Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla heads to space on Falcon 9, the SpaceX rocket is designed by…, set to reach orbit at…

The Captain of Indian Air Force Group, Shubhanshu Shukla, creates history as he travels to International Space Station (ISS) aboard the private Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission. He is piloting the SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, with the team of astronauts form India, Poland, US And Hungry. The take-off happened through the Falcon-9 rocket from the NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. The launch pad was previously used by Neil Armstrong for his historic Moon landing mission.

As the astronauts have lift off today, June 25, on 12:01 pm, let’s take a look at the Falcon-9 Dragon, the power-packed spaceX aircraft that has been used to carry them to space.

What is Flacon 9 space rocket?

Flacon 9 rocket is the heart of the mission as it is responsible for the launching the crew to space. It is one of Space X’s flagship launch vehicles, renowned for its reliability, reusability and high launch rate. Weighing over 549 metric tons and standing 70 meters tall, Falcon 9 is powered by merlin engines, which are fueled by a refined form of kerosene RP-1, and liquid oxygen (LOX).

Moreover, the Crew Dragon spacecraft is designed with special features so that it can stand high-pressure conditions, ensuring that astronauts land safely during landing, launch and re-entry. Developed by Elon Musk-led Space X, The Falcon 9 isn’t just crafted for crew spaced missions, but also its ability to launch satellites into the orbit, carry cargo to the ISS, and even capable to carry intergalactic missions.

Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla makes history

Four decades after the Wing commander Rakesh Sharma, Shubhanshu Shukla becomes the first Indian pilot to visit the International Space Station (ISS). He, along with the crew, will be living and working on the ISS for 14 days.

The Ax-4 mission is a joint collaboration between Nasa, Isro, and Axiom Space. Shukla and his team will be conducting over 60 experiments, led by several Indian researches, along with the team of NASA, further highlighting India’s global expansion in space, science and technology.

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