- Indian astronaut-designates have been shortlisted for training in the U.S. for the Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
- The National Mission Assignment Board has recommended them as prime and backup mission pilots, with Group Captain Shukla as the prime pilot and Group Captain Nair as the backup. The Axiom-4 Mission is the fourth private astronaut mission to the ISS.
- ISRO’s Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) has entered into a Space Flight Agreement with Axiom Space Inc., a NASA-identified service provider, for the mission.
- The crew members will be finally approved by the Multilateral Crew Operations Panel and will start training in early August.
- During the mission, they will conduct scientific research, technology demonstration experiments, and space outreach activities on the ISS.
- The experiences gained will benefit the Indian Human Space Program and strengthen ISRO-NASA cooperation.
- Group Captain Shukla and Group Captain Nair are also selected for India’s Gaganyaan mission.
Dig Deeper: Read about the Gaganyaan Mission.
