Chennai, Apr 18 (UNI) As India poised to script a defining chapter in its space journey

and chart bold new frontiers, the AX-4 Axiom International Space Station (ISS) mission

piloted by Indian astronaut Group Captain Subhanshu Shukla is scheduled for next

month.

Announcing this after a high-level meeting held to review major future plans of Indian

Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in the coming months, Union Minister of State

(Independent Charge) for Science and Technology; Earth Sciences and Minister of

State for PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel,

Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the mission will mark the

visit of first Indian ever to visit the ISS and the first Indian astronaut to travel to

space in over four decades after Rakesh Sharma’s iconic 1984 flight aboard a

Soviet Soyuz spacecraft.

The announcement in New Delhi on Friday comes amid a flurry of activity in India’s

space sector, which is gearing up for an ambitious slate of missions in the coming

months.

Dr. V. Narayanan, Secretary, Department of Space and Chairman of ISRO, who made

a presentation elaborating the status of various upcoming Space missions, said Group

Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force is all prepared to fly to the ISS next

month as part of Axiom Space’s Ax-4 mission.

Shukla’s mission, scheduled for May 2025, marks a milestone in India’s expanding

International space collaborations.

A decorated test pilot with the IAF, he was shortlisted under ISRO’s Human Spaceflight

Program (HSP) and is among the top contenders for the Gaganyaan mission, India’s

first indigenous crewed orbital flight.

His journey aboard the Ax-4 mission is expected to provide critical hands-on experience

in spaceflight operations, launch protocols, microgravity adaptation, and emergency

preparedness — all essential for India’s crewed space ambitions.

What sets Shukla’s mission apart is its strategic importance. Unlike the symbolic undertones

of India’s first human spaceflight, this time the focus is on operational readiness and global

integration.

His participation underscores India’s growing engagement with public-private international

partnerships in space and its resolve to emerge as a serious contender in human space

exploration.

“India is ready for its next space milestone,” said Dr. Jitendra Singh, underscoring the

significance of the upcoming human spaceflight and a series of critical ISRO missions.

He noted that the collaboration with international partners and the strategic momentum

of projects like Gaganyaan reflect India’s commitment to becoming a global leader in

space technology.

The Minister emphasized that these efforts are not only scientific in nature but also

aligned with the vision of a developed and self-reliant India.

During the meeting, ISRO updated Dr. Jitendra Singh on several key developments

since January 2025 which included the public release of data from the Aditya L1 solar

mission, successful demonstration of docking and undocking technologies as part of

Spadex mission, testing of the highest thrust liquid engine developed in India, and the

historic 100th launch (GSLV-F15) from Sriharikota.

ISRO also supported national events like the Kumbh Mela 2025 through satellite-based

monitoring and announced a successful demonstration of restarting the Vikas Engine,

crucial for future launch vehicle recovery missions.

Among the major missions lined up for May to July 2025, ISRO will launch the PSLV-C61

mission carrying the state-of-the-art EOS-09 satellite.

Equipped with a C-band synthetic aperture radar, EOS-09 will be capable of capturing

high-resolution images of Earth’s surface under all weather conditions, day or night.

Another significant milestone will be the Test Vehicle-D2 (TV-D2) mission, designed to

simulate an abort scenario and demonstrate the Gaganyaan Crew Escape System.

The mission includes sea recovery operations for the Crew Module, mimicking procedures

planned for India’s first human spaceflight.

June will see the highly anticipated launch of the NISAR satellite aboard the GSLV-F16.

This NASA-ISRO collaboration aims to study Earth’s ecosystems and natural hazards

through dual-frequency radar data, combining NASA’s L-band payloads with ISRO’s

S-band contributions.

The LVM3-M5 mission, scheduled for July, will cater to a commercial contract with AST

SpaceMobile Inc., USA, launching BlueBird Block-2 satellites under NewSpace India

Limited’s commercial program.

As India’s space strategy matures, Group Captain Shukla’s upcoming mission stands

as a symbol of a confident, forward-looking nation ready to reclaim its place in the global

space race.

His journey is more than just a flight — it’s a signal that India is stepping boldly into a

new era of space exploration.

UNI GV 2140