Meet Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, Axiom-4's backup astronaut and Shubhanshu Shukla's Gaganyaan crewmate?
At 12:01 pm IST on Wednesday, four astronauts will lift off from
NASA
's Kennedy Space Center. Their destination: the International Space Station. Their mission: a packed fortnight of global scientific research in low Earth orbit.
India plays a key role in both the primary and backup crew of
Axiom Mission 4
(Ax-4).
Shubhanshu Shukla
will serve as pilot on the main team. And now, another Indian—Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair—has officially joined the backup crew.
Prasanth Nair: India's test pilot in waiting
Group Captain Prasanth Nair, a senior Indian Air Force officer and ISRO astronaut trainee, has been named backup pilot for the Ax-4 mission. For those following India's space ambitions, this name will be familiar.
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Born in Thiruvazhiyad, Kerala in 1976, Nair has served as commanding officer of a Su-30 squadron. He trained at the National Defence Academy and has over 3,000 hours of flying experience across fighter jets and transport aircraft. In 2019, he was selected by ISRO for astronaut training at Russia's Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.
On 27 February 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially revealed him as one of four astronauts preparing for Gaganyaan, India's first human spaceflight.
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'I am honoured and excited for the opportunity to be a part of the historic Axiom Mission 4 as backup pilot,' said Nair.
Hungary's Gyula Cserényi joins as backup specialist
Gyula Cserényi, an electrical engineer from Kecskemét, Hungary, has been appointed backup mission specialist. Born in 1989, Cserényi holds degrees in electrical engineering from the Budapest University of Technology and Economics, and an economics qualification from the Budapest University of Economics.
He started his career in the energy sector, working his way up from project engineer to leading the electrical network safety unit at a major industrial site. Fluent in English and conversant in German, Cserényi is also a sports enthusiast. He has completed the Spartan Race nine times and enjoys fencing and wall climbing. He is married with two children.
What Ax-4 will do at the ISS?
Once docked—around 4:30 pm IST on Thursday—the crew will begin their two-week scientific mission. The Ax-4 astronauts, led by Commander Peggy Whitson and including Indian pilot Shubhanshu Shukla, will carry out dozens of research experiments across biology, technology and agriculture.
This will be Axiom Space's most research-intensive mission so far, involving contributions from 31 countries. NASA flight engineers Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers will oversee the spacecraft's approach and docking with the Harmony module of the ISS.
Experiments will cover topics ranging from cancer cell behaviour to 3D-printed polymers and DNA repair. Nations contributing to the research include India, the United States, Hungary, Poland (in partnership with the European Space Agency), Brazil, Nigeria, and Saudi Arabia.
Shubhanshu Shukla to lead India's science payload
Shukla's role in the mission is central to India's contribution. He will oversee ISRO-led microgravity research projects developed with NASA and ESA. The experiments focus on biological systems and how they behave under zero gravity.
Once docked, the Ax-4 crew will be welcomed by the current seven Expedition 73 members, receive safety briefings, and begin science operations. Shukla and his team's work aims to inform future long-duration missions.
The Indian research programme includes:
Analysing screen exposure effects on physical and mental functions in space
Studying the growth and metabolism of three microalgae variants
Investigating cellular behaviour of two cyanobacteria species
Examining muscle loss and countermeasures in microgravity
Testing six varieties of crop seeds in space conditions
Monitoring seed germination and plant development in orbit
Understanding how organisms survive in extreme environments
Each experiment is designed to deliver real-world insights for medical science, agriculture, and long-term space travel.
The Ax-4 mission is a stepping stone for India's Gaganyaan programme. With astronauts in both the core and backup crew, and a substantial research role aboard the ISS, India is no longer a passive participant in space science.
These missions give Indian researchers and engineers hands-on experience in human spaceflight and reinforce the country's presence in international collaborations.
As science becomes more global, India's ability to contribute knowledge and innovation will help shape the future of exploration. For now, eyes are on the sky—and on the growing team of Indians helping humanity reach beyond Earth.
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