Why in the News?

The Axiom-4 space mission, which was set to carry India’s astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla along with three other international crew members to the International Space Station (ISS), faced another postponement due to a technical issue with SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. While the new launch date remains undecided, the mission’s significance for India and global space exploration continues to attract widespread attention.

Understanding the Axiom-4 Mission

The Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission is a commercial spaceflight operated by Axiom Space, a private US-based space company collaborating closely with NASA and SpaceX. This mission stands out as a pioneering commercial crew flight to the ISS, featuring astronauts from the United States, India, Poland, and Hungary.

• International Collaboration: The mission’s diverse crew highlights a growing trend of international partnerships in space exploration. Peggy Whitson, a veteran NASA astronaut and current director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, will command the mission.
• Crew Composition: Alongside Peggy Whitson, the crew includes ISRO astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla (pilot), ESA astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski from Poland, and Tibor Kapu of Hungary, marking the first time astronauts from Hungary and Poland will visit the ISS.
• Mission Duration & Activities: The crew will spend approximately 14 days aboard the ISS, conducting a variety of scientific, educational, and commercial activities. The spacecraft used is SpaceX’s Dragon, launched atop the Falcon 9 rocket.

Key Scientific Endeavors on Ax-4

One of the mission’s notable scientific experiments targets a longstanding barrier in space travel: enabling insulin-dependent diabetic patients to venture into space. Current astronaut selection excludes such patients due to the complexity of managing blood glucose levels in microgravity. The Ax-4 mission carries research that could change this paradigm, potentially opening space to a broader segment of humanity.

Other critical experiments include:

• Cyanobacteria Study: Investigating the growth, cellular response, and biochemical activity of cyanobacteria — microorganisms that produce energy through photosynthesis. This research may unlock sustainable life support systems for future deep space exploration, providing oxygen production independent of Earth resupply.
• International Collaborative Research: The mission includes studies designed by different space agencies, emphasizing the collaborative nature of modern space science.

Significance of the Axiom-4 Mission for India

India’s involvement in the Ax-4 mission is a direct outcome of the growing cooperation between ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) and NASA, marking a significant milestone in India’s human spaceflight ambitions.

1. ISRO-NASA Partnership: The mission forms a preparatory and complementary step ahead of ISRO’s own manned mission, Gaganyaan, scheduled approximately two years later. ISRO Chairman V Narayanan has acknowledged that Ax-4 will provide valuable scientific data and operational experience that will aid Gaganyaan.
2. ISRO’s Experiments on Ax-4: ISRO has designed about 10 experiments for the mission, including:
   • The effects of microgravity on muscle function.
   • Cognitive and physical impacts of computer screen use in space.
   • Growth studies on six different varieties of crop seeds under spaceflight conditions.
   • Sending tardigrades (also known as water bears), microscopic extremophiles known for surviving harsh environments, to study life’s resilience in space.
3. Gaganyaan Preparatory Insights: Many of these experiments were initially planned for Gaganyaan but will now be piloted on Ax-4, providing ISRO with the chance to refine and extend these studies in future missions.
4. Shubhanshu Shukla: India’s Second Astronaut in Space: Nearly four decades after Rakesh Sharma became India’s first man in space, Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla is set to be the second Indian to travel to space and the first Indian to set foot on the ISS. His experience during the mission will be crucial in training and preparing future Indian astronauts for Gaganyaan.

Conclusion

The Axiom-4 mission represents a significant leap for India’s human spaceflight program and global commercial spaceflight initiatives. It not only fosters international cooperation but also paves the way for breakthroughs in inclusive space travel and scientific research critical for long-duration space missions. For India, Ax-4 is an invaluable precursor to Gaganyaan, enhancing scientific knowledge, technical expertise, and astronaut experience to further cement its place in the global space community.

If the launch proceeds successfully, Axiom-4 will be a historic milestone that broadens the horizons of space exploration for India and the world.

Q. With reference to the Axiom-4 mission, consider the following statements:
1.It will be India’s first mission to Mars.
2.It will be a purely robotic mission.
3.It is a joint mission by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and European Space Agency (ESA).
How many of the statements given above are correct?

[A] Only one

[B] Only two

[C] All three

[D] None

Answer: D

Notes:

Explanation –

Statements 1, 2 and 3 are incorrect. The Axiom-4 mission is a mission to the International Space Station (ISS), involving Indian astronauts training for and participating in a space mission in collaboration with NASA and Axiom Space. The mission involves human astronauts, specifically Indian astronauts who will be trained and participate in the mission to the ISS. The Axiom-4 mission is a collaboration between ISRO and NASA. The Axiom-4 mission is the fourth private astronaut mission to the ISS.