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Indian Express
2 days ago
- Science
- Indian Express
Successful conclusion of Axiom-4 mission offers invaluable lessons
The safe return of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla from the International Space Station as part of the Axiom-4 mission, where he was the pilot among the four-member crew, marks a watershed moment not just for Indian human spaceflight, but for the entire strategic arc of India's space programme. For the first time since Rakesh Sharma travelled on a Soviet spacecraft in 1984, an Indian has completed a complex scientific mission, in a journey to and from the ISS, spending more than two weeks aboard, this time under the banner of international partnership and indigenous resolve. The successful conclusion of the Axiom-4 mission, marking another milestone in the burgeoning era of commercial human spaceflight, resonates far beyond the confines of Earth's orbit. For India, a nation rapidly asserting its prowess in the global space arena, this achievement offers invaluable lessons and a powerful impetus, particularly for its ambitious Gaganyaan mission and the grander vision for its future ventures in space. Axiom-4's journey underscored several critical advancements that are reshaping the space landscape. It highlighted the increasing reliability and capability of private-sector space transportation. This mission, executed with professionalism and a clear focus on its objectives, reinforced the growing accessibility of the low-Earth orbit for a multitude of purposes, from cutting-edge scientific research and technological demonstrations to the nascent but rapidly expanding commercial ventures. Many Indians were following the mission, among them the young people in schools and colleges across the country, who were born long after Sharma's heroic journey. For them, in addition to the importance of the Indian role model who achieved this rare feat, the journey also showcased the efficiency and necessity of international collaboration, even in commercially driven missions, where diverse expertise works together towards shared objectives. For India's Gaganyaan mission, which aims to send Indian astronauts into space on an indigenous vehicle, the insights gleaned from Axiom-4 are profoundly relevant. While ISRO's approach is distinctly national, the global landscape of human spaceflight is increasingly collaborative and increasingly driven by the commercial sector. Axiom-4's experience provides a rich case study in several key areas. Of primary and critical importance is crew training and preparation. Observing how commercial astronauts from various professional backgrounds, who are not necessarily all career military pilots, are rigorously trained and seamlessly integrated into a complex mission profile offers valuable perspectives. India can meticulously refine its own astronaut selection and training methodologies by studying these models. This includes incorporating best practices for physiological adaptation to microgravity and psychological conditioning for isolation. Both simulation-based drills and real-time problem-solving scenarios can enhance the preparedness of Indian 'vyomnauts'. Mission operations and logistics present another vital area of learning. Managing a human spaceflight mission involving multiple international partners and commercial entities, as Axiom-4 successfully did, provides an invaluable blueprint for streamlining complex operational flows. This encompasses pre-flight preparations and launch sequences to in-orbit activities, rendezvous and docking procedures, and the critical re-entry and recovery phases. Understanding the intricacies of communication protocols, real-time decision-making under pressure, and robust contingency planning, can significantly help ISRO anticipate potential challenges and optimise its own mission control strategies for Gaganyaan. Equally important are the areas of technology validation and integration. While Gaganyaan is built upon ISRO's formidable indigenous capabilities and decades of expertise, Axiom-4's reliance on established commercial launch and crew vehicles (like SpaceX's Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon), and its focus on specific in-orbit scientific and commercial objectives, demonstrates how new technologies can be rapidly integrated, tested, and validated in the space environment. This could inspire India to explore strategic partnerships for certain sub-systems or adapt specific commercial methodologies for its own technological development and validation processes. If it hasn't already, the public visibility and success of this mission will inspire and strengthen international collaboration. As the global space community becomes more interconnected, missions like Axiom-4 highlight the benefits of pooling resources, expertise, and technological capabilities. This mission's success will certainly accelerate private-sector participation, demonstrating the viability and potential profitability, encouraging more Indian companies to invest in space infrastructure, services, and human spaceflight support. This could lead to a thriving ecosystem of Indian suppliers, manufacturers, and service providers for future missions. The transition from short-duration missions like Gaganyaan to a continuous human presence requires mastering complex logistics, radiation protection, and psychological support for astronauts, all areas where these new transnational collaborations can offer insights. Axiom Space's declared long-term goal of building its own commercial space station, intended to succeed the ISS, is a bold undertaking. ISRO has already declared India's ambitions to deploy the Bharatiya Antariksh Mission. It plans to, perhaps in the following decade, send Indians to the Moon, maybe even build a