Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is about to make history! He will be the first Indian astronaut to travel to the International Space Station (ISS) using a SpaceX Dragon rocket. This exciting journey will take place from Florida, no earlier than spring 2025. This mission is a partnership between NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
In an online press conference, Shukla shared his excitement about experiencing microgravity in space as part of the Axiom Mission 4. So, what will he be doing up there?
Besides being the mission’s pilot, Shukla wants to bring items that showcase India’s rich culture and diversity to space. He also mentioned that he has been trying different Indian foods with his crew and hopes to take some tasty snacks with him to the ISS. When asked if he would do yoga in space like India’s first astronaut, Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, Shukla responded, “Yes! I would love to show a few yoga poses while we are at the station.”
Who else is joining Shukla on this amazing trip? The mission will be led by former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, and the crew includes:
– Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski (Poland)
– Tibor Kapu (Hungary)
This mission will also be special because it will send the first astronauts from Poland and Hungary to the ISS!
Shukla believes that the experience he gains from this mission will be very helpful for India’s upcoming Gaganyaan mission, which aims to send Indian astronauts into space in an Indian spacecraft.
NASA’s ISS Program Manager, Dana Weigel, said, “As NASA looks toward the future of low-Earth orbit, private astronaut missions help pave the way and expand access to the unique microgravity environment.”
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