International Space Agencies – Missions and Discoveries

What is Axiom-4 Mission?

Prelims Only | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: Achievements Of Indians In S&T
Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Axiom-4 Mission

Why in the News?

ISRO has announced the names of Indian astronauts for the upcoming Axiom-4 (Ax-4) manned mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

Indian Crew in Ax-4:

The National Mission Assignment Board has recommended two Gaganyatris (astronauts) as prime and backup Mission Pilot for this mission:

  • Prime Mission Pilot: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla
  • Backup Mission Pilot: Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair


Note: Shukla will be the second Indian to go to space. So far, Wing Commander (Retired) Rakesh Sharma is the only Indian to go to space in 1984.

Objectives:

The recommended Gaganyatris will commence their training for the mission from the 1st week of August 2024. During the mission, the Gaganyatri will:

  • Undertake selected scientific research.
  • Conduct technology demonstration experiments on board the ISS.
  • Engage in space outreach activities.

About Axiom-4 Mission  

  • Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) is a private spaceflight organized by Axiom Space.
  • It aims to transport a crew to the International Space Station (ISS) for a 14-day mission.
  • This will be Axiom Space’s fourth mission to the ISS, following their previous missions (Ax-1, Ax-2, and Ax-3).
  • The mission will launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida using SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket.
  • The spacecraft for this mission is a SpaceX Crew Dragon, known for its advanced technology and safety features.
  • This mission is organized in collaboration with NASA, highlighting a strong partnership between private space companies and government space agencies to further space exploration and research.

Crew:

  • Peggy Whitson: A veteran astronaut with extensive experience, having completed multiple missions to the ISS.
  • Sławosz Uznanski: A Polish astronaut joining the mission, marking a significant milestone for Poland in space exploration.
  • Tibor Kapu: A Hungarian astronaut, adding to the diversity of the mission crew.
  • Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla: An Indian astronaut, making headlines as part of this international crew.

Back2Basics: International Space Station (ISS)

  • The ISS, orbiting 430 kilometers above Earth, completes 16 orbits daily, witnessing 16 sunrises and sunsets.
  • The ISS orbits Earth every 90 minutes at 8 km per second.
  • Spanning 109 meters, it’s almost as long as an American football field.
  • The ISS includes 6 sleeping areas, 2 bathrooms, a gym, and a panoramic view bay window.
  • Its solar array wingspan is 109 meters, and the station houses about 13 km of electrical wiring.
  • The ISS’s journey began on November 20, 1998, with Russia’s Zarya Control Module.
  • The US added the Unity Node 1 module on December 4, 1998, marking the start of a functional space lab.
  • The station evolved into its current form after 42 assembly flights.

 

PYQ:

[2019] What is India’s plan to have its own space station and how will it benefit our space programme?

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