Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4)

- 30 Jun 2025
In News:
India marked a historic moment in space exploration as Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla became the first Indian to reach the International Space Station (ISS), 41 years after Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 mission.
Organizations Involved:
- Axiom Space – Mission organizer
- NASA – ISS host and operations support
- SpaceX – Provided Falcon 9 launch vehicle and Dragon capsule
Launch Details:
- Launch Date: June 25, 2025
- Launch Site: Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
- Mission Duration: ~14 days aboard the ISS
Mission Objectives:
1. Scientific Research in Microgravity:
- Over 60 research experiments conducted across:
- Life sciences
- Material sciences
- Human physiology
- Earth observation
2. International Space Cooperation:
- Promotes global collaboration in low-Earth orbit science.
- Supports capacity-building for emerging space nations, including India, Poland, and Hungary.
3. National Space Program Development:
- Enables participating nations to strengthen human spaceflight capabilities.
- Acts as a stepping stone for India’s Gaganyaan and future space station plans.
Significance for India:
- Revival of Human Spaceflight:
- Marks India’s return to human space missions after four decades.
- Reinforces India's presence in international human space exploration.
- Boost to Gaganyaan Mission:
- Offers valuable operational experience and technical collaboration.
- Supports India’s vision to launch Gaganyaan, its first indigenous human spaceflight mission.
- Long-Term Space Ambitions:
- Aids India’s goal to establish its own space station by 2035.
- Positions India as a partner in space science diplomacy and global research.
- Scientific Prestige:India contributes to key microgravity experiments, enhancing its global research footprint in space.