Latest news with #Interkosmos
Time of India
25-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Rakesh Sharma: Meet another IAF pilot who pierced skies in a Russian spacecraft 40 years before Shubhanshu Shukla
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Well before IAF Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla etched a new chapter in India's human space programme, Astronaut Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma made the nation proud when he spent seven days, 21 hours, and 40 minutes in space on board the Salyut 7 space station Rakesh Sharma became the first Indian to travel to space. This achievement came with a joint Indian Space Research Organisation ( ISRO ) and the Soviet Interkosmos space Sharma joined the National Defence Academy (NDA) in July 1966 as an air force freshman, and in 1970 he got commissioned as a pilot in the Indian Air Force (IAF) and became a fighter pilot. He joined Hindustan Aeronautics in 1987 as its chief test pilot. In 2001, he moved out to take on the chairman of the board of Automated Workflow (a Bengaluru-based process-management company).It was in 1982 that Rakesh Sharma got chosen to become part of a joint Soviet-Indian spaceflight as a cosmonaut. On 3 April 1984, he and two cosmonauts from the Soviet Union (flight engineer Gennady Strekalov and commander Yury Malyshev) flew on board Soyuz T-11 to the space station Salyut 7. At the space station, Rakesh Sharma conducted various exercises and experiments, such as yoga's effects on the human body in weightlessness and taking photographs of India from outer Group Captain Shukla, this will be an opportunity to emulate fellow Indian Air Force Officer Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, who flew aboard Soyuz T-11 on 3 April 1984 as part of the Soviet Interkosmos programme. Sharma spent seven days in space on board the Salyut 7 space the space station, Rakesh Sharma conducted experiments, such as understanding yoga's effects on the human body in weightlessness and taking photographs of India from outer space. When PM Indira Gandhi asked him how India looked from space, he replied, "Saare Jahan Se Achha", a phrase that has become an iconic milestone in India's Space astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla scripted history by embarking on a space odyssey along with three others to the International Space Station as part of a commercial mission by Axiom Space on much-delayed Axiom-4 mission blasted off from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida at 12:01 pm IST towards the ISS amid cheers from watch parties organised across the world, including at Shukla's City Montessori School in Lucknow where his parents witnessed the historic Lucknow-born Shukla, former NASA astronaut Mission Commander Peggy Whitson, Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland, and Tibor Kapu of Hungary are part of the Axiom-4 mission that marks the return to space for the three became the first astronaut to travel to the International Space Station, a journey that comes 41 years after Rakesh Sharma's eight days in orbit as part of the then Soviet Union's Salyut-7 space station in 1984."Greetings from India.. have a fun time guys," Sharma said in a video targeted docking time is approximately 4.30 pm IST on Thursday, June 26, NASA said in a statement.
News18
25-06-2025
- Science
- News18
Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla's Axiom-4 Mission Set To Launch
Peggy Whitson, former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, will command the commercial mission, while ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will serve as pilot. The two mission specialists are ESA (European Space Agency) project astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland, and HUNOR (Hungarian to Orbit) astronaut Tibor Kapu of Hungary. The crew will travel to the orbiting laboratory on a new SpaceX Dragon spacecraft after launching on the company's Falcon 9 rocket. The mission is being live-streamed by SpaceX and Axiom Space on YouTube. Viewers can also watch the live stream on the official website of SpaceX and its social media handles. SHUBHANSHU SHUKLA's PARENTS EXPRESS JOY For Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, this will be an opportunity to emulate fellow Indian Air Force Officer Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, who flew aboard Soyuz T-11 on 3 April 1984 as part of the Soviet Interkosmos programme. Sharma spent seven days in space on board the Salyut 7 space station. Meanwhile, hours before the Axiom-4 mission's launch, joy, pride, and excitement swept through Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow, as the astronaut's father, Shambhu Dayal, expressed that his son's achievement brings pride not only to Lucknow but also to the entire nation. 'We are delighted. Our blessings are with him, and we also pray to God for his mission to be completed well. He is fully prepared. It feels great to see all the posters that have been put up for him. He is bringing laurels to Lucknow, the state and our country. We are proud of him," Shambhu Sayal said.
