International Space Station (ISS)
- Launch Date: November 20, 1998
- Function: Serves as a habitat for astronauts in space.
- Continuous Inhabitation: Since 2011
- Participating Agencies: NASA (United States), Roscosmos (Russia), ESA (Europe), JAXA (Japan), CSA (Canada)
- Orbit: Approximately 400 kilometers above Earth
- Speed: About 28,000 kilometers per hour, orbiting Earth approximately every 90 minutes
- Objectives: Expand knowledge about space and microgravity, promote new scientific research, and exemplify international cooperation.
- The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has shortlisted two astronauts for a mission to the International Space Station (ISS) in collaboration with NASA.
- Only one of these astronauts will embark on the mission, scheduled to take place “no earlier than October 2024.
- The selected astronaut will undergo additional training in the United States to familiarize with ISS modules and protocols.
- This mission, known as Axiom-4, is part of NASA and Axiom Space’s fourth private astronaut mission.
- The mission highlights ongoing collaboration between India and the United States in space exploration.
- India’s own human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan, is expected to be launched no earlier than 2025.
- This mission marks a significant milestone in India’s space exploration efforts and its international collaboration in space technology.
Dig Deeper: What isArtemis Mission and Artemis Accords?
