India has finally sent its first astronaut into space after a four-decade-long wait, with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla on board the Axiom-4 mission. The historic flight, which includes a multi-country crew, marks a significant milestone in India’s space program. Shukla, who became only the second Indian to travel to space, will spend two weeks at the International Space Station (ISS) conducting scientific experiments and interacting with students back home.
The Axiom-4 mission is a collaboration between NASA, ISRO, the European Space Agency, and SpaceX, and was launched from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday. The four-member crew also includes astronauts from Poland and Hungary. Shukla’s journey has generated immense interest in India, with ISRO saying it will help the country’s space efforts immensely.
Shukla, a 39-year-old air force pilot, spent weeks in quarantine before launch and had a message for India shortly after takeoff: “We’re back in space after 41 years and what an amazing ride it’s been.” He expressed his excitement to interact with students and answer their questions while in space.
The mission includes conducting 60 scientific experiments, many of which are from ISRO. These experiments aim to improve our understanding of space, its effects on biology, and micro-gravity. Some key projects include investigating the impact of spaceflight on crop seeds, growing microalgae for food and fuel, and studying tardigrades in space.
The successful launch has been welcomed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who said Shukla carries with him the wishes, hopes, and aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians. Group Captain Shukla’s home city of Lucknow celebrated the occasion with hundreds of students watching the lift-off from a school.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz09lx2gjm4o