Lucknow's Shubhanshu Shukla set for space history
The historic moment will come when Axiom Space's fourth commercial mission to the International Space Station lifts off onboard SpaceX's Falcon-9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida (USA) on Wednesday evening. The lift-off was initially scheduled for Tuesday but was postponed by a day due to weather conditions.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Monday informed that the launch of Axiom-4 mission for sending Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station (ISS) has been postponed from June 10.
ISRO cited weather conditions for the postponement of the Axiom-4 or Ax4 mission, which will now take off on June 11 with the targeted time of launch being 5:30 pm (8 am EST).
Ahead of the lift-off, his mother Asha Shukla and father Shambhu Dayal Shukla, who live in the state capital's Triveni Nagar, said, 'It's a proud moment for the family. First, he got selected into NDA (National Defence Academy), the air force and ISRO. All these happened one after the other.'
'We are praying for the success of the mission which our son is leading and which holds enormous importance for the country,' Shambhu Dayal Shukla further said.
Shubhanshu's elder sister Shuchi Misra said, 'We are eagerly looking forward to the launch. Shux (Shubhanshu's nickname) is incredibly focused yet brimming with joy.
Before news of the postponement came, Shubhanshu Shukla's alma mater – a prominent city school – had planned to organise a grand public watch party to celebrate the lift-off.
'We will begin our programme at 3.30 pm on Wednesday as the mission launch has been postponed,' a school official said. The programme was initially planned for Tuesday to enable students, teachers, civic leaders, defence personnel and Shukla's family members to participate.
Several hoardings congratulating the 39-year-old Lucknow-born Indian Air Force pilot have come up across the state capital.
Shubhanshu will pilot the SpaceX Crew Dragon with NASA senior Dr Peggy Whitson and crewmates from Poland and Hungary on a 14-day research flight.
The Lucknow-born Shubhanshu Shukla will be the second Indian to travel to space, 41 years after his idol Rakesh Sharma undertook a spaceflight in 1984 onboard the erstwhile Soviet Union's Soyuz spacecraft for an eight-day stay in orbit.
In March 2024, Shukla made headlines as he was one of the four selected for ISRO's Gaganyaan Mission.
'Venturing into the unknown comes with the domain knowledge of being a test pilot,' Shubhanshu Shukla had told HT over phone in 2024.
Shukla had then confessed that the curiosity for the unknown was what drove him to apply for this mission and that the feeling of having been selected took a while to sink in.
'It was all so fast and we were so busy at the time. It only sunk in when we had already left for training in Russia. The feeling sank in very gradually,' he had said.
He also shared that while he had no apprehensions about the mission, 'harbouring a little bit of anxiety is only sensible as it helps one to introspect.'
(WITH AGENCY INPUTS)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
Himalayas May Not Be Pristine Anymore, Study Shows Presence Of Toxic Metals In Clouds
The Himalayan clouds, once believed to offer purest drinking water, might be silently carrying toxic heavy metals, posing potential carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks, especially to children. A new study has highlighted that the clouds over the Eastern Himalayas contain 1.5 times higher pollution levels than those over the Western Ghats. The study conducted by the Bose Institute, an autonomous body under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), identified significant levels of toxic metals such as cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) in non-precipitating clouds during the early monsoon season over the Western Ghats and Eastern Himalayas. For the study, scientists investigated the composition of heavy metals in the non-precipitating low-level clouds collected on the rooftop of the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) in the Western Ghats and the Bose Institute campus located at Darjeeling in the Eastern Himalayas in 2022. "Children are at higher risk of 30 per cent of such toxic metals than adults in India. Inhalation of polluted clouds over Eastern Himalayas containing high concentrations of toxic metals is the most potential route for non-carcinogenic diseases," the study published in the journal Science Advances highlighted. "Health risk for the occurrence of carcinogenic diseases has increased due to inhalation of dissolved Cr present in clouds," it added. The scientists stated that the inhalation of polluted clouds over the Eastern Himalayas was identified as the main pathway for non-carcinogenic diseases. The study also found that carcinogenic risks have risen due to the inhalation of dissolved chromium present in clouds. The study linked elevated levels of cadmium, chromium, copper and zinc in the region's clouds to vehicular and industrial emissions from the foothills. They warned that clouds act as transport mediums for heavy metals, which can enter the body through breathing, skin exposure and consumption of rainwater in high-altitude areas. Despite the alarming findings, the study stated that the Indian clouds remain relatively less polluted compared to countries like China, Pakistan, Italy, and the United States.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Private stakeholders have triggered a wave of innovation in space sector: Ex-ISRO chairman
