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Key Points

Shubhanshu Shukla is poised to make history as the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station. His launch is scheduled for June 25 from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. This mission includes groundbreaking experiments on space nutrition, conducted in collaboration with ISRO, DBT, and NASA. The research aims to enhance sustainable life-support systems crucial for future space travel.

Key Points: Shubhanshu Shukla Set for Historic ISS Flight Tomorrow

  • Shubhanshu Shukla to become first Indian on ISS
  • Launch set for June 25 from Kennedy Space Center
  • Mission includes pioneering space nutrition experiments
  • Collaboration involves ISRO, DBT, and NASA
2 min read

Shubhanshu Shukla's flight to space station likely tomorrow: NASA

Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to launch to ISS with SpaceX, marking a historic mission for India.

"NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX are targeting 2:31 a.m. EDT, Wednesday, June 25, for the launch. - NASA"

New Delhi, June 24

After being deferred multiple times, NASA on Tuesday announced a new date for Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla's historic flight to the International Space Station.

Shukla is now slated to fly on June 25 from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

"NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX are targeting 2:31 a.m. EDT, Wednesday, June 25, for the launch of the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, Axiom Mission 4," NASA shared in its latest update on the social media platform X.

"The crew will travel to the orbiting laboratory on a new SpaceX Dragon spacecraft after launching on the company's Falcon 9 rocket," the post added.

The mission had originally been scheduled to lift off on May 29 but has since been rescheduled multiple times, first to June 8, then to June 10, June 11, and most recently June 19.

It was last slated to launch on June 22 but was again delayed following continued assessments of recent repair work on the Russian Zvezda service module's aft section aboard the ISS.

"The targeted docking time is approximately 7 a.m. Thursday, June 26. NASA will provide more details and its coverage information shortly," the US space agency said.

The mission holds historic significance for India. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is set to become the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station and only the second Indian in space after Rakesh Sharma's flight in 1984.

Shukla will serve as the pilot of the mission alongside Commander Peggy Whitson of the US.

The other crew members include Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary, both serving as mission specialists. Once aboard the ISS, Shukla will conduct pioneering experiments related to food and space nutrition.

These experiments, developed under a collaboration between ISRO and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), with support from NASA, aim to enhance understanding of sustainable life-support systems, a crucial aspect of future long-duration space travel.

The research will also study the effects of microgravity and space radiation on edible microalgae -- a nutrient-rich, high-potential food source for future space missions.

The experiment will evaluate key growth parameters and examine transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic changes in different algal species in space compared to their behaviour on Earth.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rahul K.
Finally! After so many delays, our desi astronaut is going to space 🇮🇳 This is such a proud moment for all Indians. Jai Hind! Hope Shubhanshu Shukla's experiments bring valuable insights for future space missions.
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Priya M.
The food nutrition research sounds fascinating! Imagine if we can grow spirulina or other superfoods in space stations. This could be revolutionary for long Mars missions. Kudos to ISRO and NASA for this collaboration 🤩
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Arjun S.
While I'm excited about this mission, I hope ISRO focuses equally on developing our own human spaceflight program (Gaganyaan). Relying on other nations' spacecraft for such historic moments doesn't feel the same. Still, best wishes to Gp Capt Shukla!
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Sneha R.
My kids are so excited about this! They've been tracking all the delays and asking daily "when will the Indian astronaut go?" Finally we can mark June 25 on our calendar. Hope the school shows this live to inspire future scientists 🚀
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Vikram J.
Interesting that the crew includes astronauts from Poland and Hungary too - shows how space exploration is becoming more international. But 40 years between Indian astronauts is too long! Hope we see more frequent missions now.
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Neha P.
The microalgae research could have benefits beyond space - maybe help address malnutrition on Earth too? Wishing the team success. Though I do wonder why the mission keeps getting postponed - hope all technical issues are properly resolved this time.

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