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Axiom-4 astronaut crew: Spacewalker, fighter pilot, skyjumper, & radiation specialist

Axiom-4 astronaut crew: Spacewalker, fighter pilot, skyjumper, & radiation specialist

Time of India3 days ago

Each Axiom-4 astronaut brings unique expertise, from long-duration spaceflight to cutting-edge engineering, forging ambitious bold frontiers in private
human spaceflight
.
Peggy Whitson
, 65 | Mission Commander
She boasts the most extensive flight record of any American or female astronaut, having spent 675 days in space across three ISS missions and Axiom Mission 2. She twice commanded ISS, performed 10 spacewalks totalling over 60 hours. The first woman to head Nasa's Astronaut Office and to command a private spaceflight, she has a doctorate in biochemistry. With 38 years of service, she now directs human spaceflight at AxiomSpace.
Shubhanshu Shukla, 39 | Mission Pilot
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Shubhanshu Shukla was chosen as one of four astronauts for Isro's
Gaganyaan spaceflight
. Born in 1985, he was commissioned into the IAF fighter wing in 2006 and has amassed over 2,000 flight hours. Selected in 2019 for astronaut training at Star City in Russia, Shukla completed rigorous scientific, technical and survival programmes under Russian tutors.
Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski, 41 | Mission Specialist
Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski, an engineer from Poland, earned a place in ESA's 2022 Astronaut Reserve from over 22,500 applicants. Holding dual master's degrees from Lodz University of Technology and Universite de Nantes, and a doctorate in radiation-tolerant space systems from Aix-Marseille University, he combines academic expertise with practical experience at CERN. As Reliability Expert and later engineer in charge of the Large Hadron Collider, he oversaw continuous operations of the world's most powerful particle accelerator.
Tibor Kapu, 34 | Mission Specialist
Tibor Kapu, a mechanical engineer from Hungary, was selected in 2023 for the Hungarian to Orbit programme from 247 candidates. Born in 1991, he earned bachelor's and master's degrees in mechanical engineering and polymer technology at Budapest University of Technology and Economics. His career spans automotive hybrid battery development, pharmaceutical logistics, and
space radiation protection
research at an aerospace firm. He's an avid skydiver with 38 jumps and half-marathon runner.

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10 fascinating mammals that are small enough to fit on your palm
10 fascinating mammals that are small enough to fit on your palm

Time of India

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  • Time of India

10 fascinating mammals that are small enough to fit on your palm

When people usually talk about wildlife, the focus is on the big names– elephants, tigers, and whales. They're hard to miss, and they often take centre stage in conservation stories. But not every animal that matters is massive. There are mammals out there that most people don't even notice. They're hidden in trees, deserts, grass, and even underground– so small, some can fit on a fingertip or weigh less than a coin. They might be tiny, but they're not insignificant. These creatures help control insect populations, pollinate plants, and survive in places where many others can't. Here's a look at ten of the smallest mammals on Earth– and why they deserve a closer look. Etruscan shrew The Etruscan shrew weighs less than 2 grams– lighter than a paperclip. It lives in parts of Europe, North Africa, and Asia, and it's almost always in motion. Its metabolism is so fast that going without food for even a short time can be dangerous. To survive, it needs to keep eating constantly, mostly insects, just to stay alive. Bumblebee bat The bumblebee bat– also called Kitti's hog-nosed bat– is one of the smallest mammals in the world. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo It's roughly the size of a bumblebee, which is where it gets its name. These bats are found in limestone caves across Thailand and Myanmar. They're quick, quiet, and surprisingly agile in the air. Long-tailed planigale At first glance, you might mistake this marsupial for an insect– it's that small. Native to northern Australia, it measures just a few centimetres long. Its head is flat enough to let it slide between cracks in dry soil as it hunts. Pygmy jerboa With a round body and long legs, the pygmy jerboa looks like a mini kangaroo on fast-forward. It hops across the desert, avoids predators using its speed, and rarely needs to drink water, getting what it needs from seeds and desert plants. Pygmy possum Don't let its tiny size fool you. Weighing just around 10 grams, this Australian native is an agile climber and an important pollinator. It survives tough winters by slowing down its system through torpor. During warmer months, it snacks on nectar, fruits, and insects. Northern pygmy mouse This rodent lives in Mexico's grasslands and weighs just about 5 grams. It's small, shy, and tends to stick close to home. It builds its own burrows and hides in tall grass, feeding on seeds and tiny insects. American shrew mole Found in the western U.S., this mole is smaller than your average mouse and spends most of its life underground. It uses its snout and whiskers like sensors, feeling its way through the dark. It's active day and night, constantly foraging below the surface. Mouse lemur Native to Madagascar, mouse lemurs are the smallest primates in the world, usually weighing under 35 grams. They're nocturnal and tree-dwelling, using their big eyes to see in the dark. Sadly, many species are threatened by deforestation. Least weasel This slender predator weighs as little as 25 grams but is quick, clever, and not afraid to take down larger prey. Its long body lets it slip into tight places to hunt rodents. In snowy areas, it changes to a white coat– perfect camouflage. African pygmy hedgehog At around 250 grams, this is one of the smallest hedgehogs on Earth. Native to Africa, it's known for its quiet, solitary habits. When it feels threatened, it curls into a spiky ball. These days, it's also become a popular pet for people around the world.

