Once docked, the private astronauts plan to spend about two weeks aboard the orbiting laboratory, conducting a mission comprised of science, outreach, and commercial activities
ASA Flight Engineers Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers will be on duty at the beginning of their shift, monitoring Dragon during its automated approach and rendezvous manoeuvres
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the successful launch of Axiom 4 mission and stated that Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is carrying the wishes, hopes and aspirations of 1.4 billion Indian citizens.
The Union Minister highlighted that Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is "possibly" the most important member of the Axiom 4 mission and will perform seven crucial experiments designed by the Indian institutes.
Following the liftoff of the Axiom 4 mission from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, US, Union Minister Jitendra Singh, along with Australian High Commissioner to India Philip Green, Frances Adamson AC, Governor of South Australia, and others, celebrated the moment in New Delhi.
As Shubhanshu Shukla is set to become the second Indian to travel to space, astronomer and Professor RC Kapoor said that the Axiom-4 mission will carry a "very special astronaut". He said that Shukla is set to carry out seven experiments at the International Space Station (ISS).
Axiom Mission 4 delivers on a commitment highlighted by US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to send the first ISRO astronaut to the station.
Athena, the moon lander developed by Houston-based private company Intuitive Machines, will attempt to land near the Mons Mouton landing site on the moon's South Pole. The site is distinct from the 'Shiv Shakti' touchdown site of ISRO's Chandrayaan- 3 spacecraft, which marked a significant m
Ladakh's extreme isolation, severe climate, and unique geographical features make it an ideal setting to mimic the challenges astronauts would face on these celestial bodies.