Latest news with #Gaganyan
Hans India
16-07-2025
- Science
- Hans India
MyVoice: Views of our readers 16th July 2025
Bravo Shubhanshu! Heartiest congratulations to astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla for the successful completion of his space mission. We became emotional while watching the successful splash down from the Dragon space capsule, off the Coast of California, which ferried our nation's hero, along with three other astronauts. Shukla, the second Indian to go into space, conducted 60 odd experiments that were assigned to him by ISRO and NASA. My greetings to Shukla for inspiring millions of countrymen with his indomitable spirit, dedication and courage. The knowledge and experience he has gained in the last fortnight will help ISRO scientists to work on its plans as regards the Gaganyan programme. R. J. Janardhana Rao, Hyderabad-28. Shubhanshu research centre-cum-university Welcome back to earth Shubhanshu Shukla and fellow-three astronauts after 18 days of research in ISS (International Space Station). The team emerged from the Dragon capsule that splashed into the Pacific Ocean (3.30 pm July 15). Setting up a full-fledged 'Shubhanshu research centre-cum-university' will be the finest tribute to him. Shubhanshu is an inspiration to 140 crore Indians and their progressive dreams. His interviews to the media on his research work are the most awaited, especially by the budding space-aspirants. PVP Madhu Nivriti, Secunderabad-61 Proud moment for Indians Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla returning to earth after the successful Axiom-4 Mission is a proud moment for every Indian, reminiscent of Rakesh Sharma's historic spaceflight. He spent 18 days in the International Space Station (ISS), which is a remarkable career milestone. Notably, the astronaut successfully completed the assigned experiments during his mission. While wishing Shukla for his achievement, I hope these will inspire many youngsters. Ganti Venkata, Secunderabad Banning of toddy could boomerang This refers to 'Be wary: Adulterated toddy is a silent killer' (THI July15). Banning toddy might seem like a quick fix to curb adulteration and health risks—but it's a complex move with wide-ranging consequences. Toddy is deeply rooted in cultural traditions, especially in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and parts of West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh. Both toddy and its unfermented form (neera) are sometimes used in local ceremonies and temple offerings. It's not just a drink—it's a symbol of rural heritage and community bonding. However, cultural practices should never come at the cost of public health. Let's choose safety over the 'kick'. Unfermented toddy is considered beneficial to health, as it contains natural nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. Toddy societies often enjoy political patronage and represent vote banks. If banned, the risk of illicit liquor markets thriving in the vacuum is high-and potentially more dangerous. Banning toddy without a safety net could do more harm than good. Therefore, the focus should be to crack down on adulteration, not tradition, regulate and certify toddy quality, educate consumers, provide safe alternatives, and support livelihoods through training and alternative income sources. Dr O. Prasada Rao, Hyderabad 'RTI vs Privacy' is a true mirror reflection The article by Dr Madabhushi Sreedhar Acharylu on 'RTI vs Privacy' has projected the practical issues faced by many people. They all helplessly roam around police stations and courts for speedy justice. During his recent visit to Hyderabad, the Chief Justice of India spoke about delivery of justice in the most affected cases. When legal heads sort out and solve each common issue with useful and usable solutions, lakhs of pending cases can get cleared and ensure that the affected victims get relief from the hurdles that they are subject to. G Murali Mohan Rao, Secunderabad-11 Discernment in choice of snacks There has been a mixed reaction to the Ministry of Health and Family Affairs' directive to central and state government offices to put up 'sugar and fat boards' as a reminder of the adverse impact on health of certain very popular snacks. Those who are against it are health-illiterate and are not health-conscious. Health experts are unanimous in their opinion that ubiquitous snacks like samosa, jalebi, laddus, pakodas and vada pav are unhealthy foods and harmful. A healthy diet is an important part of healthy living. In this context, it is worth saying that street food should be regulated and cooking oil should not be allowed to be reused. Once people become aware of the nutritional content, sugar and fat, they will find the aroma of the deep-fried snacks less irresistible. The human body is not a dustbin to put junk foods. Simple sugars and trans-fat in disproportionate quantities have been identified as silent culprits behind obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases and some types of cancer. Warning against eating certain unhealthy foods through 'nutritional boards' in government offices will help. At the same time, they must highlight better and healthier snacks, lest people opt for packaged foods further aggravating the health crisis. G. David Milton, Maruthancode (TN)
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Here's all you need to know about Shubhanshu Shukla, India's representative on the Axiom-4 mission