Time of India
25-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Cosmic comeback: After 40 years, India embarks on a new space odyssey with IAF's Shubhanshu Shukla aboard Axiom-4
Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla stands on the cusp of history as he prepares to set off on a space odyssey, marking India's return to space flight 41 years after his idol Rakesh Sharma orbited the earth for eight days as part of Soviet Union's Interkosmos programme. Lucknow-born Shukla, who goes by the call sign 'Shuks', is part of an ISRO-NASA supported commercial spaceflight by Axiom Space which is expected to lift off for a 14-day sojourn to the International Space Station from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on Wednesday. Interestingly, the last time India, Poland or Hungary sent people to space, their current crop of astronauts had not yet been born -- and back then they were called cosmonauts, as they all flew on Soviet missions before the Iron Curtain fell. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo Shukla's beginnings at IAF A Group Captain in the Indian Air Force, Shukla was selected to be part of India's astronaut corps in 2019 along with fellow officers Prasanth Balkrishnan Nair, Angad Pratap and Ajit Krishnan for the Gaganyaan mission which is likely to be launched in 2027. Born on October 10, 1985, in Lucknow, Shukla did his schooling from City Montessori School before joining the National Defence Academy. Live Events He was commissioned into the Indian Air Force in 2006, and has over 2,000 hours of flying time on a wide range of aircraft including the Su-30 MKI, MiG-29, Jaguar, and Dornier-228. He holds an MTech in Aerospace Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru. Shukla and the three other Gaganyaan astronaut designates underwent extensive training at Russia's Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre and ISRO's Astronaut Training Facility in Bengaluru. Shukla's crewmates on the Axiom-4 mission, commander Peggy Whitson and mission specialists Tibor Kapu from Hungary and Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland, describe him as "operational-savvy", "focussed" and "wicked smart" when it comes to space technologies. Weather favourable for India's space takeoff After multiple delays, Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and three others are all set to travel to the International Space Station on Wednesday with SpaceX announcing that the weather was 90 per cent favourable for lift-off. "All systems are looking good for Wednesday's launch of @Axiom_Space's Ax-4 mission to the @Space_Station and weather is 90% favorable for liftoff," SpaceX, which is providing transport for the space mission, said in a post on X. Peggy Whitson, former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, will command the commercial mission, while ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will serve as pilot. The two mission specialists are ESA (European Space Agency) project astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland, and HUNOR (Hungarian to Orbit) astronaut Tibor Kapu of Hungary. Full timeline of Shukla's space mission Wednesday, June 25 12:30 a.m. (10:00 am)– Axiom Space and SpaceX launch coverage begins. 1:40 a.m. EDT (11:10 am IST)– NASA joins the launch coverage on NASA+. 2:31 a.m.(12:01 pm) – Launch NASA will end coverage following orbital insertion, which is approximately 15 minutes after launch. As it is a commercial launch, NASA will not provide a clean launch feed on its channels. Thursday, June 26 5 a.m. (2:30 pm)– Arrival coverage begins on NASA+, Axiom Space, and SpaceX channels. 7 a.m. (4:30 pm) – Targeted docking to the space-facing port of the station's Harmony module. Arrival coverage will continue through hatch opening and welcome remarks. All times are estimates and could be adjusted based on real-time operations after launch. Why was Axiom-4 mission delayed? The Axiom-4 mission has run into multiple delays, first on account of inclement weather and then due to leaks detected on SpaceX's Falcon-9 rocket and later on the Russian module of the International Space Station. The launch opportunity comes after NASA and Roscosmos officials discussed the status of the recent repair work in the transfer tunnel at the aft (back) most segment of the orbital laboratory's Zvezda service module, NASA said. "NASA and Roscosmos have a long history of cooperation and collaboration on the International Space Station. This professional working relationship has allowed the agencies to arrive at a shared technical approach and now Axiom Mission 4 launch and docking will proceed," said acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro. As part of a collaboration between NASA and ISRO, Axiom Mission 4 delivers on a commitment highlighted by President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to send the first ISRO astronaut to the station, the NASA statement said. The space agencies are participating in five joint science investigations and two in-orbit STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) demonstrations. Once docked, the private astronauts plan to spend about two weeks aboard the orbiting laboratory, conducting a mission comprising science, outreach, and commercial activities. What are on Shukla's research plans? Shukla is set to conduct exclusive food and nutrition-related experiments developed under a collaboration between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), with support from NASA. The experiments aim to pioneer space nutrition and self-sustaining life support systems vital for future long-duration space travel. ISRO has lined up a set of seven experiments for Shukla, who will also participate in five joint studies planned by NASA for its human research program. It has drawn up plans to focus on India-centric food for carrying out experiments on the ISS, including sprouting methi (fenugreek) and moong (green gram) in microgravity conditions. Shukla will also expose the seeds to the macrobiotic conditions and bring them back to earth where they will be cultivated into plants not just once but over generations. Shukla's experience on the Axiom Mission 4 would be very well utilised on the ISRO's Gaganyaan space flight mission which is planned for 2027. ISRO is spending Rs 550 crore on the Axiom-4 mission.
