Latest news with #ISRO
Hindustan Times
10 minutes ago
- Science
- Hindustan Times
‘Aaj ka bharat abhi bhi sare jahan se acha': Shubhanshu Shukla in Axiom-4 farewell speech
Indian Air Force Group Captain and astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla said that his journey during the Axiom-4 mission, which is coming to an end, has been incredible and credited the people involved in the mission for the same. He said during the farewell ceremony of the mission that they looked back at Earth during whatever time they could find. Shubhanshu Shukla said that the crew looked back at Earth during the mission during whatever time they could make and to him, it seems 'magical'. (@Axiom_Space) 'It has been an incredible journey. It has been made amazing and incredible because of the people who are involved,' he said. While speaking to his countrymen in Hindi during his farewell speech, Shukla said that while his journey in the space is coming to an end, the journey of India's human space mission is still very long and difficult. 'Aapki or meri yatra abhi bhot lambi hai (Our journey is still very long),' he said. 'I assure you, if we make a firm resolve, even the stars are attainable,' he added. Also read: Axiom-4 crew's farewell begins; ISS undocking, splashdown on Earth tomorrow 'Aaj ka Bharat' Shukla said that 41 years back, an Indian (Rakesh Sharma) went to the space and told us what our country looked like from up there and people want to know what India looks like today. 'Aaj ka bharat space se mahatvakanshi dikhta hai, aaj ka bharat nidar dikhta hai, aaj ka bharat confident dikhta hai, aaj ka bharat garv se poorn dikhta hai, aaj ka bharat abhi bhi sare jahan se acha dikhta hai, jald hi dharti par mulaqat karte hai (Today's India looks ambitious from space, today's India looks fearless, today's India looks confident, today's India appears full of pride, today's India still looks better than the entire world. See you soon),' he said. 'Seems almost magical' Shubhanshu Shukla said that the crew looked back at Earth during the mission during whatever time they could make and to him, it seems 'magical'. 'Over the past two and half weeks or so, we have done outreach activities and we have looked back at the Earth at whatever time we found, we were always looking out the window. It almost seems magical to me.' He then thanked Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for giving him the opportunity to go on the mission and also expressed gratitude to researchers and students in India who developed the outreach items that he carried. 'I would like to take his opportunity to thank my country and all its citizens for supporting this mission and me with all their hearts. I would like to thanks ISRO for making this happen, all the colleagues at ISRO who have worked tirelessly in developing all the protocols and the outreach activities,' he said. "I would also like to thank NASA and its international partners Axiom Space, SpaceX for ensuring we were trained adequately well and providing all the support round the clock," he added. Talking about what he is taking back with him from the mission, 'Going back from here, I carry with me a lot of memories and learnings out of this mission that I would try and spread back but one thing that really sticks to me is what humanity is capable of when all of us come together from different parts of the world and work for a common goal. It is truly incredible.'
Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Science
- Hindustan Times
Axiom-4 crew's farewell today; ISS undocking, splashdown on Earth tomorrow
A formal farewell for the Axiom-4 crew, led by Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, is scheduled for Sunday evening (India time), a day before their scheduled splashdown on Earth. With the Axiom 4 mission India sent an astronaut for the first time to the ISS. (X/@JonnyKimUSA) The 18-day mission at the International Space Station (ISS) is set to conclude on Monday with the splashdown expected off the California coast. With the Axiom 4 mission India sent an astronaut for the first time to the ISS. Shubhanshu Shukla, who is piloting the mission scripted history by becoming the only the second India to travel to space after Rakesh Sharma's pathbreaking spaceflight as part of the then Soviet Russia's mission to Salyut-7 space station in 1984. Axiom-4 mission crew's farewell Axiom 4 mission crew farewell: A formal farewell for the Axiom-4 crew is scheduled for Sunday evening, India time. Axiom Space's X handle said in a post that the Ax4 crew will soon conclude their mission aboard the Space Station. Axiom Space said the the farewell ceremony will be shown live at 8:55 am (CT) ahead of their scheduled undocking on Monday. Axiom 4 mission crew: The Axiom 4 (Ax-4) crew includes—Commander Peggy Whitson, Pilot