Why in the News?

As a part of the Axiom-4 mission, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has shortlisted two of its four trained Gaganyaan astronauts to travel to the International Space Station (ISS).

What’s in Today’s Article?

• About Axiom-4 Mission (Basics, Objectives, Key Features, etc.)
• About ISS (History, Participants, Purpose, etc.)
• News Summary

About Axiom-4 Mission:

• Axiom Mission 4 (or Ax-4) is a private spaceflight to the International Space Station.
• It is operated by Axiom Space and uses a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft.
• The flight is in collaboration with NASA and will be the fourth flight of Axiom Space after Axiom Mission 1, Axiom Mission 2 and Axiom Mission 3.
• Scheduled to launch in 2024, Axiom-4 will continue the company's pioneering efforts to establish a sustainable human presence in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

Mission Objectives:

• Commercial Space Endeavours:
  • Axiom-4 aims to facilitate commercial activities in space, including scientific research, technological development, and space tourism.
  • The mission will help demonstrate the viability of commercial space stations as a platform for business and innovation.
• International Collaboration:
  • Axiom-4 is set to carry a diverse crew of astronauts from different countries, reflecting the growing international interest in space exploration.
  • This mission will strengthen partnerships between nations and contribute to global space initiatives.
• Research and Development:
  • The mission will support various scientific experiments and technological tests in the unique microgravity environment of space.
  • Research areas include materials science, biology, Earth observation, and more, with the potential to yield groundbreaking discoveries and innovations.

Key Features:

• Spacecraft and Crew:
  • The mission will use a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, launched atop a Falcon 9 rocket.
  • The crew will consist of professional astronauts and private individuals, including researchers and potentially tourists, who have undergone rigorous training for the mission.
• Duration and Activities:
  • Axiom-4 is expected to be a short-duration mission, lasting approximately 14 days.
  • During their time aboard the International Space Station (ISS), the crew will conduct scientific experiments, perform technology demonstrations, and engage in educational outreach.
• Commercial Space Station Development:
  • Axiom Space's long-term vision includes building the world's first commercial space station.
  • The Axiom-4 mission is part of the company's broader plan to eventually transition from the ISS to their own independent orbital outpost.

About International Space Station (ISS):

• International Space Station is a modular space station launched in 1998.
• Modular stations can allow modules to be added to or removed from the existing structure, allowing greater flexibility.
• It is a large laboratory in space that allows astronauts to come aboard and stay for weeks or months to carry out experiments in microgravity.
• The first crew on the ISS arrived on November 2, 2000.
• Objective:
• To conduct scientific research in astrobiology, astronomy, meteorology, physics, and other fields.
• It is the largest artificial object in space.
• It circles the Earth in roughly 93 minutes, completing 15.5 orbits per day.
• Currently, the ISS has eight solar arrays generating about 160 kilowatts of power total.
• Altitude: 400 km

Participating Space Agencies:

• It is a multinational collaborative project involving five participating space agencies:
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration (USA)
• Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities (Russia) [In 2022, Russia decided to quit the ISS after 2024]
• Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (Japan)
• European Space Agency (Europe)
• Canadian Space Agency (Canada)
• The station is divided into two sections:
• The Russian Orbital Segment (ROS) – Operated by Russia,
• The United States Orbital Segment (USOS) – Operated by the US as well as many other nations.
• The ownership & use of the space station is established by intergovernmental treaties & agreements.

News Summary:

• As a part of the Axiom-4 mission, ISRO has shortlisted two of its four trained Gaganyaan astronauts to travel to the International Space Station (ISS).
• However, only one of the shortlisted astronauts will go on the mission which is supposed to take place “no earlier than October 2024,”.
• The astronauts will have to go to the United States ahead of the mission to train on the specifics of the ISS.