Latest news with #AxiomMission2
Time of India
5 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
Axiom-4 astronaut crew: Spacewalker, fighter pilot, skyjumper, & radiation specialist
Each Axiom-4 astronaut brings unique expertise, from long-duration spaceflight to cutting-edge engineering, forging ambitious bold frontiers in private human spaceflight . Peggy Whitson , 65 | Mission Commander She boasts the most extensive flight record of any American or female astronaut, having spent 675 days in space across three ISS missions and Axiom Mission 2. She twice commanded ISS, performed 10 spacewalks totalling over 60 hours. The first woman to head Nasa's Astronaut Office and to command a private spaceflight, she has a doctorate in biochemistry. With 38 years of service, she now directs human spaceflight at AxiomSpace. Shubhanshu Shukla, 39 | Mission Pilot by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Never turn off your computer again, if you own a mouse Panzer Rush Play Now Undo Shubhanshu Shukla was chosen as one of four astronauts for Isro's Gaganyaan spaceflight . Born in 1985, he was commissioned into the IAF fighter wing in 2006 and has amassed over 2,000 flight hours. Selected in 2019 for astronaut training at Star City in Russia, Shukla completed rigorous scientific, technical and survival programmes under Russian tutors. Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski, 41 | Mission Specialist Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski, an engineer from Poland, earned a place in ESA's 2022 Astronaut Reserve from over 22,500 applicants. Holding dual master's degrees from Lodz University of Technology and Universite de Nantes, and a doctorate in radiation-tolerant space systems from Aix-Marseille University, he combines academic expertise with practical experience at CERN. As Reliability Expert and later engineer in charge of the Large Hadron Collider, he oversaw continuous operations of the world's most powerful particle accelerator. Tibor Kapu, 34 | Mission Specialist Tibor Kapu, a mechanical engineer from Hungary, was selected in 2023 for the Hungarian to Orbit programme from 247 candidates. Born in 1991, he earned bachelor's and master's degrees in mechanical engineering and polymer technology at Budapest University of Technology and Economics. His career spans automotive hybrid battery development, pharmaceutical logistics, and space radiation protection research at an aerospace firm. He's an avid skydiver with 38 jumps and half-marathon runner.
CairoScene
30-03-2025
- Science
- CairoScene
Saudis Now Make Up 93% of Workforce at Saudi Space Agency
New data from the Saudi Space Agency highlights growing national representation and a strong presence of young professionals in the sector. The Saudi Space Agency (SSA) has announced that 93% of its workforce is now composed of Saudi nationals, according to newly released employment statistics for 2024 and 2025. The agency reported a total of 337 employees across the two years, with 170 hired in 2024 and 167 in 2025. The data also shows a rising role for young professionals in the space sector. Employees between the ages of 31 and 40 account for nearly half of the agency's staff, indicating a growing reliance on youth in scientific and technical fields. Gender distribution shows that 72% of staff are male, while 28% are female. The SSA has been instrumental in facilitating Saudi participation in space missions. In 2023, it partnered with Axiom Space to send two Saudi astronauts, Ali AlQarni and Rayyanah Barnawi, to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of Axiom Mission 2. Barnawi's mission was particularly historic, as she became recognised by Guinness World Records as the first Saudi woman in space . The figures reflect the increasing localisation of expertise within Saudi Arabia's space industry and a broader shift toward cultivating specialised talent across strategic sectors.
