Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4)

Why in News?  Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, a trailblazer in India’s aerospace history, achieved a remarkable milestone as part of the prestigious Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), a collaborative commercial human spaceflight mission spearheaded by Axiom Space in partnership with NASA, ISRO, and SpaceX

Relevance : UPSC Pre &  Mains

Prelims : Axiom-4 Mission/ISS

Mains :   GS 3

Importance of the Axiom-4 Mission:

The Axiom-4 mission, featuring Shubhanshu Shukla, is pivotal for India and global space exploration:

• Historic Milestone: Shukla, the first Indian on the ISS, marks India’s return to human spaceflight after 41 years, highlighting its growing space capabilities.
• Gaganyaan Preparation: As a Gaganyaan astronaut, Shukla’s Ax-4 experience, including flight system monitoring, bolsters India’s 2026–2027 crewed mission. ISRO’s Rs 500 crore investment underscores this commitment.
• Scientific Advancements: The mission’s 60 experiments from 31 countries, including eight ISRO studies on microgravity, muscle regeneration, and more, advance agriculture, biotech, and health.
• International Collaboration: Ax-4 unites NASA, ISRO, ESA, and SpaceX, marking first ISS missions for India, Poland, and Hungary, fostering global cooperation.
• Inspiration: Shukla’s journey inspires India’s youth, carrying the aspirations of 1.4 billion, as noted by PM Modi.
• Commercial Spaceflight: Operated by Axiom Space, Ax-4 highlights private companies’ role in making space more accessible.

 History of the International Space Station (ISS):

The International Space Station (ISS) is a modular space laboratory orbiting Earth at approximately 400 km altitude, serving as a platform for scientific research, international cooperation, and technological development.

Origins and Development (1980s–1998):

• Concept and Early Planning: The idea of a permanent space station emerged in the 1980s, with NASA proposing “Space Station Freedom” to counter the Soviet Union’s Salyut and Mir stations. After the Cold War, the U.S., Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada agreed to collaborate on a joint station to reduce costs and leverage shared expertise.
• International Agreements: In 1993, the U.S. and Russia merged their space station plans, leading to the ISS program. Formal agreements were signed in 1998 among NASA (U.S.), Roscosmos (Russia), ESA (Europe), JAXA (Japan), and CSA (Canada), marking the start of a multinational effort.

Construction and Assembly (1998–2011):

• First Module Launch: On November 20, 1998, Russia launched the Zarya module, the ISS’s first component, providing initial power and propulsion. The U.S. Unity module followed in December 1998, connected via space shuttle missions.
• Human Presence: The ISS became continuously inhabited starting November 2, 2000, with Expedition 1, a crew of three astronauts (U.S. and Russian). This marked the beginning of permanent human presence in space.
• Modular Expansion: Over the next decade, space agencies added modules like the U.S. Destiny Laboratory (2001), ESA’s Columbus module (2008), and JAXA’s Kibō module (2008–2009). Space shuttle and Soyuz missions delivered components, with astronauts conducting spacewalks to assemble the station.
• Completion: By 2011, the ISS was largely complete, spanning the size of a football field with a mass of about 420,000 kg. It included laboratories, living quarters, and solar arrays for power.

Operations and Research (2011–Present):

• Scientific Hub: The ISS hosts experiments in microgravity, studying biology, physics, astronomy, and materials science. It has facilitated breakthroughs in medical research, climate monitoring, and technology testing, with over 3,000 experiments conducted by 2025.
• International Collaboration: The ISS has welcomed astronauts from over 20 countries, including non-partner nations like the UAE and now India via Ax-4. It symbolizes global unity in space exploration.
• Commercial Involvement: Since the 2010s, private companies like SpaceX and Axiom Space have supported ISS operations, with SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft enabling crew and cargo transport. Axiom’s private missions, including Ax-4, mark a shift toward commercial spaceflight.
• Recent Milestones: By 2025, the ISS has hosted over 250 astronauts and cosmonauts. Shubhanshu Shukla’s arrival as the first Indian astronaut on June 26, 2025, via Ax-4, marks a historic moment for India and the ISS’s legacy of inclusivity.

Future of the ISS:

• Extended Operations: The ISS is planned to operate until at least 2030, with discussions ongoing about its future. NASA and partners aim to transition to commercial space stations, with Axiom Space planning to attach private modules to the ISS before detaching them to form a standalone station.
• Legacy: The ISS has paved the way for future lunar and Martian missions by testing life support systems, radiation protection, and human health in space. It remains a cornerstone of human space exploration.

 About Axiom Space: Objectives and Key Missions:

Objective:

Axiom Space aims to expand access to low-Earth orbit (LEO) and create a sustainable space economy by developing commercial space infrastructure, supporting research, and enabling human space exploration.

Key Missions:

Private Astronaut Missions to the ISS:

• Purpose: Providing commercial human spaceflight services and fostering global space collaboration.

Notable Missions:

• Ax-1 (2022): First private astronaut mission to the ISS.
• Ax-2 (2023): Expanded international participation.
• Ax-3 (2024): Broadened scientific research activities.
• Ax-4 (2025): Historic mission involving Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, alongside astronauts from Poland and Hungary. The crew, led by Peggy Whitson, conducted over 60 experiments, including ISRO’s projects, during a 14-day stay.