A decorated test pilot with the Indian Air Force, Group Captain Shukla was shortlisted under ISRO’s Human Spaceflight Program and is among the top contenders for the Gaganyaan mission.His journey aboard the Axiom-4 mission is expected to provide critical hands-on experience in spaceflight operations, launch protocols, microgravity adaptation, and emergency preparedness all essential for India’s crewed space ambitions, an official statement said.”What sets Shukla’s mission apart is its strategic importance. Unlike the symbolic undertones of India’s first human spaceflight, this time the focus is on operational readiness and global integration,” it said.The statement said Shukla’s participation underscores India’s growing engagement with public-private international partnerships in space and its resolve to emerge as a serious contender in human space exploration.Singh said the collaboration with international partners and the strategic momentum of projects like Gaganyaan reflect India’s commitment to becoming a global leader in space technology.The minister said these efforts were not only scientific in nature but also aligned with the vision of a developed and self-reliant India.ISRO also plans to launch the PSLV-C61 mission carrying the EOS-09 satellite, which is equipped with a C-band synthetic aperture radar, capable of capturing high-resolution images of Earth’s surface under all weather conditions, day or night.Another significant milestone will be the Test Vehicle-D2 (TV-D2) mission, designed to simulate an abort scenario and demonstrate the Gaganyaan Crew Escape System.The mission includes sea recovery operations for the Crew Module, mimicking procedures planned for India’s first human spaceflight, he said.
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