Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) says Indian Astronaut Mr. Subhanshu Shukla's space mission will boost Gaganyaan project
- IBEF
- July 16, 2025
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has highlighted the significance of Indian Astronaut Mr. Subhanshu Shukla's 15-day space mission, which is expected to boost the Gaganyaan programme. He became the first Indian in 41 years to travel to space, where he undertook scientific experiments aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Director of the Space Applications Centre at ISRO, Mr. Nilesh M Desai, described the mission as a major learning opportunity. He said, "This mission has been a major learning opportunity for us. ISRO took up this mission to gather experience that will help us in our Gaganyaan programme." The mission involved significant expenditure, with approximately Rs. 600 crore (US$ 69.90 million) spent on the Axiom mission, covering astronaut training and related costs. The insights gained from Shukla's experience in space, particularly in microgravity conditions, will be invaluable for the Gaganyaan programme, which is set to begin with an unmanned flight later this year, followed by two more unmanned flights before sending an Indian astronaut into space for a duration of two to seven days.
ISRO's collaboration with NASA and SpaceX played a crucial role in the mission's success. The mission was conducted under an agreement signed between ISRO and NASA during Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi's visit to the US, allowing one Indian astronaut to travel to the ISS. Two astronauts were trained for the mission, with Subhanshu Shukla being accompanied by Indian Astronaut Mr. Prashant Nair as a backup. He was launched aboard the Dragonfly spacecraft using SpaceX's Falcon launch vehicle on June 25, docking with the ISS on June 26. After 15 days of conducting various scientific experiments, the spacecraft undocked on July 15 and is expected to land on the California coast at 3 PM IST on July 16. The successful completion of this mission marks a significant step forward for India's ambitious Gaganyaan programme, bringing the country closer to its goal of manned spaceflight.
Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.
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