'India Looks Truly Majestic': Shubhanshu Shukla Echoes Rakesh Sharma's Iconic 1984 Response
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Time of India

time2 hours ago

  • Time of India

'India Looks Truly Majestic': Shubhanshu Shukla Echoes Rakesh Sharma's Iconic 1984 Response

/ Jun 29, 2025, 03:36PM IST During a live interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the International Space Station, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla described how India looks from space. 'India appears truly grand from space,' he told the Prime Minister, adding that it looks even bigger than it does on a map. His remarks bring back memories of a historic moment in 1984 when then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi asked astronaut Rakesh Sharma how India looked from above. Sharma famously replied, 'Saare Jahan Se Achcha.' #shubhanshushukla #indiafromspace #pmmodi #rakesharma #saarejahanseachcha #iss #gaganyaan #indianastronaut #astronautlife #axiom4 #isro #nasa #iss #indiragandhi #historicmoment #toi #toibharat

From ‘Saare Jahan Se' To ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai': 2 PMs, 2 Space Icons & 41 Years Of Indian Space Glory
From ‘Saare Jahan Se' To ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai': 2 PMs, 2 Space Icons & 41 Years Of Indian Space Glory

India.com

time2 hours ago

  • India.com

From ‘Saare Jahan Se' To ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai': 2 PMs, 2 Space Icons & 41 Years Of Indian Space Glory

New Delhi: Forty-one years after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma captured the world's imagination with his now-iconic reply to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's question, 'Saare Jahan Se Achha,' India's space odyssey has come full circle with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla becoming the first Indian to fly to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard the commercial Axiom Mission-4. On Saturday, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla's heartfelt tribute from aboard the International Space Station (ISS) echoed across a more confident and space-ambitious India. His reply to PM Modi, 'Jab pehli baar Bharat ko dekha, Bharat sach mein bohot bhavya dikhta hain", wasn't just a poetic observation but was a moment that rippled through Indian memory, evoking the pride and emotion of a landmark echo from 41 years ago. Back in 1984, it was Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian in space, who famously replied to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's question, 'Upar se Bharat kaisa dikhta hai?', with words that have since been etched in the Indian consciousness: 'Saare Jahan Se Achcha.' That iconic phrase, drawn from poet Allama Iqbal's stirring patriotic verse, became symbolic of India's early ambitions in space. Sharma's presence aboard the Soviet Salyut 7 space station during a joint Indo-Soviet mission turned him into a national hero overnight. His words inspired generations of scientists, engineers, and schoolchildren dreaming of the stars. In 1984 Wing Commander and former Air Force Pilot Rakesh Sharma Rakesh Sharma is first Indian who travel to space make the history Former PM Indira Gandhi talk with Rakesh ji ! Watch and spread. — Ashish Singh (@AshishSinghKiJi) June 29, 2025 Shukla's mission marks a generational leap for India, from piggybacking on the Soviet space programme to becoming a trusted partner in cutting-edge global missions. The year 2025 delivers that India is no longer an aspiring space participant; it is a nation actively shaping the future of human spaceflight. Plans for the Gaganyaan mission, India's first manned spaceflight, are underway. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is eyeing its own space station and even lunar missions. Amidst this, Shubhanshu Shukla, a 39-year-old Indian Air Force pilot, has become the first Indian to reach the ISS, as part of a NASA-Axiom Space commercial mission. His reflections, shared during an 18-minute video call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, offered not just technical insight but emotional resonance. 'From here, you don't see borders. You see one Earth,' Shukla said. 'India looks huge from here, bigger than on any map.' Sky is never the limit. Bharat Mata Ki Jai — Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) June 28, 2025 In his call with PM Modi, Shukla spoke about the challenges of living in zero gravity, how even drinking water or sleeping requires effort and adaptation. He humorously described strapping his feet down during the call to avoid floating mid-sentence. To which PM Modi responded with, 'Today you are farthest from the motherland but closest to the hearts of 140 crore Indians.' The Indian astronaut also spoke about sharing carrot halwa, moong dal halwa, and aamras with international crewmates aboard the ISS. 'Everyone liked it,' he said, adding, 'They now want to visit India someday.' While Sharma's 1984 journey was a moment of symbolic pride, Shukla's 2025 mission is also a strategic milestone. It reflects India's transition from observer to active participant in global space exploration. As India prepares to launch its own human spaceflight mission (Gaganyaan) and develop a Bhartiya Antariksha Station, Shukla's journey reinforces national confidence. The two astronauts, under two Prime Ministers, now bookend four decades of Indian space ambition. Where Sharma's reply was poetic, Shukla's is declarative. Where Sharma flew under Soviet wings, Shukla carries India's flag to the ISS in collaboration with America. Shukla's message to the country carried the weight of history and the promise of the future. 'This is not just my achievement. This is a collective leap for our country,' he said, before concluding with the words: 'Bharat Mata ki Jai.'

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