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Time of India
3 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
No immediate health concerns for Shubhanshu Shukla: ISRO
New Delhi: The Indian Space Research Organisation ( ISRO ) on Thursday said initial health assessments of astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla , who returned to Earth after a 20-day space mission, indicated that he was in stable condition with no immediate concerns. Shukla returned to Earth on June 15 when the Dragon Grace spacecraft carrying him and three other astronauts of the Axiom-4 mission splashed down off San Diego coast in California. Preliminary health checks were carried out on the astronauts on the recovery ship soon after they exited the spacecraft. Later, the astronauts were airlifted by helicopter from the recovery ship to the mainland for further medical evaluations and debriefing sessions. Later, Shukla was flown to Houston for a week-long rehabilitation program to mitigate any adverse effects of microgravity. "This is being administered by Axiom's flight surgeon and ISRO's flight surgeon is also participating in this program," ISRO said. The rehabilitation programme includes a series of medical checks, especially cardiovascular assessments, musculoskeletal tests and psychological debriefing. The rehabilitation activities also focus on monitoring physical and mental health, addressing any effects of microgravity, and preparing him for a return to normal activities. During the 20-day mission, Shukla spent 18 days on the International Space Station , conducting microgravity experiments designed by ISRO as also by NASA. The astronauts orbited the earth 320 times and travelled over 135.18 lakh kms during their stay in space
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Science
- The Hindu
Stepping stone: on Shubhanshu Shukla, NASA-Axiom-ISRO tie-up
A crew of four astronauts including India's Shubhanshu Shukla completed their roughly two-week mission to the International Space Station on July 15. Mr. Shukla's trip was presumed to have been an intensive rehearsal ahead of his flight as part of India's first batch of astronauts for ISRO's 'Gaganyaan' mission, currently expected in 2027. The presumption is because the goals of Mr. Shukla's trip, which ISRO arranged for by paying north of ₹500 crore to Axiom Space, have not been officially communicated by Indian authorities. Fortunately, clarifications from Axiom and NASA have since cast more light on its purpose. While ISRO and the Department of Space are still expected to proactively disseminate what they know about their activities under Gaganyaan, not least because of the mission's ₹20,000 crore price tag, Mr. Shukla's trip ought to strengthen ISRO's preparations. Human spaceflight is a highly involved endeavour: once in space, the crew is on its own and the resources to respond to a variety of situations are limited. According to a statement ISRO published after the mission launched on June 25, Mr. Shukla and Prasanth Nair — who is also part of Gaganyaan's first cohort of astronauts and was part of the Axiom mission's backup crew — were familiarised with 'advanced spacecraft systems, emergency protocols, scientific payload operations, microgravity adaptation, space medicine, and survival traits'. As the mission pilot, per Axiom, Mr. Shukla was also coached on docking and undocking, manual operations, atmospheric reentry, and anomaly management. Onboard the space station, Mr. Shukla was exposed to operations in the Japanese and European modules, for which he and Mr. Nair were trained in Japan and Germany. ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan has also said that the Axiom mission cost less than what ISRO might have had to invest if it had to train Mr. Shukla on its own. In all, the NASA-Axiom-ISRO tie-up emerges as an admirable outcome, even as space agencies continue to closely guard space technologies for their strategic value. Concerns that the limitations imposed by the U.S.'s International Traffic in Arms Regulations would prevent the duo from learning much may also be laid to rest. Instead, they may be replaced by concerns about ISRO's piecemeal communication. Astronauts cut inspirational figures and appeal to all ages. As India prepares for its first human spaceflight mission, there can be no better way to build excitement than by facilitating access to India's astronauts. The lack of initiative is hard to rationalise, although it is still not too late. ISRO as well as India's soft power platform will make copious gains by expanding outreach and easing public access to the spacefarers.
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Business Standard
4 days ago
- Science
- Business Standard
Shubhanshu Shukla returns from ISS: Moment Dragon spacecraft splashes down in Pacific Ocean
Shubhanshu Shukla returns from ISS: Moment Dragon spacecraft splashes down in Pacific Ocean | Axiom The Axiom-4 mission crew, which includes ISRO's Shubhanshu Shukla made a successful splashdown off California coast in the Pacific ocean at 3:01 PM.
