian astronauts’ participation in the upcoming Axiom-4 mission to the ISS. The selected astronauts will commence their training in the first week of August 2024.
During their mission, the Indian astronauts will conduct scientific research, demonstrate advanced technologies, and engage in public outreach activities. ISRO anticipates that this experience will significantly contribute to India’s human spaceflight program and strengthen the collaborative ties between India and the United States in space exploration.
The final approval for the mission to the ISS rests with the Multilateral Crew Operations Panel (MCOP).
This landmark agreement marks a pivotal moment in India’s space exploration journey and underscores the growing partnership between the two nations in space research and technology. The mission is expected to garner widespread attention both domestically and internationally, potentially paving the way for future collaborative space endeavors.
