Latest news with #Axiom-4Mission
India Today
6 hours ago
- Politics
- India Today
Will Shubhanshu Shukla speak to PM Modi from space? Indian astronaut answers
As Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla prepares for his landmark journey aboard the Axiom-4 Mission (Ax-4) to the International Space Station (ISS), speculation is rife: Will he make a historic phone call to Prime Minister Narendra Modi from space, echoing iconic moments in space history?While answering the question by India Today, Shukla indicated that there is an interaction with a VIP and with students, educators and academia. However, he did not name the set to launch on June 10, will become only the second Indian to travel to space after Rakesh Sharma and the first to visit the ISS. This mission not only marks India's return to human spaceflight after more than four decades but also rekindles memories of legendary conversations between astronauts and national RAKESH SHARMA SPOKE TO PM INDIRA GANDHIThe precedent for a phone call from space was set in 1984, when Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian in space, spoke directly with then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi during his mission aboard the Soviet Soyuz a now-legendary exchange, Gandhi asked Sharma how India looked from space, to which he famously replied, 'Saare Jahan Se Achha' (better than the entire world).This conversation became a defining moment in Indian space history, inspiring generations and symbolising national Sharma later recalled, jokingly, that the phone call was easy as he was unable to see Indira Gandhi, and it was radio-based, which helped calm his nerves when talking to the prime one of the most memorable space-to-Earth calls occurred on July 20, 1969, when US President Richard Nixon spoke to Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin as they stood on the moon's words, delivered from the White House to the Sea of Tranquility, were broadcast to millions: 'This certainly has to be the most historic telephone call ever made from the White House'.The call, spanning nearly 240,000 miles, was all about the unifying power of space exploration and technological achievement at a time when the US and Russia were engaged in the Cold HISTORY REPEAT?While there is no official confirmation from the Prime Minister's Office yet of a scheduled call between Shukla and PM Modi, the symbolic significance would be a conversation would not only celebrate India's technological progress but also inspire a new generation, much like the exchanges with Indira Gandhi and Richard Nixon did decades Modi had earlier sent a letter to astronaut Sunita Williams, whose eight-day mission extended to eight months aboard the Space Station. 'Even though you are thousands of miles away, you remain close to our hearts,' reflecting the pride of 1.4 billion Indians,' the letter Watch
Time of India
4 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
Beyond space station: Shukla's on-ground research aims for habitats on Mars
BENGALURU: As Group Captain prepares for his historic flight to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard Axiom-4 Mission (Ax-4) on June 8, his days in quarantine are being watched closely. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now But what's flown under the radar is that this Indian Air Force pilot turned astronaut has also donned the researcher's hat—co-authoring two scientific papers that aim to push the boundaries of extraterrestrial living. Both studies, conducted while Shukla was at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, tackle two key challenges of future Mars missions : how to build habitats and how to survive the planet's harsh soil chemistry. In one study accessed by TOI, researchers developed a concept for a modular Martian habitat called BHEEM—short for Bhartiya Extraterrestrial Expandable Modular Habitat. This innovative design proposes stackable geometric modules made from triangles, squares and pentagons that can be launched compactly and expanded onsite to house astronauts. Aside from Shukla, this study is authored by Mritunjay Baruah, Amogh Ravindra Jadhav, Bimalendu Mahapatra and Aloke Kumar. Designed with a deep understanding of human-centred needs in space, BHEEM offers a reconfigurable living space that prioritises mission efficiency and astronaut comfort. Each module supports essential tasks—ranging from mission planning and hygiene to exercise and medical care—and is built to withstand the structural stresses of extraterrestrial environments. But building habitats is only half the battle. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now What will they be made of, especially in an environment where every kilogram launched from Earth comes at a premium? That's where the second study steps in. Alongside researchers Swati Dubey, Nitin Gupta, Rashmi Dixit, Punyasloke Bhadury and Aloke Kumar, Shukla investigated how 'Sporosarcina pasteurii', a biocementation-capable bacterium, can be used to make 'Martian bricks' by consolidating Martian soil simulant with a process known as 'Microbially Induced Calcite Precipitation (MICP)'. The twist? They tested how well this microbe performs in the presence of perchlorates—oxidising salts found in actual Martian soil. The findings — as per a pre-print of the study accessed by TOI — were striking. While perchlorates are typically hostile to life, they induced an unexpected behaviour in the bacteria: the formation of multicellularity-like clusters and the release of protective extracellular matrix. Even more surprisingly, when combined with a natural adhesive like guar gum, the bacteria helped produce bricks with twice the compressive strength in the presence of perchlorates compared to those without them. 'This suggests that with the right additives, Martian soil could be turned into durable construction material using local resources,' the study has found. These two studies—one architectural, the other microbial—highlight a systems-level approach to planetary colonisation. While BHEEM lays the structural blueprint for lunar or Martian habitats , the MICP work provides a sustainable method to build those habitats using Mars' own soil. For Shukla, who is currently in pre-launch quarantine, this dual role as astronaut and scientist underscores the multidisciplinary nature of modern spaceflight. His upcoming mission to the ISS may be a leap for India's human spaceflight programme, but his ground-based research has also been trying to lay the bricks—quite literally—for India's future on Mars.
