IAF Recognizes Group Captain Shukla’s Space Mission
Indian Air Force officer Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is preparing for a space mission under the Axiom-4 program. This event comes nearly 40 years after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma became the first Indian in space in 1984.
Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh spoke to Shukla through a video call ahead of the launch. He expressed his hopes for a safe and successful mission and said Shukla could help write a new chapter in India's space history.
Launch Details and Backup Plan
The launch is scheduled for Wednesday at 5:30 PM (IST). Shukla will travel with three other astronauts in SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft. The original plan was to launch on Tuesday, but bad weather in Florida caused a delay. If weather conditions remain unfavorable, the mission may shift to Thursday at 5:07 PM.
Duration and Mission Objectives
The spacecraft will take 28 hours before docking with ISS. After being aboard, the team will stay there for 14 days. The team will, therefore, conduct several scientific experiments in a zero-gravity environment during their visit.
Scheduled Interactions
As part of the mission agenda, Group Captain Shukla and his team will also connect with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They will speak to school students and other groups to share insights from space.
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