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will be the second Indian to fly to space after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma in 1984. The Axiom-4 mission is a collaborative effort between Axiom Space and NASA, both of the United States. Group Captain Shukla will be joined by Peggy Whitson of the US, Tibor Kapu of Hungary, and Slawosz Uznanski of Poland. The Ax-4 crew will fly aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is set to lift off to the International Space Station (ISS) on June 11 as part of the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission. This will make Shukla the second Indian to fly to space after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma in take a close look at this historic event, what it means for India, and the man behind the and brought up in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, Shubhanshu Shukla was commissioned into the Indian Air Force in June 2006. In March 2024, he was raised to the rank of Group February 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi named Shukla as one of the four astronaut-designates for India's inaugural human spaceflight mission, Gaganyan , planned for launch in early 2027. He underwent training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre in Russia in 2021 after his selection for the human spaceflight programme by the Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM).An alumnus of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, with a Master's degree in aerospace engineering, Shukla has to his credit over 2,000 hours of flight experience. As a combat leader and seasoned test pilot, he has piloted various aircraft, including Su-30 MKI, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier 228, and Axiom-4 mission is a collaborative effort between Axiom Space and NASA . This fourth private astronaut mission to the ISS aims to conduct scientific experiments and observations. The 14-day mission, which will launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, has onboarded the first Indian astronaut , Shubhanshu Shukla, as part of the Ax-4 crew. Shukla will be joined by Peggy Whitson, Commander, of the US; Tibor Kapu, Mission Specialist, of Hungary; and Slawosz Uznanski, Mission Specialist, of Poland. The Ax-4 crew will fly aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft The Ax-4 mission brings together the aspiration for human spaceflight projects for India, Poland, and Hungary, with each nation's first government-sponsored flight in more than 40 years. It is also the first time all three nations will execute a mission aboard the mission defines a research pathway to low-earth orbit and elevates national space programmes globally. The Ax-4 research complement includes around 60 scientific studies and activities representing 31 countries, including the US, India, Poland, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Nigeria, UAE, and nations across the Axiom-4 mission is scheduled for launch on June 11 at 5:30 PM IST. It was earlier slated for launch on June 10 at 5:52 IST. The delay was caused due to "unfavourable weather," as announced by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on to the official updates, the live webcast of the Ax-4 mission will commence two hours prior to the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft docking with the ISS. The space mission underscores earth observation, biological and material sciences, further advancing the space research capabilities of the countries involved in the initiative.
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Axiom-4 Mission: From 'Gajar ka halwa' to 'aamras', here's what astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is carrying to ISS; find out why
India is all set to make a historic return to space with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who is going to the ISS under Axiom Space's Ax-4 mission. Amidst the excitement for the mission, a family member of the Group Captain, Shubhanshu, revealed that he will be carrying a few Indian delicacies with him. Shukla will be travelling to the ISS with three crew members, marking a major milestone for India. During his space travel, Shubhanshu has planned to carry a few Indian dishes along with him. Since Indian food is usually quite spicy, the pilot received the approval to only carry a few sweet dishes and non-spicy items. The Axiom-4 mission (AX-4) to the International Space Station (ISS), which was scheduled on June 10 at 8.22 a.m. ET from Launch Complex 39A at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Kennedy Space Centre in Florida was postponed and will now be launched on June 11 due to weather conditions. Shubhanshu Shukla is to carry 'Gajar ka halwa' in ISS Shukla is set to fly with other astronauts on Wednesday, June 11. Well, during his travels, he takes food items such as moong dal halwa, rice and aamras. According to HT, who quoted his sister saying, "He is carrying moong dal halwa, gajar ka halwa, aamras and rice…. Since Indian food is high in spices, he wasn't getting permission to carry them. But finally, they did allow a few varieties." According to ToI, spicy foods are not allowed on the ISS due to the potential for digestive discomfort and the difficulty of handling and consuming them in microgravity. She also shared that he has been quarantined for a fortnight now, but once a day, he joins a group call with his family. Who is Shubhanshu Shukla? Shubhanshu Shukla is a 40-year-old astronaut, among four other astronauts selected by ISRO for the Gaganyan human spaceflight programme. He holds an degree in aerospace engineering from IISc Bangalore. Shukla has over 2,000 flight hours on aircraft, including the Su-30 MKI, MiG, Jaguar, and Hawk. India returns to space after 41 years 🇮🇳🚀Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will be representing India on the Axiom-4 mission and will be conducting food and nutritional experiments on the ISS. He is also the Mission pilot. What will Shubhanshu Shukla do in space? Shukla will be assisting Whitson in operating the Crew Dragon spacecraft as a pilot. Along with this, he will be looking after the launch, docking, and re-entry procedures. Once the astronauts are on board the ISS, the crew will spend up to 14 days conducting over 60 science experiments across the fields, including material science, biology and earth observation.
