logo
In a call to ISRO chief, Shukla acknowledges his efforts in ensuring his safe travel to ISS

In a call to ISRO chief, Shukla acknowledges his efforts in ensuring his safe travel to ISS

Indian Express07-07-2025
In a call to V Narayanan, Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Shubhanshu Shukla, the Indian Gaganyatri currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 mission, acknowledged the efforts of team ISRO in ensuring his safe travel to the ISS.
Shukla had called the ISRO chief on July 6 afternoon, ISRO said.
During the call, the chairman expressed his keen interest in Shukla's well-being and inquired about the various scientific experiments and activities being conducted on the ISS.
Narayanan, also Secretary of Department of Space, emphasised the significance of documenting all experiments and activities meticulously after Shukla's return to Earth, as this will provide valuable insights and inputs for the development of India's human spaceflight programme, Gaganyaan.
According to ISRO, the Gaganyaan programme aims to demonstrate India's capability to launch a crewed spacecraft into low Earth orbit, and the experiences and knowledge gained from this mission will be crucial for its success. Shubhanshu Shukla's ISS mission has been executed under the ISRO-Axiom Spaceflight agreement.
The discussion was attended by several senior officials from ISRO, including Dr Unnikrishnan Nair, Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) and Chairman of the Program Management Council for Human Space Programme; M Mohan, Director of Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC); Padmakumar E S, Director of ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU); M Ganesh Pillai, Scientific Secretary of ISRO; and N Vedachalam, former Director of LPSC.
Shukla also shared updates on the progress of the experiments and activities being carried out on the space station, highlighting the scientific objectives and the challenges being addressed. PTI
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Shubhanshu Shukla to splashdown today: All eyes on fiery re-entry into Earth
Shubhanshu Shukla to splashdown today: All eyes on fiery re-entry into Earth

India Today

time32 minutes ago

  • India Today

Shubhanshu Shukla to splashdown today: All eyes on fiery re-entry into Earth

Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is set to make a historic return to Earth on Tuesday, as he and his Axiom-4 (Ax-4) crewmates prepare for a dramatic splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of an 18-day mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), Shukla's journey home will culminate in one of the most critical and challenging phases of spaceflight: atmospheric SpaceX Dragon spacecraft carrying Shukla and the multinational Ax-4 crew undocked from the ISS at 4:30 pm IST on Monday, beginning a meticulously planned 22-hour return journey. The capsule will orbit Earth several times, gradually aligning itself for the precise deorbit burn required to target the designated splashdown zone. The timing of this maneuver is crucial, as it ensures the spacecraft enters Earth's atmosphere at the correct angle and location for a safe RE-ENTRY INTO EARTHRe-entry is widely regarded as the most perilous part of any space the Dragon capsule plunges into the atmosphere at speeds exceeding 27,000 km/h, it will encounter intense friction, causing its heat shield to endure temperatures of up to 1, several minutes, the crew will experience a communications blackout, adding to the tension as Mission Control and families await confirmation of a successful passage through the fiery communication blackout is due to the plasma buildup on the spacecraft due to the friction building a barrrier between the system and ground through the atmosphere, a series of parachutes will deploy to slow the capsule's descent, culminating in a gentle splashdown in the Pacific. Recovery teams, including ships and helicopters, will be on standby to swiftly retrieve the crew and transport them to a medical facility for immediate evaluation.A TRAILBLAZING MISSIONDuring his time aboard the ISS, Shukla contributed to over 60 scientific experiments, including pioneering research in plant biology, materials science, and artificial work, particularly the Sprouts Project on plant growth in microgravity, is expected to have lasting impacts on both future space missions and Earth-based return marks a proud moment for India, as the nation celebrates its growing role in international space the world watches, all eyes are on the final, nerve-wracking moments of his mission—reminding us of both the dangers and triumphs of human spaceflight.- EndsTune InMust Watch