India.com
12-06-2025
- Science
- India.com
Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla's wife opens up about his school days, childhood, says he was a...
Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla stands on the cusp of history as he prepares to set off on a space odyssey, marking India's return to space flight 41 years after his idol Rakesh Sharma orbited the Earth for eight days as part of the Soviet Union's Interkosmos programme. Lucknow-born Shukla, who goes by the call sign 'Shuks', is part of an ISRO-NASA-supported commercial spaceflight by Axiom Space which is expected to lift off for a 14-day sojourn to the International Space Station from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on Wednesday evening. However, the highly anticipated Axion 04 mission, which was set to launch on Wednesday after a series of earlier delays, was postponed once again due to a leak detected in the propulsion bay during a pre-launch test. Born on October 10, 1985, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India, Shukla possesses fluency in both English and his native Hindi. His journey began when he was commissioned into the IAF fighter wing in June 2006. As a combat leader and seasoned test pilot, he boasts an impressive 2,000 hours of flight experience across various aircraft, including the Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, and An-32. His ascent to the rank of group captain in March 2024 reflects his exceptional contributions. In a conversation with The Times of India(TOI) just days before the scheduled launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Kamna offered a heartfelt perspective on the journey. According to the TOI report, his wife Kamna, shared that Shubhanshu's dream of going to space began in 2020. She remembered that it was early in 2020 when the possibility of Shukla going to space began to feel real. At the time, one of the key requirements for the Gaganyaan mission was being a test pilot—something that applied to a very small, close-knit group. 'One of the criteria for Gaganyaan aspirants was that they had to be test pilots. It's such a small community that we were elated, because whoever it may be, he would be known to us. That small idea has become an incredible reality now,' Kamna was quoted as saying by TOI. At home, Shux is known for his disciplined lifestyle and calm determination. He enjoys staying fit, reading non-fiction, and spending playful moments with his six-year-old son. Yet behind this steady routine lies a bold spirit—one that made the remarkable leap from the secure life of a fighter pilot to the uncertain and demanding realm of space exploration. While speaking to the Times of India, Kamna stated, 'He loves his workouts, non-fiction books, to goof around with his six-year-old son. But when you talk about his fearlessness, he's taken immense risks. He left his life as a fighter pilot and stepped into the uncharted world of spaceflight. From making decisions in microseconds to doing delicate experiments in micrograms—it's a complete shift.' What she finds most remarkable about him isn't his trip to space, but rather his inner quiet strength. It's his extreme conviction – a way of thinking that does not allow him to quit. He goes back to simple wisdom, like Dory in Finding Nemo: 'Just keep swimming.' He retains a sharp focus on how to go forward, no matter how bad, he is very adept at problem solving in even the direst situation – thats where his brilliant mind shines. Regarding the rest of the Ax-4 crew, Kamna noted that their relationship has developed way beyond that of colleagues. She believes they are now bound as lifelong friends, sharing the unique experience of living and working together in microgravity. 'They call themselves friends for life. Their experience in microgravity will bind them forever. I'm so glad Shux found these friends—and all of them adore our son Sid,' she stated. Kamna and Shukla's tale goes back to their early school days; they have known each other since primary class, and they shared classrooms from Class 3 onwards. With the years they had in common, they gradually morphed into close friends. She recalls him as the quiet, shy student who faded into the backdrop. It's that same soft-spoken boy whom many now articulate as Shubhanshu, 'who's now inspiring so many people.' Being married to someone pursuing such an extraordinary mission inevitably involves long separations and moments lost to time. The emotional weight of missed milestones—particularly not being there for their son Sid's early years—has not been easy. It's something that has quietly left its mark, especially on Shubhanshu, for whom those absences are deeply felt. The journey, while inspiring, has demanded personal sacrifices that linger beneath the surface, shaping their shared experience with both pride and quiet ache.