Hindustan Times
08-05-2025
- Science
- Hindustan Times
IAF calls back Gaganyaan astronaut Ajit Krishnan to his unit after Operation Sindoor
Amid rising tensions with Pakistan following Operation Sindoor, Indian Air Force Group Captain Ajit Krishnan, one of the four astronaut-designates for the Gaganyaan mission, has been recalled to duty. Krishnan had been in Delhi for an international space conference and was originally scheduled to remain in the capital until Friday. However, national security concerns have led to his swift return to the IAF, reported The Print. 'I have been called back by the IAF due to the current situation,' Krishnan told the publication on Wednesday. He added that he would be leaving Delhi early on Thursday to rejoin his team. Krishnan and his colleague Angad Pratap are among four IAF officers training for India's Gaganyaan mission, now slated for launch in 2027. Meanwhile, astronauts Shubhanshu Shukla and Prasanth B Nair are preparing for the Axiom-4 Mission, set for launch on May 29 in the US. Commissioned in 2003, Group Captain Krishnan is a flying instructor and test pilot with nearly 2,900 flying hours. His experience spans aircraft like the Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Dornier, and An-32, the report added. The Gaganyaan mission aims to send a crew of three astronauts to low Earth orbit, about 400 km above the Earth, for a three-day mission, before safely returning them. In blue overalls, Krishnan mentioned that his training for the Gaganyaan crewed mission will likely continue until the mission is launched. Krishnan added that after returning from his first round of training in Moscow, the astronauts began working with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to establish an astronaut training centre in Bengaluru for future human spaceflights. 'We were able to help the ISRO after the training we received from Moscow,' Krishnan said. Unlike Krishnan, Pratap will remain in Delhi until the programme concludes on Friday. He shared his vision for India's space programme, emphasising the need to make space exploration more accessible to the public. 'There is a great deal of secrecy surrounding space at present. It's time for it to be more open,' Pratap remarked. 'Everyone should have the opportunity to experience space travel.'
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First Post
06-05-2025
- Science
- First Post
Soviet-era spacecraft likely to crash back to Earth this week: Should you be worried?