Shubhanshu "Shux" Shukla, and Mission Specialists Slawosz "Suave" Uznanski-Wisniewski and Tibor Kapu. Undocking time: Their undocking is expected no earlier than at 7:05 am ET (4:35 pm IST) on Monday. NASA will provide live coverage of the undocking and departure of the Axiom Mission 4 astronauts from the Space Station. Currently, there are 11 astronauts on the ISS, seven of Expedition 73 and four of the Axiom-4 commercial mission. Final feast aboard ISS: As the Axiom-4 mission drew to a close, astronauts on board the ISS gathered for a feast with a diverse menu from the six nations they represent. "One of the most unforgettable evenings I've experienced on this mission was sharing a meal with new friends, Ax-4, aboard the International @Space_Station," US astronaut Jonny Kim said in a post on X last week. Aam ras, gajar halwa: For appetisers, the astronauts made rehydrated shrimp cocktails and crackers and the main course featured savoury chicken and beef fajitas. The cosmonauts capped the night with a delicious cake made from sweet bread, condensed milk, and walnuts, Kim said. Shukla had got aam ras and carrot halwa (gajar halwa) for the feast, while Polish astronaut Slawosz had brought his native dish, pierogi with cabbage and mushrooms, to the ISS. What happens post splashdown: According to ISRO, post splashdown, Shubhanshu Shukla will undergo a rehabilitation programme (about 7 days) under the supervision of a flight surgeon to adapt back to Earth's gravity. Shukla and the three other astronauts are expected to board the spacecraft at 2.25 pm IST, wear their space suits and carry out the necessary tests before they begin their journey to the Earth. How much did ISRO pay for Shukla's ISS travel? ISRO paid approximately ₹550 crore for Shukla's travel to the ISS, a PTI news agency report said. Shubhanshu Shukla's experience is expected to help the space agency in the planning and execution of its human spaceflight programme, Gaganyaan, set to take to orbit in 2027.
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Science
- Hindustan Times
Time for feasts, farewells for Shubhanshu Shukla, Axiom-4 astronauts
New Delhi, After 18 days of intense science experiments at the International Space Station, it is time for farewells and feasts for Shubhanshu Shukla and three other astronauts of the Axiom-4 mission who are set to begin their return journey to Earth on Monday. Time for feasts, farewells for Shubhanshu Shukla, Axiom-4 astronauts The Axiom 4 crew—Commander Peggy Whitson, Pilot Shubhanshu "Shux" Shukla, and Mission Specialists Slawosz "Suave" Uznanski-Wisniewski and Tibor Kapu—are nearing the completion of their research and preparing to undock no earlier than at 7:05 am ET on Monday. "Arrival back to earth.... splash down scheduled for 15th July at 3:00 PM IST," Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh said in a post on X. A formal farewell for the Axiom-4 crew is scheduled for Sunday evening, India time. As the Axiom-4 mission drew to a close, astronauts on board the ISS gathered for a feast with a diverse menu from the six nations they represent. Currently, there are 11 astronauts on the ISS, seven of Expedition 73 and four of the Axiom-4 commercial mission. "One of the most unforgettable evenings I've experienced on this mission was sharing a meal with new friends, Ax-4, aboard the International @Space_Station," US astronaut Jonny Kim said in a post on X last week. "We swapped stories and marvelled at how people from diverse backgrounds and nations came together to represent humanity in space," he said. For appetisers, the astronauts made rehydrated shrimp cocktails and crackers and the main course featured savoury chicken and beef fajitas. The cosmonauts capped the night with a delicious cake made from sweet bread, condensed milk, and walnuts, Kim said. Shukla had got aam ras and carrot halwa for the feast, while Polish astronaut Slawosz had brought his native dish, pierogi with cabbage and mushrooms, to the ISS. It has been a historic trip for Shukla, who became the first Indian to travel to the ISS and only the second to travel to space after Rakesh Sharma's pathbreaking spaceflight as part of the then Soviet Russia's mission to Salyut-7 space station in 1984. So far, Shukla has spent 18 days in space, witnessing 16 sunrises and sunsets every day as the ISS travels at a speed of 28,000 km per hour in an orbit about 400 km above the Earth. According to ISRO, post splashdown, Shukla will undergo a rehabilitation programme under the supervision of a flight surgeon to adapt back to Earth's gravity. ISRO paid approximately ₹550 crore for Shukla's travel to the ISS, an experience that will help the space agency in the planning and execution of its human spaceflight programme, Gaganyaan, set to take to orbit in 2027. Shukla and the three