Chandigarh, Former Indian Space Research Organisation chairman and renowned space scientist Dr S Somanath on Monday said that India's shift from a government-funded model to a stakeholder-based space ecosystem has triggered a wave of innovation, giving impetus to private satellite manufacturers, small launch vehicle developers, and data service providers. Private stakeholders have triggered a wave of innovation in space sector: Ex-ISRO chairman This expanding ecosystem is expected to generate significant socio-economic benefits, job creation, and global market participation, Somanath said while delivering a lecture at the Panjab University Law Auditorium. His talk, titled 'Space Sector in India: Opportunities for Business and Startups', focused on the growth of India's space sector, the role of private enterprises, and the future of space entrepreneurship in the country, the university said in a statement. Somanath, currently serving as Vikram Sarabhai Distinguished Professor and President-elect of the Aeronautical Society of India, highlighted India's transformational journey under the 2023 Indian Space Policy, which has opened the door to foreign direct investment and strengthened support for non-governmental entities. In his lecture, the former ISRO chairman spoke about the strategic and scientific priorities for India's future in space, including its Mars and Venus missions, reusable launch vehicles, and the planned Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2035. He said landing on the moon is not a pipe dream for India and the country is working on it. By 2047, India aims to have a permanent human presence in space, a Bharatiya Antariksh Station in orbit, and indigenous missions exploring the moon, mars, and beyond, he stated. "We're not just following global trends. We are shaping them with reusable launchers, electric propulsion, and quantum-secure space communications," he added. Somanath called on universities to actively participate in building a self-sustaining space research and industrial ecosystem. Referring to various problems being faced by farmers, Somanath showcased how satellite-based technologies are now transforming the sector. He spoke about ISRO's remote sensing applications for crop insurance, yield estimation, and smart irrigation planning. Tools like the Krishi Decision Support System , SASYA automated crop classification using RISAT-1A data, and agro-meteorological products derived from INSAT-3DR are already supporting lakhs of farmers across India. These technologies have been integrated into schemes like Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana for efficient claim assessment and smart sampling, he said. The eminent scientist also highlighted the role of satellite data in tropical cyclone monitoring and prediction, forest fire alerts, and disaster management. Platforms such as Bhuvan, the Indian Geo-Platform of ISRO, are providing web-based geo-spatial services for agriculture, forestry, disaster response, and governance, benefitting states like Punjab and Haryana, he said. These innovations, he emphasised, can help farmers improve productivity, reduce risk, access timely information, and make evidence-based decisions. Panjab University Vice-Chancellor Professor Renu Vig presided over the colloquium, which was attended by a large number of students, researchers, faculty and professionals. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
News18
2 hours ago
- News18
Can CRISPR Stop Mosquitoes From Biting? A New Hope For India's Fight Against Malaria & Dengue
Scientists have found a way to genetically modify mosquitoes so they cannot pierce human skin—disabling their ability to bite, suck blood, or transmit deadly diseases Imagine a world where mosquitoes can no longer bite you. No itchy rashes. No dengue. No malaria. Sounds like a sci-fi fantasy? Thanks to CRISPR gene-editing technology, this vision might not be far from reality. In ground-breaking developments, scientists have found a way to genetically modify mosquitoes so they cannot pierce human skin—disabling their ability to bite, suck blood, or transmit deadly diseases. But how does this work, and what does it mean for India—a country where mosquito-borne illnesses remain a serious public health threat? Why Is CRISPR A Gamechanger? CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) is a powerful gene-editing tool that allows scientists to make precise cuts in DNA. Think of it as a molecular pair of scissors that can turn off certain genes or insert new ones. In