Canada News.Net
4 days ago
- Science
- Canada News.Net
Axiom-4 crew splashes down off U.S. coast after ISS mission
LOS ANGELES, United States: A multinational crew of astronauts, including the first space travelers from India, Poland, and Hungary to reach the International Space Station (ISS), has returned safely to Earth, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean aboard a SpaceX capsule. The reentry marked the end of the Axiom-4 mission, the fourth privately funded spaceflight to the ISS organized by Texas-based Axiom Space in partnership with SpaceX. The capsule, dubbed Grace, landed off the coast of San Diego, California, around 2:30 a.m. PDT following a fiery descent through Earth's atmosphere. Leading the mission was Peggy Whitson, a retired NASA astronaut and the U.S. agency's first female chief astronaut. Whitson, now with Axiom, extended her national record to 695 days in space across five missions. "We're happy to be back," Whitson radioed to mission control moments after splashdown. Joining her were Shubhanshu Shukla of India, Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland, and Tibor Kapu of Hungary — representing their respective countries' first-ever ISS government missions. During their 18-day stay, the astronauts conducted over 60 microgravity experiments and brought back a cache of scientific samples for Earth-based analysis. For India, the mission is seen as a stepping stone toward the launch of its Gaganyaan crewed spacecraft, expected in 2027. Poland's astronaut flew under the European Space Agency, while Hungary's participant was part of the Hungarian to Orbit (HUNOR) program. Axiom's fourth mission builds on its business model of launching astronauts sponsored by foreign governments and private clients. The company is also working to develop a commercial space station that could eventually replace the aging ISS by 2030.
News18
4 days ago
- Science
- News18
Shukla's Liftoff Ends India's Once Self-Imposed Moratorium On Thinking Big
Last Updated: Nations that stop innovating, regenerating, and reimagining themselves fade into history. This is true for even civilisations The moment when the countdown clock struck 'T-0" will be forever remembered as the day when India renewed its pledge to expand its influence beyond the earthly realm of human habitation. This epochal moment has been a long time in the making. 41 years, to be precise, since an Indian soared into space. The hiatus, never explained, can only be described as a shocking abdication of collective self-belief. Nations that stop innovating, regenerating, and reimagining themselves fade into history. This is true for even civilisations. But Shubhanshu Shukla's liftoff has the potential to change the way India views itself. His surge into space gives wings to a renewed national quest for an unearthly, pun intended, pace of advancement needed for world domination. One hopes the inheritors of India's present will feel inspired to succumb to the tug of awe-inspiring science that makes the impossible possible. And just in case someone didn't get the message hardcoded into the symbolism, Shukla has taken the additional precaution of scripting a message to leave no room for any ambiguity about the reasons for the mission. From space, Shukla called upon all Indians, particularly the young, to take up the challenge of joining him in pushing the boundaries of human intellectual and physical endeavour. Symbolism aside, Shukla's mission has important practical uses. The first-hand experience he gains will be needed to help India build its own manned spaceflight. Every scrap of lived experience is immeasurably more valuable than a line in an instruction manual. It's this gold dust of first-hand knowledge that convinced the minds at ISRO to fund Shukla's ride into space aboard the Axiom mission rocket. Shukla's stint on the ISS is just as important. While he will have the time to soak in the view and make friends, every nook and cranny of the ISS mapped by his mind's eye will offer valuable design insights to ISRO. Remember that the Indian space agency is not just wanting to send a crewed mission to space, but it also wants to set up Indian bases in low orbit and, most critically, on the Moon and beyond. The establishment of living quarters is a crucial motive, as the next quantum leap in national advancement will be powered by metals and elements rare on Earth but abundant in space. India cannot afford to be left behind in the race to plant flags on the scape of extraterrestrial colonies that promise to yield the materials needed by aspiring powers to grow beyond their dreams. About the Author Rahul Shivshankar Rahul Shivshankar is Consulting Editor at Network18. He tweets at @RShivshankar view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