other astronauts are expected to board the spacecraft at 2.25 pm IST, wear their space suits and carry out the necessary tests before they begin their journey to the Earth. The ISS is orbiting the Earth at a speed of 28,000 km per hour, and the Dragon spacecraft will initiate the autonomous undocking process to gradually slow down and re-enter the planet's atmosphere for a splashdown off the coast of California. "The Dragon spacecraft will return with more than 580 pounds of cargo, including NASA hardware and data from over 60 experiments conducted throughout the mission," NASA said. During his stay at the ISS, Shukla worked on the microalgae experiment, deploying and stowing samples that could one day provide food, oxygen and biofuels for deep-space missions, Axiom Space said in a statement. The resilience of the microalgae makes them a promising asset to sustain life beyond Earth, it added. "Exercise research and spacesuit maintenance topped the schedule for the Expedition 73 and Axiom Mission 4 crews on Thursday," the NASA statement said. The crew also continued the Voyager Displays study, which examines how spaceflight affects eye movement and coordination. The crew collected data for a study to explore how astronauts perceive and interact with their environment in orbit, which is critical for designing mentally supportive habitats for long-duration missions. Another study focused on cerebral blood flow, investigating how microgravity and elevated carbon dioxide levels affect cardiovascular function, which could later benefit both astronauts and patients on Earth. Radiation exposure was monitored using the compact Rad Nano Dosimeter, a tool to assess astronaut safety. The crew participated in the Acquired Equivalence Test, a cognitive experiment that measures learning and adaptability in space and supported the PhotonGrav study by collecting brain activity data to explore neuroadaptive technologies for space and medical applications. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
5 hours ago
- Science
- Business Standard
Time for feasts, farewells for Shubhanshu Shukla, Axiom-4 astronauts
After 18 days of intense science experiments at the International Space Station, it is time for farewells and feasts for Shubhanshu Shukla and three other astronauts of the Axiom-4 mission who are set to begin their return journey to Earth on Monday. The Axiom 4 (Ax-4) crewCommander Peggy Whitson, Pilot Shubhanshu "Shux" Shukla, and Mission Specialists Slawosz "Suave" Uznanski-Wisniewski and Tibor Kapuare nearing the completion of their research and preparing to undock no earlier than at 7:05 am ET (4:35 pm IST) on Monday. "Arrival back to earth.... splash down scheduled for 15th July at 3:00 PM IST," Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh said in a post on X. A formal farewell for the Axiom-4 crew is scheduled for Sunday evening, India time. As the Axiom-4 mission drew to a close, astronauts on board the ISS gathered for a feast with a diverse menu from the six nations they represent. Currently, there are 11 astronauts on the ISS, seven of Expedition 73 and four of the Axiom-4 commercial mission. "One of the most unforgettable evenings I've experienced on this mission was sharing a meal with new friends, Ax-4, aboard the International @Space_Station," US astronaut Jonny Kim said in a post on X last week. "We swapped stories and marvelled at how people from diverse backgrounds and nations came together to represent humanity in space," he said. For appetisers, the astronauts made rehydrated shrimp cocktails and crackers and the main course featured savoury chicken and beef fajitas. The cosmonauts capped the night with a delicious cake made from sweet bread, condensed milk, and walnuts, Kim said. Shukla had got aam ras and carrot halwa for the feast, while Polish astronaut Slawosz had brought his native dish, pierogi with cabbage and mushrooms, to the ISS. It has been a historic trip for Shukla, who became the first Indian to travel to the ISS and only the second to travel to space after Rakesh Sharma's pathbreaking spaceflight as part of the then Soviet Russia's mission to Salyut-7 space station in 1984. So far, Shukla has spent 18 days in space, witnessing 16 sunrises and sunsets every day as the ISS travels at a speed of 28,000 km per hour in an orbit about 400 km above the Earth. According to ISRO, post splashdown, Shukla will undergo a rehabilitation programme (about 7 days) under the supervision of a flight surgeon to adapt back to Earth's gravity. ISRO paid approximately Rs 550 crore for Shukla's travel to the ISS, an experience that will help the space agency in the planning and execution of its human spaceflight programme, Gaganyaan, set to take to orbit in 2027. Shukla and the three other astronauts are expected to board the spacecraft at 2.25 