A Soviet-era spacecraft launched in the 1970s, originally intended to land on Venus, is now expected to crash back to Earth. Nasa said that the Kosmos 482 spacecraft could reenter Earth's atmosphere between May 7 and May 13. Built to withstand Venus' extreme conditions, parts of the spacecraft may survive reentry without burning up. Notably, Kosmos 482 was one of a series of Venus missions launched by the Soviet Union in 1972 read more The spacecraft could land anywhere between 51.7 degrees north and south latitude. Image: AI-Generated/News18 A Soviet-era spacecraft launched in the 1970s, which was originally meant to land on Venus, is now expected to crash back to Earth sometime this month. The Russian spacecraft, Kosmos 482, was launched nearly 53 years ago. It never reached its destination. ALSO READ | What is Axiom-4 Mission that India's Sudhanshu Shukla will pilot to space? Recent satellite data shows that its parachutes may already have been deployed as the spacecraft continues to tumble in low Earth orbit. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Should you be concerned? We explain when the spacecraft might crash, what the impact could be, and some details about the Kosmos 482 mission. When is the crash expected? Which regions could be affected? Nasa has said that Kosmos 482 is expected to reenter Earth's atmosphere sometime between May 7 and May 13. The space agency said that the probe was built to survive Venus' harsh atmosphere, so parts of it may make it through reentry without burning up. Dutch scientist Marco Langbroek believes that the spacecraft could fall around May 10. If the main section stays intact, he says it may hit the ground at a speed of about 150 mph (242 kph). Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer at the Center for Astrophysics at Harvard & Smithsonian, told NPR that the probe is now in its 'final death plunge.' 'There's a not-trivial chance that it could hit somewhere where it damages property, and there's a small chance − but it's like one in thousands − that it could hurt someone,' he said. It is still uncertain which part of the spacecraft will fall back to Earth, but researchers believe it may be the 'entry capsule' - the section built to withstand the intense heat and pressure of Venus' atmosphere, which is 90 times denser than Earth's, according to CNN. The spacecraft could land anywhere between 51.7 degrees north and south latitude. That includes areas as far north as London and Edmonton in Canada, down to Cape Horn at the southern tip of South America. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Still, the exact point of impact would not be known until just before it happens. Since most of Earth's surface is water, 'chances are good it will indeed end up in some ocean,' Langbroek told Associated Press. ALSO READ | Space junk: Why Nasa is offering $3 million to recycle astronaut waste in space Should you be worried? 'While not without risk, we should not be too worried,' Langbroek said. The spacecraft is quite small and, even if it stays in one piece, 'the risk is similar to that of a random meteorite fall, several of which happen each year. You run a bigger risk of getting hit by lightning in your lifetime,' he said. He added that the chance of the spacecraft actually striking someone or something is low. 'But it cannot be completely excluded.' The Russian spacecraft, Kosmos 482, was launched nearly 53 years ago. Image: Nasa Jonathan McDowell told NPR, 'There's a not trivial chance that it could hit somewhere where it damages property. And there's a small chance – but it's like one in thousands – that it could hurt somebody.' The Aerospace Corporation, a research group supported by the US government, has estimated the odds of the spacecraft causing serious harm to be about 1 in 25,000, according to space debris expert Marlon Sorge. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What should people do if Kosmos 482 hits dry land? Sorge told CNN that if Kosmos 482 ends up hitting dry land, people should stay away from any debris. The old spacecraft may still contain harmful fuel or other hazards that could be unsafe for both people and property. 'Contact the authorities,' Sorge said. 'Please don't mess with it.' Parker Wishik, a spokesperson for the Aerospace Corporation, told CNN that under the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, which still acts as the key agreement on space law, Russia would still own any parts of the spacecraft that survive. The country might try to retrieve the wreckage after it lands. Wishik further said that while space agencies have worked to reduce the number of uncontrolled reentries in recent years, Kosmos 482 shows why such efforts need to continue. ALSO READ | What does a typical day on International Space Station look like? The mission to Venus Starting in 1962, the Soviet Union used the name Cosmos (or Kosmos) for spacecraft that stayed in Earth orbit, even if they were meant to go further. Kosmos 482 was one of a series of Venus missions launched by the Soviet Union in 1972. The probe was built to survive Venus' harsh atmosphere. Image: Nasa After reaching parking orbit around Earth, the spacecraft tried to head towards Venus. But due to a rocket failure, it never left Earth orbit. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The spacecraft broke into four parts, two of them fell back and burned up within 48 hours. The other two stayed in orbit. Most of the debris returned to Earth within about ten years. However, experts, including Langbroek, believe that the landing capsule, a round object about 3 feet (1 metre) wide, has remained in a long, looping orbit for the past 53 years, slowly losing height over time. With inputs from agencies
