Shukla’s space odyssey a new milestone for India after 41 years

INDIA’s return to human spaceflight has come after 41 long years, but it has been worth the wait. After a series of frustrating delays, the Axiom-4 mission has finally taken off — with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and three others on board. The IAF officer has embarked on a journey to the International Space Station (ISS), over four decades after Rakesh Sharma — a Squadron Leader back in 1984 — spent nearly eight days aboard the erstwhile Soviet Union’s Salyut-7 space station. Shukla’s achievement has made him the firm favourite to spearhead Gaganyaan, India’s human space mission. This ambitious programme is on the right track, with the first human spaceflight scheduled for the first quarter of 2027. The experience gained by Shukla on the ISS will be of invaluable help to fellow Indian astronauts who have been shortlisted for this mission.

India has made big strides in the space sector over the past decade or so, with the Chandrayaan and Mangalyaan missions showcasing ISRO’s capabilities. The Modi government’s emphasis on Aatmanirbharta has been marked by efforts to promote indigenous technology and cost-effective solutions. The litmus test for India is to reduce dependence on nations such as the US and Russia for manned flights, a field in which China is light years ahead. Gaganyaan — which envisages putting Indian astronauts into orbit aboard an Indian rocket from Indian soil — is central to the country’s rise as a global space power. Amid the US-China space race, India wants to set up the Bharatiya Antariksha Station by 2035 and send its first citizen to the Moon by 2040. These goals may not be unreachable, but a lot of things would have to fall into place over the next decade and a half.

Beyond the optics of an Indian in space, the Axiom-4 mission is also important for ISRO from the research perspective. Around 30 countries will be involved in scientific studies and activities aboard the ISS. India should make the most of this opportunity to gain knowledge that could guide future space exploration.

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