the case of mosquitoes, researchers have used CRISPR to disable key genes in female mosquitoes—the ones responsible for biting. By targeting a gene essential for the structure and function of their proboscis (the needle-like mouthpart they use to pierce skin), scientists have made it physically impossible for these mosquitoes to feed on blood. Without access to blood meals, they cannot reproduce effectively, and more importantly, they cannot spread diseases like malaria or dengue. Why Target Female Mosquitoes? Only female mosquitoes bite humans because they need the proteins in blood to produce eggs. By stopping this process, CRISPR not only prevents biting but also breaks the reproductive cycle. One major gene scientists are targeting is the doublesex gene, which is crucial for female mosquito development. When this gene is disrupted, females become infertile or are physically unable to feed. In lab conditions, this technique has shown incredible promise, especially against the Anopheles stephensi species, which is a major malaria vector in Indian urban regions. What This Means for India India bears a heavy burden of mosquito-borne diseases. According to the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), India reported thousands of dengue, chikungunya, and malaria cases each year. States like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and West Bengal consistently top the charts in mosquito-related outbreaks. Urbanisation, waterlogging, and climate change have worsened the situation. The Anopheles stephensi mosquito, which thrives in Indian cities, is particularly dangerous. It breeds in man-made water containers and has adapted to survive urban conditions. Targeting this species using CRISPR could be a game-changer for India's urban health landscape. Challenges To Implementation While the CRISPR mosquito technology sounds revolutionary, deploying it in India is not as simple as flipping a switch. Here's why: Environmental Impact: Mosquitoes, although notorious, are part of the food chain. Birds, bats, and fish feed on them. Altering or reducing their population can have unintended ecological effects. India's biodiversity is delicate, and every introduction must be thoroughly assessed. Regulatory Hurdles: Gene editing in the wild is a tightly regulated area. India's Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) will need to evaluate and approve such projects. Public health authorities, environmental scientists, and ethicists must also weigh in. Community Consent: Releasing gene-edited mosquitoes into the environment requires transparency and trust. Local communities must understand the technology and give consent, especially in rural and tribal areas. Climate and Population Complexity: India's varied climate and high population density could influence how effectively CRISPR-modified mosquitoes perform. What works in a controlled lab may not hold up in crowded, humid city slums or remote forest villages. Mosquito-Borne Diseases: A Persistent Indian Menace India has battled mosquito-borne diseases for decades. Despite massive awareness drives, fogging operations, and vaccine rollouts, outbreaks remain common. Some quick stats: Malaria: Though cases have declined, India still accounts for a significant portion of South-East Asia's malaria burden. Dengue: In recent years, dengue has surged across urban areas, overwhelming hospitals during peak monsoon months. Chikungunya & Japanese Encephalitis: Sporadic but deadly, these illnesses are endemic in parts of India and remain hard to control. Traditional methods like insecticides, larvicidal oils, and netting have shown limited long-term impact. Moreover, mosquitoes are developing resistance to chemicals, making new approaches like CRISPR all the more urgent. What's Next? Scientists believe that deploying CRISPR mosquitoes at scale in India could take 10-20 years. Why the delay? Because before they are released into the wild, they must pass: Rigorous environmental impact studies Multi-phase regulatory approvals Extensive community engagement efforts Field trials under Indian climatic and population conditions In the long run, CRISPR could work alongside vaccines, awareness programmes, and conventional mosquito control measures. It will not be a silver bullet—but it could be a powerful weapon in India's public health arsenal. For a country like India, where mosquito-borne diseases continue to kill and hospitalise thousands, CRISPR offers hope. top videos View all The buzz may not stop overnight—but the bite just might. About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk More Get Latest Updates on Movies, Breaking News On India, World, Live Cricket Scores, And Stock Market Updates. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : CRISPR Local18 Mosquito-borne diseases view comments Location : Hyderabad, India, India First Published: August 04, 2025, 15:55 IST News explainers Can CRISPR Stop Mosquitoes From Biting? A New Hope For India's Fight Against Malaria & Dengue Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
