India selects 2 crew members for Axiom-4 mission to ISS

• India has shortlisted two astronaut-designates for the upcoming Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station.

Highlights:

• Indian astronauts Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair have been shortlisted to go to the U.S. to train for the upcoming Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
• A National Mission Assignment Board has recommended two Gaganyatris (astronauts) as prime and backup Mission Pilot for this mission.
• Group Captain Shukla will be the prime mission pilot and Group Captain Nair will be the back up.
• The Axiom-4 mission is the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station.
• It can be recalled that the India-U.S. joint statement during the official state visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the U.S. in June 2023 envisions a joint ISRO-NASA effort to the ISS.
• ISRO added that the assigned crew members will be finally approved to fly to the International Space Station by the Multilateral Crew Operations Panel (MCOP).
• The experiences gained during this mission will be beneficial for the Indian Human Space Program and it will also strengthen human space flight cooperation between ISRO and NASA

Prelims Takeaway

• Axiom-4 mission
• ISRO-NASA