Mint
10-06-2025
- Science
- Mint
Axiom-4 mission: Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla a ‘very special' passenger, says Prof RC Kapoor
As Shubhanshu Shukla prepares to become the second Indian in 41 years to travel to space, astronomer and Professor RC Kapoor said on Tuesday that the Axiom-4 mission will carry a 'very special astronaut.' Prof Kapoor also spoke about the objective of the mission, revealing that Shukla is set to carry out seven experiments at the International Space Station (ISS), reported ANI. Speaking to ANI, Prof RC Kapoor revealed that the rocket is going to carry four 'very special' passengers to the ISS. The passengers are from different nationalities. Veteran American astronaut Peggy Whitson will command the mission. Three other astronauts: one from Poland, one from Hungary, and India's Shubhanshu Shukla. Talking about Shubanshu Shukla and the significance of the Axiom-4 mission for India, the professor said, 'He is a group captain in the Air Force, and he has been trained for space travel, particularly from the Gaganyan mission point of view,' reported ANI. Prof Kapoor claimed that this is a great opportunity for our Indian astronaut to be taken to ISS, which is a heavy table satellite moving above Earth from a height of about 400 km. 'This space station has been there in place since 1998, and it is the first time that there is Indian participation,' reported ANI. The objective of the Axiom-4 mission is to conduct 60 experiments. Prof Kapoor told ANI that Shukla is going to conduct seven out of those 60 experiments. 'Shukla is going to carry seven experiments, and they are of different varieties,' Prof Kapoor told ANI. Prof Kapoor also discussed Squadron Leader Rakesh Sharma's visit to space, saying that Sharma had stayed in space for about eight days and had conducted some experiments. The professor told ANI, 'It is an exciting moment for us, because after 41 years, if you recall, in April 1984 Squadron leader Rakesh Sharma flew aboard T-11 Rocket of the Russian Space Agency and then was taken to cell 7 space station where he stayed for close to 8 days. He went around the Earth 15 times, took some pics and conducted experiments. He was already trained for that in Russia,' Speaking about the extensive training for astronauts, Prof Kapoor said, 'In space, things are not easy. Everything has to work in perfect unison. Astronauts have to be given extensive training, which we can't imagine because sometimes the training goes on for several years.' 'After launch, it may take 28 hours for the Axiom-4 team to reach the station… but we are hoping everything goes perfectly,' reported ANI. The launch of the Axiom-4 marks a rare milestone for the astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary, each embarking on their first-ever mission to the ISS, ANI reported. This also marks the second government-sponsored human spaceflight in over four decades for each of these countries. The mission is a major milestone achieved by the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) collaboration with NASA through Axiom Space. ISRO announced on June 9 that the mission, which was scheduled to be launched on June 10, has been rescheduled to June 11 due to unfavourable weather conditions. Joining the mission are Slawosz Uznanski of Poland, a European Space Agency (ESA) project astronaut, and Tibor Kapu of Hungary. Uznanski will be Poland's second astronaut since 1978, similar to Kapu, who will also be Hungary's second since 1980. Veteran American astronaut Peggy Whitson will command the mission, adding to her record for the longest cumulative time spent in space by any American.
