Page 2 - Astronauts

Time for feasts, farewells for Shubhanshu Shukla, Axiom-4 astronauts

After 18 days of intense science experiments at the International Space Station, it is time for farewells and feasts for Shubhanshu Shukla and three other astronauts of the Axiom-4 mission who are set to begin their return journey to Earth on Monday. The Axiom 4 (Ax-4) crewCommander Peggy Whitson, Pilot Shubhanshu "Shux" Shukla, and Mission Specialists Slawosz "Suave" Uznanski-Wisniewski and Tibor Kapuare nearing the completion of their research and preparing to undock no earlier than at 7:05 am ET (4:35 pm IST) on Monday. "Arrival back to earth.... splash down scheduled for 15th July at 3:00 PM IST," Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh said in a post on X. A formal farewell for the Axiom-4 crew is scheduled for Sunday evening, India time. As the Axiom-4 mission drew to a close, astronauts on board the ISS gathered for a feast with a diverse menu from the six nations they represent. Currently, there are 11 astronauts on the ISS, seven of Expedition 73 and four of the ..

Shubhanshu Shukla's family speaks with him, awaits his return from space

The family of astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as part of NASA's Axiom-4 mission, on Friday expressed joy and pride after speaking to him, and said they are eagerly awaiting his safe return on July 14. Speaking to PTI Videos from their Lucknow residence, Shubhanshu's father Shambhu Dayal Shukla said the family is relieved to know that the mission is proceeding smoothly. "Everything is fine in space. It felt great to see that his mission is going well. He showed us where he works, where he sleeps, his lab, and how his daily routine looks like," he said. "We felt very happy after talking to him. He explained everything to us very clearly. We are also doing well here and are eagerly looking forward to welcoming him back. Our entire family and extended relatives are happy and waiting for his return," he added. Shubhanshu's mother Asha Shukla said she was especially moved by the visuals her son shared from space. "He told us how beauti

Axiom-4 mission: Shubhanshu Shukla likely to return to Earth on July 14

Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and three other crew members of the Axiom-4 mission are set to return to earth from the International Space Station on July 14, NASA said on Thursday. We are working with the station program, watching the Axiom-4 progress carefully. I think we need to undock that mission and the current target to undock is July 14, Steve Stitch, Manager, NASA Commercial Crew Program, told a press conference. The Axiom-4 mission was launched from the Kennedy Space Centre at Florida on June 25 and the Dragon spacecraft docked at the International Space Station on June 26 after a 28-hour journey.

'Privilege to be amongst few': Shukla describes seeing Earth from space

Speaking from orbit, the astronaut shared his experience of living and working in space, offering insights into the physical challenges, the awe of observing Earth from above

Exciting to see Earth from vantage point of ISS: Shubhanshu Shukla

Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla on Friday said he and fellow astronauts on the International Space Station relished 'aam ras', 'gajar ka halwa', 'moong dal halwa' and delicacies from other countries as he completed a week on board the orbital lab. Shukla, who docked at the ISS on June 26 as part of the Axiom-4 mission, completed a week on the ISS and got a day off, which he spent connecting with family and friends back on Earth. The Axiom-4 (Ax-4) crew, which includes Shukla and three other astronauts, completed 113 orbits around the Earth by the end of July 3, clocking over 4.66 million km, which is equivalent to nearly 12 times the distance between the Earth and the moon. "It was a good moment. We got food from different countries and got to share it with all the crew," Shukla, who has the call sign Shux', said in a brief interaction with scientists at the URSC, Bengaluru over HAM radio connection. On Thursday, Shukla also became the Indian astronaut with the longest stay in space, .

Astronaut 634 Shubhanshu Shukla: Shux blends science, sweets and space

Shubhanshu Shukla'S first seven days on the Ax-4 have combined science, ceremony, and moments of levity

'Furthest from motherland, closest to hearts': PM Modi to Shubhanshu Shukla

PM Modi congratulated Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla aboard the ISS during Axiom-4, as India returned to space after more than four decades

Andhra girl named astronaut candidate for Titans Space programme in US

In a social media post, Dangeti Jahnavi, a native of Palakollu town in West Godavari district, announced that she had been selected as an ASCAN for Titans Space's inaugural class of 2025

Axiom-4 mission with Gaganyatri delayed to June 11, launch at 5:30 pm: Isro

Isro has postponed Axiom-4 mission carrying Indian Gaganyatri to the International Space Station to June 11, with launch now scheduled for 5:30 pm IST

Extremely fortunate to be part of space mission: Indian astronaut Shukla

Ahead of his historic journey to the International Space Station (ISS), Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla has termed the preparations for the Axiom-4 mission as an "amazing journey" and that he was extremely fortunate to be part of something that is "much larger than yourself". The 39-year-old Indian Air Force pilot is all set to travel with three other crew members to the ISS onboard SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft, mounted on a Falcon 9 rocket, that will lift off from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on Tuesday at 5:52 pm IST. Shukla, who goes by the nickname "Shux", will be the second Indian to travel to space, 41 years after his idol Rakesh Sharma undertook a spaceflight in 1984 onboard erstwhile Soviet Union's Soyuz spacecraft for an eight-day stay in orbit. "It has been an amazing journey; these are the moments that really tell you that you are getting to be a part of something that is much larger than yourself. I can only say how extremely fortunate I am to be a part of this,"

Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla's Axiom-4 Mission set for launch on June 10

Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and three others are set to embark on the Axiom Space's fourth human spaceflight from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on June 10 and are likely to dock at the International Space Station on June 11 at about 10 PM IST, after a nearly 28-hour journey. Shukla, the mission pilot of the Axiom-4 (Ax4) commercial mission to the ISS, will be accompanied by mission commander Peggy Whitson and specialists Tibor Kapu from Hungary and Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland. The Axiom-4 mission will mark India's return to space 41 years after Rakesh Sharma's historic spaceflight onboard Russia's Soyuz mission in 1984. "The crew will travel to the orbiting laboratory on a new SpaceX Dragon spacecraft after launching on the company's Falcon 9 rocket. The targeted docking time is approximately 12:30 p.m.EDT (10:00 p.m. IST), Wednesday, June 11," NASA said in a statement. ISRO Chairman V Narayanan visited Axiom Space last week to review the preparations fo

Canada's first astronaut, former Foreign Minister Marc Garneau, dies at 76

The government has eased contiguous land area norms for special economic zones (SEZs) which want to engage exclusively in the manufacturing of semiconductors or electronic components, according to a notification, "Where a Special Economic Zone is exclusively set up for the manufacturing of semiconductors or electronic components, the contiguous land area shall be ten hectares or more," the commerce ministry's notification has said. Earlier, this was 50 hectares. It added that for the purposes of this provision, the electronic components would include display module sub-assembly, camera module sub-assembly, battery sub-assembly, various types of other module sub-assemblies, printed circuit board, Li-ion cells for batteries, mobile and information technology hardware components, hearables and wearables. The notification also said that the Board of Approval (highest decision-making body for SEZs) can relax the condition of encumbrance-free area, in cases where the area is mortgaged or

No more rockets? Space elevator may soon carry astronauts to the Moon

A revolutionary study suggests a lunar space elevator built with current materials, potentially transforming the future of human space travel

Axiom 4 mission: India returns to space with IAF pilot Shubhanshu Shukla

IAF Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will pilot Axiom 4 to the ISS, marking India's first human spaceflight since 1984 and a milestone in US-India cooperation and ISRO's Gaganyaan preparations

Indian astronaut set to travel to International Space Station on May 29

Axiom Space will launch its fourth mission to the International Space Station, carrying Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and three others, from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on May 29. The announcement was made by the Axiom Space at a virtual press conference on Tuesday. Shukla's travel to space comes four decades after Rakesh Sharma's iconic spaceflight onboard Russia's Soyuz spacecraft. Besides Shukla, the Ax-4 crew includes members from Poland and Hungary, marking each nation's first mission to the International Space Station in history and the second government-sponsored human spaceflight mission in over 40 years. Slawosz Uznanski, European Space Agency (ESA) project astronaut, will be the second Polish astronaut since 1978. Tibor Kapu will be the second national Hungarian astronaut since 1980. Peggy Whitson will command her second commercial human spaceflight mission, adding to her standing record for the longest cumulative time in space by an American

Space made me feel decades younger, says 70-year-old NASA astronaut

NASA's oldest full-time astronaut, Don Pettit, returned to Earth aboard a Russian Soyuz capsule after spending 220 days on the International Space Station

Nasa's oldest astronaut marks 70th birthday after returning from space

Nasa officials at the landing site reported that Don Pettit is in good condition and is undergoing routine medical checks

Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla set for space travel next month: Jitendra Singh

Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is set to travel to the International Space Station next month as part of an Axiom-4 mission, four decades after Rakesh Sharma's iconic spaceflight onboard Russia's Soyuz spacecraft, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said on Friday. Singh made the remarks after reviewing the work of the Department of Space and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) here. "Group Captain Shukla's journey is more than just a flight it's a signal that India is stepping boldly into a new era of space exploration," Singh said. ISRO Chairman V Narayanan made a presentation on various upcoming space missions. ISRO is set to launch the NISAR satellite developed jointly with NASA in June on board the GSLV-Mark 2 rocket, Singh said, adding that in July the space agency will put in orbit BlueBird Block-2 satellites of US-based AST SpaceMobile Inc. using the heavy-lift LVM-3 rocket. Singh said Group Captain Shukla's mission, scheduled for May, marks a milestone in India

Katy Perry among 6 women heading to space: Details of Blue Origin's mission

Katy Perry, Lauren Sanchez, and four other women are set to make history as part of Blue Origin's all-female crew for a suborbital space mission, launching on Monday from Texas

Why Sunita Williams may have returned taller from space after 288-day stay

From puffy face, fragile skin, to muscle and bone loss - what happens to the human body in space? Here's all we know