base on its surface. Observing the progress of Axiom's efforts, including the challenges they encounter, and the solutions they devise in developing and integrating modules into the ISS, will provide rare invaluable foresight for India. In essence, the successful conclusion of Axiom-4 is not just a triumph for commercial spaceflight; it is a beginning for the space ambitions of a nation such as India. It underscores that human spaceflight is no longer solely the domain of a few state-funded agencies but is evolving into a more dynamic, collaborative, and commercially viable enterprise. One can only hope that these ventures will also support purely scientific projects such as the planned ISRO missions to look for life by studying the atmospheres of extra-solar planets, or detect gravitational waves from space. By meticulously studying its successes and drawing pertinent lessons, India can not only ensure the triumphant realisation of Gaganyaan, but also confidently chart a course for an even more ambitious and impactful future in the cosmos. The stars, it seems, are increasingly within reach, and India is well-positioned to seize its moment. The writer is vice-chancellor and professor of Physics, Ashoka University. Views are personal
India.com
3 days ago
- Science
- India.com
Shubhanshu Shukla Landed In Ocean, While Rakesh Sharma Returned On Land – Here's Why
New Delhi: In the silence of space, homecoming is not always about wheels touching concrete. On his return from a successful space mission, Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla splashed down safely into the Pacific Ocean near California, riding aboard the SpaceX Dragon capsule. His descent was smooth, calculated and calm. This moment evoked another chapter in history, one that began nearly 41 years ago on a dusty plain in Kazakhstan. Back in April 1984, Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, India's first man in space, had returned aboard the Soviet Soyuz T-10 capsule. His landing site was the sprawling and marshy fields of Arkalyk in Kazakhstan. His mission had taken him to the Soviet Salyut 7 space station. His return was noisy, turbulent and almost jarring. But it was historic. And it raised a question as to why did one astronaut return to land and the other to sea? The answer is a blend of spacecraft design, logistics, safety calculations and national strategy. A Safe Touchdown or a Splash? Ocean landings, what engineers call 'splashdowns', are often the first choice for missions returning to the United States. SpaceX's Dragon, like Apollo missions before it, lands in the ocean. The water cushions the impact. It also provides a massive natural buffer zone. Debris from the spacecraft's trunk is jettisoned before reentry, falling harmlessly into the ocean instead of onto populated land. But even splashdowns have their risks. Earlier this year, chunks of a discarded Dragon trunk were found across remote areas of Australia and Canada. Luckily, no one was harmed. The incident proved that even the ocean is not foolproof. Landing on solid ground, on the other hand, may look simpler but it is far from it. Boeing's Starliner did just that in 2024, gliding to a touchdown at the White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico. Russia and China have preferred land landings for decades. Their capsules come down in vast and controlled stretches of wilderness like Kazakhstan or Inner Mongolia. The benefits? Easier recovery, lower cost and no need for naval support. The risks? A harder landing. More shock to the body. Especially for astronauts re-adapting to gravity after days or weeks in orbit. Spacecraft Design Dictates Landing Style Spacecraft are not one-size-fits-all. Each vehicle is engineered with a specific reentry plan. Whether it is Russia's Soyuz, China's Shenzhou, SpaceX's Dragon or Boeing's Starliner, the choice of landing site is built into the capsule's very bones. In Shubhanshu Shukla's case, a splashdown made sense. SpaceX missions are designed for water landings. The Pacific Ocean provides flexibility, comfort and recovery access. The crew's safety comes first. Recovery vessels wait in position, and helicopters are often deployed to reach the crew within minutes of touchdown. But for the Soyuz capsule that brought back Rakesh Sharma, a parachute-guided descent onto hard land was the norm. That mission ended in the semi-frozen earth near Arkalyk, a desolate stretch where generations of Soviet cosmonauts had landed. The rugged Kazakh steppe has long been used for such operations, its openness reducing the risk to nearby populations. A Veteran Remembers Rakesh Sharma opened up in 2024 about that return to earth. Speaking to PTI, he had described the raw and jarring final moments of reentry. 'The return was more dramatic than expected. There was a point when I thought it might not go as planned. And suddenly, the parachute opened. There was a lot of noise. More than we were prepared for,' he had said. It was a reminder. Reentry is not a routine a descent. It is survival. Space, Then and Now From Sharma's Soviet capsule in 1984 to Shukla's SpaceX Dragon in 2024, much has changed. Technology has evolved. Private players have stepped in. Comfort and control have improved. But one thing has not changed – earth is still a hard place to return to. For Shubhanshu Shukla, the sea offered calm and precision. For Rakesh Sharma, the earth offered resilience and tradition. Two astronauts. Two eras. Two very different journeys back home.
India Today
4 days ago
- Science
- India Today
Video: Violent protests in Odisha over student's death; tear gas, water canons used
1:22 Shubhanshu Shukla has made history as the first Indian to live and work aboard the International Space Station and only the second Indian to travel into space, following Rakesh Sharma's 1984 mission.