Post successful undocking, Shux, mates to splash down on July 15
Post successful undocking, Shux, mates to splash down on July 15

New Indian Express

time37 minutes ago

  • New Indian Express

Post successful undocking, Shux, mates to splash down on July 15

BENGALURU: AS you read this, India's Group Captain and astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla (call sign Shux) has completed over half his journey back to Earth. In a few hours from now Shux will start the exercise to descend and make a splashdown landing off California coast at 3pm, subject to weather conditions, as a part of the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) space mission – the commercial four-agency collaboration of Axiom Space, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the European Space Agency (ESA). The Ax-4 mission's space capsule SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, named Grace, undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) at 4.50pm IST on July 14 – 10 minutes behind schedule due to technical reasons. After the 12 capture hooks of the space capsule were released to facilitate the undocking procedure, thrusters were manually operated by Shux and Ax-4 mission commander Peggy Whitson to enable the capsule to distance itself from the ISS. The subsequent procedures would involve reducing the orbital altitude of Grace from 400 Km. ISRO scientists familiar with the undocking procedure and the process of return to Earth, explained that after undocking, the capsule would continue to orbit as an independent entity till the thrusters are fired to reduce its speed for a safe landing. The crucial time for that would begin at 2 pm (IST) on Tuesday, an hour before the scheduled splashdown. The thrusters of the capsule, piloted by Shux and mission commander Peggy Whitson, will be fired to drastically reduce the capsule's speed from 26,200 km/hour to just 24 km/hour in less than an hour to facilitate its descent to an altitude of 80km from where the parachutes would come into play to ensure a safe and successful splashdown. Only Monday, at 4.48pm IST, two minutes before the undocking was completed, Expedition 73's seven crew members on board the ISS (who the four Ax-4 mission crew members joined on the space station on June 26 afternoon), relayed a message, 'Have a Safe Journey Back Home,' to the Ax-4 crew members.

Re-entry and splashdown crucial of Dragon spacecraft: Space experts
Re-entry and splashdown crucial of Dragon spacecraft: Space experts

New Indian Express

time37 minutes ago

  • New Indian Express

Re-entry and splashdown crucial of Dragon spacecraft: Space experts

BENGALURU: As every science enthusiast and Indian celebrated the undocking of Dragon spacecraft Grace from the International Space Station (ISS) on Monday evening, experts and scientists from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said the re-entry and a safe splashdown would be crucial. 'In space, the spacecraft is orbiting at speeds of 28,000 km/hour and is in zero- gravity, but when it has to start to descend, this speed will have to be reduced to 24 km/hour in less than an hour. This will be done gradually by firing thrusters in the opposite direction, which will act as brakes to reduce the speed. At this time, the spacecraft will be at an altitude of 70-80 km. The angle at which the spacecraft enters the atmosphere is vital,' explained an ISRO scientist. The return is the opposite of the manner in which the spacecraft lifts off from Earth's gravity. While leaving the Earth's orbit, the friction is low, but while descending, the friction is high. The temperature of the spacecraft will increase to 1,500-2,000 degrees Celsius and at this time the heat thresholds will play a crucial role. There should not be any leaks in the spacecraft during angling, which is the most important to ensure the safety of all the astronauts, the scientist explained. 'The exercise to descend and reduce the speed will start at 2 pm. A few minutes before the splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, off California coast at 3pm, the drogue parachutes – which are smaller parachutes used to stabilize the space capsule tumbling towards Earth – will open, after which main parachutes will open to cushion the splashdown impact. At the atmospheric re-entry, a tentative angle of 40 degree is expected, however, it changes depending upon the location and other parameters,' explained an expert. Experts explained that soon after a safe landing, the astronauts will be removed from the hatch side of the spacecraft and taken to the anchored ships for immediate medical attention. Their health parameters are examined by a team of highly trained medical experts, following which they are airlifted to their designated location of quarantine and medical attention.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store