Gaganyaan Astronauts Selected for Axiom-4 Mission
Source: IE
Why in News?
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has shortlisted two of its four
trained Gaganyaan astronauts for the Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) in
collaboration with the United States' National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
What is the Axiom-4 Mission?
NASA and Axiom Space, an american privately funded space infrastructure developer signed an
order for the fourth private astronaut mission to the ISS, aiming to launch in August 2024
from Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The mission aims to dock with the ISS for a fourteen-day duration.
Indian astronauts will receive training from NASA, international partners, and SpaceX,
focusing on spacecraft systems and emergency preparedness, as part of India-US space
cooperation goals.
Note
The joint statement by India and the United States during Prime Minister’s visit in 2023 said NASA would
provide ‘advanced training’ to Indian astronauts at one of its facilities, as part of the Artemis
Accords.
Status of India's Gaganyaan Program
India's Gaganyaan human spaceflight is expected post-2025, with unmanned flights as
precursors.
The launch of manned flights follows two successful unmanned missions.
What is the International Space Station (ISS)?
The ISS is a large, permanently crewed laboratory that orbits Earth, 400 kilometres above its
surface. It is home to astronauts and cosmonauts, and serves as a unique science laboratory.
Its research is expected to lead to advancements in many areas, including medicine,
technology, science, and understanding the Earth and universe.
It's a collaboration between 15 countries and five space agencies namely NASA (United
States), Roscosmos (Russia), ESA (European Space Agency), JAXA (Japan Aerospace
Exploration Agency), and CSA (Canadian Space Agency).
An international crew of seven people live and work while travelling at a speed of 7.66 km/sec,
orbiting Earth about every 90 minutes. In 24 hours, the space station makes 16 orbits of
Earth, travelling through 16 sunrises and sunsets.
Peggy Whitson set the US record for spending the most total time living and working in
space for 665 days.
The first parts of the ISS were sent and assembled in orbit in 1998. Since the year 2000, the ISS
has had crews living continuously on board.
//
Note:
India is gearing up to strengthen its space presence, the ISRO aims to establish the country's
first space station by 2035.
ISRO aims to build a 20-ton space station within a decade to support microgravity experiments.
Read more: India Joins Artemis Accords
UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)
Prelims:
Q. What is the purpose of the US Space Agency’s Themis Mission, which was recently in the
news? (2008)
(a) To study the possibility of life on Mars
(b) To study the satellites of Saturn
(c) To study the colourful display of high latitude skies
(d) To build a space laboratory to study the stellar explosions
Ans: (c)
Q. Consider the following statements: (2016)
The Mangalyaan launched by ISRO
1. is also called the Mars Orbiter Mission
2. made India the second country to have a spacecraft orbit the Mars after USA
3. made India the only country to be successful in making its spacecraft orbit the Mars in its very first
attempt
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Ans: (c)
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