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Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4)

Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) has gained significant attention as ISRO astronaut and Indian Air Force (IAF) officer Shubhanshu Shukla is set to become the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS) aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.

Source: DD News & VI

About Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4):

What is Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4)?

- Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) is a private spaceflight to the International Space Station (ISS), operated by Axiom Space, a US-based space infrastructure company.
- It is the fourth mission in collaboration with NASA, following Axiom Missions 1, 2, and 3.

Aim:

- Commercial Space Initiatives: Ax-4 aims to advance commercial activities in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), including space tourism and the development of commercial space stations.
- International Collaboration: The mission emphasizes global cooperation in space exploration, featuring a multinational crew.
- Research and Development: Ax-4 will support scientific experiments in microgravity, focusing on areas like materials science, biology, and Earth observation.

Key Features of Ax-4:

- Crew & Spacecraft:
  - The mission will use a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, launched by a Falcon 9 rocket.
  - The crew includes Commander Peggy Whitson (former NASA astronaut), Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla (ISRO, India), and mission specialists Sławosz Uznanski-Wisniewski (Poland, ESA) and Tibor Kapu (Hungary).
- Mission Duration:
  - The 14-day mission will focus on scientific experiments, technology demonstrations, and educational outreach aboard the ISS.
- Commercial Space Station Development:
  - Ax-4 is part of Axiom Space’s vision to establish the first commercial space station, transitioning from ISS-based operations to an independent orbital platform.

India’s Role in Ax-4:
- Shubhanshu Shukla will be the first Indian astronaut to reach the ISS aboard a private spacecraft.
- He is also a selected astronaut for India’s Gaganyaan mission.