India Gazette
10-06-2025
- Science
- India Gazette
"Stepping stone for Gaganyaan": Retd Air Commodore Ravish Malhotra on Axiom-4 mission
By Deepjoy Das New Delhi [India], June 10 (ANI): With Group Captain Subhanshu Shukla set to become the second Indian to travel to space, Air Commodore Ravish Malhotra (retd), who was closely associated with the 1984 Indo-Soviet space mission and trained as an astronaut, has said that the upcoming launch is a crucial milestone in the journey for India's ambitious Gaganyaan mission. Air Commodore Ravish Malhotra, who was selected along with Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma for India's first space mission and was his backup, told ANI in an interview that Group Captain Subhanshu Shukla's journey to the International Space Station (ISS) inspires 1.4 billion Indians. Gaganyaan, India's first human spaceflight mission, is scheduled to launch in the first quarter of 2027. During an interview with ANI on Monday, the Retd Air Commodore affirmed confidence in Indian astronaut Group Captain Subhanshu Shukla, who is part of the four-member crew that will be travelling to the space station. Group Captain Shukla is set to become the second Indian to travel to space and the first to visit the ISS. Air Commodore Malhotra stated that Group Captain Shukla had to undergo rigorous training for over two years, beginning in Russia at the renowned Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre. 'They have been training for almost two years now. They had their training in Russia... After that, he (Group Captain Shukla) had gone to the US and had been trained along with the other three cosmonauts (who are part of the crew),' he said. 'This is certainly a stepping stone for our own Gaganyan mission. I believe in the next year or 2027, the Gaganyan mission will take place... And both Sudhanshu Shukla and the standby astronaut, the training they got in the US, will be an additional win for our flight when it takes place,' Air Commodore (Retd) Malhotra added. The space veteran added that Group Captain Shukla's extensive preparation has now positioned him as ready for the mission, carrying the hopes of 1.4 billion Indians. 'He had trained for a long time and was now ready to go up... We wish him Godspeed... He carries with him the inspiration for 1.4 billion Indians.' Highlighting Group Captain Shukla's critical role in the mission, the Air Commodore explained that the Indian astronaut will serve as the co-pilot alongside the senior American astronaut, Peggy Whitson, who will be leading the mission. 'There is one senior American astronaut. He (Shukla) is the number two... He will be flying the spaceship to dock with the International Space Station and going there to carry out experiments,' he noted. Describing the technical aspects that Group Captain Shukla will encounter during the mission, Air Commodore Malhotra said that he will be assisting Whitson with the docking of the spacecraft if anything happens to the automatic docking system. 'He is like the captain or the co-pilot. He is going to be there assisting the senior astronaut with docking (the ship)... The docking happens on an automatic basis. The whole system is automated. Should anything happen, then the pilot takes up the manual docking. So they train for that,' he added. He emphasised that additional training for manual docking ensures the crew is prepared for any contingency. Reflecting on the overall progress in the evolution of the space training and India's capabilities in the field over the past four decades, the Retd Air Commodore noted, 'There have been a lot of improvements in the past 40-45 odd years when we did our training... They received a whole gamut of training, and now they are ready for the launch.' The launch of the Axiom-4 mission features astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary--each embarking on their first-ever mission to the ISS. This also marks the second government-sponsored human spaceflight in over four decades for each of these countries. The mission is a major milestone in the Indian Space Research Organisation's collaboration with NASA through Axiom Space. The mission, which was scheduled to be launched on June 10, has been rescheduled to June 11 due to unfavourable weather conditions, as per ISRO. Joining the mission are Slawosz Uznanski of Poland, a European Space Agency (ESA) project astronaut, and Tibor Kapu of Hungary. Uznanski will be Poland's second astronaut since 1978, while Kapu will be Hungary's second since 1980. Veteran American astronaut Peggy Whitson will command the mission, adding to her record for the longest cumulative time spent in space by any American. (ANI)
