Indian Astronaut to Travel to ISS as Part of International Mission
ECONOMY & POLICY

Indian Astronaut to Travel to ISS as Part of International Mission

India is set to make history next month as Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force prepares to become the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS), marking the country's first human spaceflight since Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 mission. 

Announced by Union Minister D. Jitendra Singh following a high-level ISRO review, the mission is part of Axiom Space’s Ax-4 initiative and will launch in May 2025. The flight is a significant leap in India’s global space collaboration and human spaceflight capabilities. 

Group Captain Shukla, a decorated test pilot and one of the top contenders for ISRO’s Gaganyaan mission, will gain invaluable experience in space operations, microgravity adaptation, and emergency protocols—skills essential for India’s crewed spaceflight program. 

ISRO Chairman Dr V Narayanan emphasised the mission's operational significance over symbolism, highlighting its role in enhancing India's integration with global space partners and improving readiness for future indigenous missions. 

This landmark flight comes amid a flurry of ISRO missions. Key upcoming launches include: 
  • PSLV-C61 with Earth Observation Satellite EOS-09 (May) 
  • TV-D2 Crew Escape Test for Gaganyaan  GSLV-F16 carrying
  • NASA-ISRO NISAR satellite (June) 
  • LVM3-M5 launching BlueBird Block-2 satellites for AST SpaceMobile (July) 


India’s recent space milestones also include the public release of Aditya L1 solar mission data, successful Vikas engine restart tests, and ISRO’s 100th launch (GSLV-F15). 
Group Captain Shukla’s mission marks India’s bold entry into human space exploration’s new era, underscoring its growing capabilities, global partnerships, and strategic vision to become a leader in space science and technology. 

(PIB)           

India is set to make history next month as Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force prepares to become the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS), marking the country's first human spaceflight since Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 mission. Announced by Union Minister D. Jitendra Singh following a high-level ISRO review, the mission is part of Axiom Space’s Ax-4 initiative and will launch in May 2025. The flight is a significant leap in India’s global space collaboration and human spaceflight capabilities. Group Captain Shukla, a decorated test pilot and one of the top contenders for ISRO’s Gaganyaan mission, will gain invaluable experience in space operations, microgravity adaptation, and emergency protocols—skills essential for India’s crewed spaceflight program. ISRO Chairman Dr V Narayanan emphasised the mission's operational significance over symbolism, highlighting its role in enhancing India's integration with global space partners and improving readiness for future indigenous missions. This landmark flight comes amid a flurry of ISRO missions. Key upcoming launches include: PSLV-C61 with Earth Observation Satellite EOS-09 (May) TV-D2 Crew Escape Test for Gaganyaan  GSLV-F16 carrying NASA-ISRO NISAR satellite (June) LVM3-M5 launching BlueBird Block-2 satellites for AST SpaceMobile (July) India’s recent space milestones also include the public release of Aditya L1 solar mission data, successful Vikas engine restart tests, and ISRO’s 100th launch (GSLV-F15). Group Captain Shukla’s mission marks India’s bold entry into human space exploration’s new era, underscoring its growing capabilities, global partnerships, and strategic vision to become a leader in space science and technology. (PIB)           

Next Story
Equipment

Handling concrete better

Efficiently handling the transportation and placement of concrete is essential to help maintain the quality of construction, meet project timelines by minimising downtimes, and reduce costs – by 5 to 15 per cent, according to Sandeep Jain, Director, Arkade Developers. CW explores what the efficient handling of concrete entails.Select wellFirst, a word on choosing the right equipment, such as a mixer with a capacity aligned to the volume required onsite, from Vaibhav Kulkarni, Concrete Expert. “An overly large mixer will increase the idle time (and cost), while one that ..

Next Story
Real Estate

Elevated floors!

Raised access flooring, also called false flooring, is a less common interiors feature than false ceilings, but it has as many uses – if not more.A raised floor is a modular panel installed above the structural floor. The space beneath the raised flooring is typically used to accommodate utilities such as electrical cables, plumbing and HVAC systems. And so, raised flooring is usually associated with buildings with heavy cabling and precise air distribution needs, such as data centres.That said, CW interacted with designers and architects and discovered that false flooring can come in handy ..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

The Variation Challenge

A variation or change in scope clause is defined in construction contracts to take care of situations arising from change in the defined scope of work. Such changes may arise due to factors such as additions or deletions in the scope of work, modifications in the type, grade or specifications of materials, alterations in specifications or drawings, and acts or omissions of other contractors. Further, ineffective planning, inadequate investigations or surveys and requests from the employer or those within the project’s area of influence can contribute to changes in the scope of work. Ext..

Advertisement

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?