Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has entered quarantine ahead of his journey to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom Mission 4. Along with him, three other astronauts from the mission also began their quarantine on Saturday.
Speaking about the mission, Shukla said, “I am confident that the Axiom mission will be successful. It will mark a significant milestone for commercial spaceflight.” Axiom Space held a farewell ceremony for the crew ahead of their departure.
Importance of Pre-Mission Quarantine
Quarantine is a crucial step before space missions. During this phase, astronauts are kept in complete isolation to ensure they remain healthy and avoid any risk of infection that could jeopardize the mission.
About Axiom Mission 4
Scheduled to launch on June 8, Axiom Mission 4 will send four astronauts from four different countries to the ISS for 14 days. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla was selected for this mission under a collaborative agreement between NASA and ISRO.
The Ax-4 crew includes astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary. Notably, Slavoj Uznanski will be the second astronaut from Poland to travel to space since 1978, and Tibor Kapu will be the second Hungarian astronaut since 1980. This mission will also mark the second commercial spaceflight for American astronaut Peggy Whitson.
Shubhanshu Shukla’s Journey
Originally from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, Shubhanshu Shukla completed his early education at City Montessori School, Aliganj. After completing Class 12, he qualified for the National Defence Academy (NDA) entrance exam and earned his graduation degree from there.
NDA is one of India’s premier institutions that trains cadets for the Army, Navy, and Air Force, offering both military and academic training, with degrees affiliated to Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi.
Shukla was inducted into the fighter wing of the Indian Air Force on June 17, 2006. A seasoned fighter and test pilot, he has logged over 2,000 hours of flight experience and flown aircraft including the Sukhoi-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, and An-32.
Launch Details
The astronauts will travel aboard SpaceX’s Dragon capsule, launched via the Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The final launch date will be confirmed based on mission readiness and approval.
Objectives of the Mission
The main goals of Axiom Mission 4 include:
- Scientific Research: Conducting experiments in microgravity.
- Technology Demonstration: Testing new technologies in space.
- International Collaboration: Uniting astronauts from different nations.
- Educational Outreach: Inspiring people on Earth and raising awareness about space science.
Axiom Mission – A Step Toward Private Space Travel
Ax-4 is part of Axiom Space’s broader vision to promote private space travel and eventually build a commercial space station—the Axiom Station.
This will be Axiom Space’s fourth crewed mission:
- Ax-1: Launched in April 2022 (17 days in space)
- Ax-2: Launched on May 2, 2023 (8 days in space)
- Ax-3: Launched on January 3, 2024 (18 days on the ISS)
What is the International Space Station?
The International Space Station (ISS) is a habitable spacecraft orbiting Earth. Astronauts aboard the ISS conduct experiments in a microgravity environment. Traveling at 28,000 km/h, the ISS completes one orbit around Earth every 90 minutes. It is a collaborative project between five space agencies, and the first component was launched in November 1998.