Hans India
5 days ago
- Science
- Hans India
Shubhanshu Shukla: India's new star
New Delhi: About 41 years after Rakesh Sharma's flight in 1984, India sent an astronaut into space -- Shubhanshu Shukla. Shukla, who became the first Indian to go to the International Space Station (ISS), has emerged as the new star -- also establishing a firm place for India in the global space arena. The 20-day mission, led by private American company Axiom Space, in collaboration with NASA, SpaceX, and other government space agencies, including ISRO, launched to the ISS on June 26. Shukla returned to Earth on Tuesday along with fellow astronauts from the US, Poland, and Hungary aboard SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft "Grace". Lucknow-born Shukla was included in the astronaut selection process by ISRO in 2019 after Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018 announced from the Red Fort that a son or daughter of India would go to space very soon. In January 2025, the 39-year-old astronaut was selected as the pilot for the Ax-4 mission -- a collaborative mission between NASA and ISRO. The IAF officer became the youngest astronaut-designate under India's Gaganyaan mission -- the country's first human spaceflight mission. Speaking to IANS in March, Shukla said he hopes to use his 'journey to inspire this entire generation to pursue their careers in the field of space,' as he 'was extremely inspired and motivated' by Rakesh Sharma. On the Ax-4 mission, Shukla served as the pilot alongside Commander Peggy Whitson of the US. 'During the transit journey, I'm going to be acting as the mission pilot, so I will be working alongside the commander of the vehicle, managing the systems, navigating the vehicle, and looking at all the data that is available, and if required, intervening and, interacting with the systems, if something was to go wrong or there was a need for a manual intervention,' Shukla told IANS. On the ISS, Shukla conducted seven pioneering experiments related to food and space nutrition that aimed to enhance understanding of sustainable life-support systems, a crucial aspect of future long-duration space travel. 'Experiments on Indian strain of tardigrades, myogenesis, sprouting of methi and moong seeds, cyanobacteria, microalgae, crop seeds, and voyager display have been completed as planned,' ISRO said. Shukla's mission is not only an inspiration for billions of Indians but also a key stepping stone for India's Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission, slated for 2027.
India Today
5 days ago
- Science
- India Today
Why Shux splashed down in the sea, but Rakesh Sharma landed on land
Between the two, splash downs and bone-rattling terra firma landings during re-entry from space, the easier option might seem to be the former. The gentle embrace of water cushions might seem to be the best choice. But that's not entirely true, as recent space missions highlight the continued use of both splashdowns and landings on hard land. On Tuesday, Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla returned to Earth as the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft safely splashed down off the coast of California, US. Conversely, in September 2024, Boeing's Starliner capsule landed on solid ground at New Mexico's White Sands Space Harbour, demonstrating the continued use of terrestrial SpaceX's choice of a water landing aligns with its safety and debris management priorities, what ultimately drives the decision between water and land landings?While water landings are more common in the case of the US, countries like Russia and China rely on ground landings for their manned space missions. The choice between a land or sea landing is typically made well before the mission, based on the spacecraft's design, capabilities, and the recovery infrastructure available. It also depends on whether the space agency has the logistical support to manage a safe landing on the ground or at years ago, in April 1984, Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, India's first man in space, landed in Kazakhstan aboard the Soyuz T-10 capsule after his mission to the Soviet Salyut 7 space WATER LANDINGS MINIMISE RISKWater landings, like by the Dragon, ensure debris from the spacecraft's trunk, jettisoned before re-entry, falls into the vast, unpopulated ocean. It minimises risks to people or property on the landings, while precise and comparatively cacheable, as seen with Starliner's New Mexico touchdown, require controlled zones to manage debris, which can be landings are safer because debris can otherwise hit residential or commercial areas, causing damage and financial loss. This risk became evident in April when pieces of the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule's trunk were found as far away as Australia and also offer a gentler ON EARTH AREN'T ALWAYS SOFTDuring touchdown, while capsules with parachutes slow down considerably before the water impact, land landings, like those of Russia's Soyuz, often involve a harsher impact. This causes discomfort, especially for crews deconditioned by landings, while viable, face challenges from terrain and return landings on land involve spacecraft descending to Earth with parachutes and landing on solid ground, typically in remote areas like Kazakhstan's steppes. It avoids the complexities and costs of sea Russian Soyuz spacecraft, used for decades, employs this method due to the vast, flat terrain of Kazakhstan (a former Soviet Republic and a space hub).advertisementChinese missions, such as Shenzhou, also land in Inner Mongolia for similar was the same landing method employed during the landing of Indian cosmonaut Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian in landed in Kazakhstan aboard the Soyuz T-10 module after a mission to the Salyut 7 station, touching down safely in the marshy plains near an interaction in 2024, Rakesh Sharma recounted his return from space."The reentry was more thrilling because I thought I wouldn't make it... That's when the parachute opens, and there's a lot of sound inside for which we were unprepared," he said, according to a PTI mission chose water for its safety, comfort, and operational advantages, which ensured a smoother return from the stars.- EndsTune InMust Watch
