In a historic first, India’s Gaganyaan astronaut Wg Cdr Shubhanshu Sukla underwent hands-on training on the SpaceX Dragon Spacecraft earlier this month. Axiom Ax-4 will be launched in the spring of 2025. Another feather in the cap for Indian space scientists and enthusiasts alike. This is part of the international space collaborations to strengthen space research and technology.
Axion Space is a leader, and this program, Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) is expected to solidify its reputation in space tourism and the commercialisation of space travel. It goes without saying that space research will also be a major chunk of its efforts. This is a government-private space mission collaboration, with NASA as the other partner.
This mission will last for about 14 days.
Ax-4 Crew on SpaceX Dragon Spacecraft
What is the training all about?
Shukla has undergone specialized training on spacecraft, various ISS modules, and their protocols, ensuring he is well-prepared to pilot the ISS environment during the mission. India’s participation was confirmed by PM Narendra Modi during his visit to the US in 2023.
For Proud Indians
It was 40 years ago that Astronaut Rakesh Sharma went into space. In the heat of April of 1984, under the Soviet Union’s Interkosmos program, he was in space on the Soyuz T-11. That mission conducted scientific and technical experiments in space successfully.
What will ‘Sukla-in-Space’ do?
On the Ax-4 Mission, he is expected to play a critical role in various scientific and technical experiments aimed at Axiom’s goal of space tourism and private space travel. Shukla will focus on research and experiments on humans in space for ISRO’s Gaganyaan and increase collaboration with NASA.
While Poland will be looking to advance its science and technology in microgravity, Hungary will work to synchronize with its HUNOR program. Both countries will work in coordination with the European Space Agency’s (ESA) programs.
Microgravity
On board the International Space Station (ISS), its unique microgravity environment supports these experiments. Cellular responses to microgravity is an area having potential in providing deeper understanding of aging, disease profiling, and cellular insights. These are expected to influence human health and space medicine in the future.
Biotech and Life Sciences
Cellular behaviour, plant growth, or drug development are some areas that are either impossible or difficult on Earth. Sukla may be assisting in these. Some of their applications are Stem Cell Research and Protein Crystallization. These are areas that can provide breakthroughs in drug and vaccine development. Cancer medicine, infectious diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders are some of the contentious domains that can be addressed too.
Materials Science and Technology Testing
The ISS’s position in space is considered a vantage point from which to study Earth’s climate, environment, and atmosphere. Some applications are 3D printing in space and fluid behaviour in Microgravity. These will assist fuel systems and water purification.
More to Ax-4 than just Research: Commercial Space Travel!
Ax-4 mission is looked upon more as an attempt at democratizing space travel. Any country can enter this commercial space in future! This provides a window of tremendous opportunities for private individuals and organizations alike. The education sector will have another exciting domain, just like Artificial Intelligence (AI) today. This conjures up myriads of possibilities for the whole world.
What’s in it for Indians?
Shubhanshu Sukla’s involvement will inspire the Gen-Alpha and many from Gen-Z. This will open up opportunities in a domain held by government agencies like ISRO, NASA, and Roscomos (Russian Federal Space Agency). The rising contribution of India’s ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) in international space explorations, like Gaganyaan, will be given a shot in the-arm. Sukla’s role in SpaceX’s Ax-4 mission will add momentum and yet another milestone event for India.
This mission is a key milestone for India-US Space collaboration, and future Indian Space programs like Gaganyaan will benefit tremendously from it.
