India Sends Second Astronaut to Space

• 27 Jun 2025

Source: IE 

Why in News?

India achieves a historic milestone as Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla becomes the second Indian to travel to space, after Rakesh Sharma in 1984, and the first Indian to set foot on the International Space Station (ISS). 

• He is part of the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission, a commercial spaceflight to the ISS. 

What is the Axiom-4 Mission? 

• About: Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) is the fourth private spaceflight to the International Space Station (ISS), operated by Axiom Space, a US-based space infrastructure company. It marks the fourth collaboration between NASA and Axiom Space, following the successful Ax-1, Ax-2, and Ax-3 missions. 
• Crew Composition: 
  • Peggy Whitson (USA): Mission Commander and former NASA astronaut with 675+ days in space. 
  • Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla (India) 
  • Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski (Poland): ESA reserve astronaut. 
  • Tibor Kapu (Hungary): Payload specialist. 
• Key Objectives of Axiom-4: 
  • Commercial Space Initiatives: Promotes space tourism and private research in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), supporting Axiom Space’s goal of building the first commercial space station and transitioning operations from the ISS to private infrastructure. 
  • Scientific Research & Experiments: Enables microgravity research in materials science, biology, Earth observation, and space agriculture. Key studies include: 
    • Human factors: Impact of screen exposure in microgravity. 
    • Astrobiology: Survival of tardigrade (water bears)  in space. 
    • Space agriculture: Effects on six crop varieties (including moong dal) and cyanobacteria, relevant to life support systems. 
  • Global Collaboration: Features 60 experiments from 31 countries (including India, USA, Poland, Hungary), making it the most research-intensive Axiom mission and highlighting international cooperation in space science. 

What is the Significance of the Axiom-4 Mission for India? 

• Support for Gaganyaan:  Axiom-4 provides critical hands-on experience for India’s planned Gaganyaan mission, especially in crew operations, microgravity research, and space biology, laying the groundwork for future independent human space missions. 
• Strategic & Technological Edge: Human spaceflight is a key strategic capability for future missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. India’s role in Axiom-4 strengthens its position in the global space arena, supporting long-term goals like an Indian space station by 2035 and a human lunar mission by 2040. 
• Global Standing & Economic Growth: ISRO’s active partnership in mission planning and execution showcases India's technological competence and boosts its international standing.  
  • It also opens avenues for private sector participation and foreign investments, vital for expanding India’s share in the global space economy. 
• Youth Engagement and STEM Promotion: The mission inspires the youth, promotes STEM education, and helps build a skilled talent pipeline for India's expanding space sector, ensuring sustained innovation and national capacity building. 

What are the Key Facts Related to the International Space Station (ISS)? 

• About: The International Space Station (ISS) is the largest habitable artificial satellite in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), functioning as a unique space laboratory for scientific research and international cooperation. 
• International Collaboration: A joint venture of 15 countries, led by 5 space agencies (NASA, Roscosmos, European Space Agency, JAXA, and Canadian Space Agency). 
• Microgravity Laboratory: The ISS hosts 3,000+ experiments from 108+ countries, enabling research in science, medicine, and Earth observation. Its microgravity aids in studying human adaptation and developing Earth-relevant innovations. 

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ) 

Prelims: 

Q. What is the purpose of the US Space Agency’s Themis Mission, which was recently in the news? (2008)

(a) To study the possibility of life on Mars 
(b) To study the satellites of Saturn 
(c) To study the colourful display of high-latitude skies 
(d) To build a space laboratory to study the stellar explosions 

Ans: (c) 

Q. Consider the following statements: (2016)

1. The Mangalyaan launched by ISRO 
2. is also called the Mars Orbiter Mission 
3. made India the second country to have a spacecraft orbit the Mars after USA 
4. made India the only country to be successful in making its spacecraft orbit the Mars in its very first attempt 

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 

(a) 1 only 
(b) 2 and 3 only 
(c) 1 and 3 only 
(d) 1, 2 and 3 

Ans: (c)