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla on cusp of history to become second Indian in space
Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla stands on the cusp of history as he prepares to set off on a space odyssey, marking India's return to space flight 41 years after his idol Rakesh Sharma orbited the earth for eight days as part of Soviet Union's Interkosmos programme. Lucknow-born Shukla, who goes by the call sign 'Shuks', is part of an ISRO-NASA supported commercial spaceflight by Axiom Space which is expected to lift off for a 14-day sojourn to the International Space Station from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on Wednesday evening. A Group Captain in the Indian Air Force, Shukla was selected to be part of India's astronaut corps in 2019 along with fellow officers Prasanth Balkrishnan Nair, Angad Pratap and Ajit Krishnan for the Gaganyaan mission which is likely to be launched in 2027. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Mini House for 60 sqm for Seniors with Toilet and Bath (Click Here) Pre Fabricated Homes | Search Ads Search Now Born on October 10, 1985, in Lucknow, Shukla did his schooling from City Montessori School before joining the National Defence Academy. He was commissioned into the Indian Air Force in 2006, and has over 2,000 hours of flying time on a wide range of aircraft including the Su-30 MKI, MiG-29, Jaguar, and Dornier-228. Live Events He holds an MTech in Aerospace Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru. Shukla and the three other Gaganyaan astronaut designates underwent extensive training at Russia's Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre and ISRO 's Astronaut Training Facility in Bengaluru. Shukla's crewmates on the Axiom-4 mission, commander Peggy Whitson and mission specialists Tibor Kapu from Hungary and Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland, describe him as "operational-savvy", "focussed" and "wicked smart" when it comes to space technologies. "This is not just my journey; this is the journey of 1.4 billion Indians. Even if this story can change one life or inspire one young person, it will be a success," Shukla said in a press interaction ahead of the launch. Shukla's travel to space marks India's return to human spaceflight 41 years after Rakesh Sharma scripted history by undertaking a journey to space onboard Soviet Russia's Soyuz spacecraft in 1984. In Lucknow, Shukla's City Montessori School (CMS) has planned a "public watch party" to celebrate his spaceflight. Several hoardings have come up across the city congratulating 'Shuks' for his spaceflight. CMS has set up giant screens to relay the SpaceX launch live with NASA/Axiom commentary. "We are eagerly looking forward to the launch. Shuks is incredibly focused yet brimming with joy'," Suchi Mishra, Shukla's sister, said in Lucknow. During the 14-day stay at the ISS, the Ax-4 crew is expected to interact with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, school students, and space industry leaders, among others. Shukla is set to conduct exclusive food and nutrition-related experiments developed under a collaboration between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), with support from NASA . The experiments aim to pioneer space nutrition and self-sustaining life support systems vital for future long-duration space travel. ISRO has lined up a set of seven experiments for Shukla, who will also participate in five joint studies planned by NASA for its human research program. It has drawn up plans to focus on India-centric food for carrying out experiments on the ISS, including sprouting methi (fenugreek) and moong (green gram) in microgravity conditions. Shukla will also expose the seeds to the macrobiotic conditions and bring them back to earth where they will be cultivated into plants not just once but over generations. Shukla's experience on the Axiom Mission 4 would be very well utilised on the ISRO's Gaganyaan space flight mission which is planned for 2027. ISRO is spending Rs 550 crore on the Axiom-4 mission.