pm IST, wear their space suits and carry out the necessary tests before they begin their journey to the Earth. The ISS is orbiting the Earth at a speed of 28,000 km per hour, and the Dragon spacecraft will initiate the autonomous undocking process to gradually slow down and re-enter the planet's atmosphere for a splashdown off the coast of California. "The Dragon spacecraft will return with more than 580 pounds of cargo, including NASA hardware and data from over 60 experiments conducted throughout the mission," NASA said. During his stay at the ISS, Shukla worked on the microalgae experiment, deploying and stowing samples that could one day provide food, oxygen and biofuels for deep-space missions, Axiom Space said in a statement. The resilience of the microalgae makes them a promising asset to sustain life beyond Earth, it added. "Exercise research and spacesuit maintenance topped the schedule for the Expedition 73 and Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) crews on Thursday," the NASA statement said. The crew also continued the Voyager Displays study, which examines how spaceflight affects eye movement and coordination. The crew collected data for a study to explore how astronauts perceive and interact with their environment in orbit, which is critical for designing mentally supportive habitats for long-duration missions. Another study focused on cerebral blood flow, investigating how microgravity and elevated carbon dioxide levels affect cardiovascular function, which could later benefit both astronauts and patients on Earth. Radiation exposure was monitored using the compact Rad Nano Dosimeter, a tool to assess astronaut safety. The crew participated in the Acquired Equivalence Test, a cognitive experiment that measures learning and adaptability in space and supported the PhotonGrav study by collecting brain activity data to explore neuroadaptive technologies for space and medical applications. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
News18
5 hours ago
- Science
- News18
‘ISRO Averted Axiom-4 Disaster, Ensured Safety Of Shubhanshu Shukla': V Narayanan Reveals How
Last Updated: ISRO chief V Narayanan said, "On the evening of June 10, we informed SpaceX team to call off the launch. My team was not confident about the rocket's integrity.' Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chief Dr V Narayanan recently revealed that the space agency's decisive stand played a crucial role in the success of Axiom 4, through which Shubhanshu Shukla became the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS) and the second Indian in orbit after Rakesh Sharma in 1984. The launch, originally scheduled for June 11, was called off on the evening of June 10 after Isro's team detected a leak and later a crack in the Falcon 9 booster. Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the IEEE International Conference at Presidency University Bengaluru, Narayanan said, he said, 'I was leading the team, and after thorough discussions, we decided not to accept the takeoff. On the evening of June 10, we informed the SpaceX team to call off the launch. My team was not confident about the rocket's integrity and refused to participate." While some dismissed Isro's concerns initially, SpaceX engineers, too, the next day, confirmed the presence of a crack in the Falcon 9 rocket. 'It was a fantastic job of saving the mission," said Narayanan, adding, 'Today, astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and the entire mission are safe. India is second to none," he said, praising the teamwork that averted potential disaster. Axiom Mission-4 & Shubhanshu Shukla Executed by Axiom Space, in partnership with NASA, ISRO and SpaceX, a four-member crew lifted off aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The 14-day mission was rescheduled multiple times due to technical issues, including the Falcon 9 leak and problems aboard the ISS. It aimed to conduct major research, including 60 scientific studies and activities representing 31 countries, including the US, India, Poland, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Nigeria, UAE, and nations across Europe. The research will cover space agriculture (e.g. methi, moong daal), tardigrade biology, muscle loss prevention, glucose regulation (Suite Ride diabetes study), cognitive/computer interaction, and more. This will be the most research and science-related activities conducted on an Axiom Space mission aboard the International Space Station to date. These studies include examining muscle regeneration, growth of sprouts and edible microalgae, survival of tiny aquatic organisms, and human interaction with electronic displays in microgravity. The crew will return on July 14. With PTI Inputs view comments First Published: 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.
