NASA UPDATES: In a significant development for India's space program, Space Minister Jitendra Singh revealed in the Lok Sabha that an Indian astronaut, Gaganyaatri, will be heading to the International Space Station (ISS). This mission, set to launch no earlier than August 2024, is a collaborative effort between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), NASA, and the private company Axiom Space.

The announcement followed the recent signing of a space flight agreement between ISRO and Axiom Space. According to Minister Singh, Gaganyaatri's journey is part of a joint mission involving ISRO and NASA. This mission also includes Axiom Space, which will assist in the preparations and execution of the space flight.

The update was provided in response to a query from Trinamool Congress MLA Saugata Roy regarding the "Axiom-4 Mission" and the Gaganyaan program. NASA has confirmed that they, along with Axiom Space, have arranged for the fourth private astronaut mission to the ISS. The launch is scheduled to take place from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with a target date of August 2024.

Gaganyaatri is one of four Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots selected for the Gaganyaan mission, which is India’s ambitious spaceflight initiative. The selected astronauts have undergone rigorous training, including sessions in Russia during the pandemic and ongoing training at ISRO's facility in Bengaluru. Minister Singh noted that the training program for Gaganyaatri has progressed well, with two out of three semesters completed. The training includes both independent and static mockup simulators.

Regarding the spacecraft, Singh reported that the solid and liquid propulsion stages for the human-rated launch vehicle are complete. The C32 cryogenic stage is near readiness, and work on the crew and service modules is advancing with flight integration activities underway.

The Gaganyaan project represents ISRO’s most ambitious mission to date, aiming to demonstrate human spaceflight capabilities by sending a crew of three astronauts into orbit for a three-day mission and safely returning them to Earth. The mission is anticipated to launch in 2025, showcasing India’s growing prowess in space exploration.

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