Context:

India has shortlisted two astronaut-designates for the upcoming Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS). 

Key Highlights 

• Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair have been chosen to go to the U.S. for training for the Axiom-4 spaceflight mission that will send four astronauts to the International Space Station.

Prime and Backup Mission Pilot

• The National Mission Assignment Board has recommended the two Gaganyatris (astronauts) as the prime and backup Mission Pilot. 
• Group Captain Shukla will serve as the prime mission pilot, while Group Captain Nair will be the backup.

ISRO-NASA Collaboration

• The Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) of ISRO has signed a Space Flight Agreement (SFA) with NASA-identified service provider M/s Axiom Space Inc., USA, for the Axiom-4 mission.

International Space Station (ISS)

• It is a large, habitable artificial satellite situated in low Earth orbit (usually between 160 and 1,600 km above Earth surface).
• It is a collaborative project involving multiple space agencies: NASA (United States), Roscosmos (Russia), JAXA (Japan), ESA (Europe), and CSA (Canada).
• Purpose: The ISS serves as a microgravity and space environment laboratory for scientific research in biology, physics, astronomy, meteorology, and material science.

NASA

• National Aeronautics and Space Administration was established in 1958, as an independent agency of the U.S. federal government responsible for space exploration.

ISRO

• The Indian Space Research Organisation was established on 15 Aug 1969 and is India's national space agency responsible for space exploration, satellite development, and space technology.

About the Axiom-4 Mission 

• The Axiom-4 mission is the fourth private astronaut mission of NASA and a private US company Axiom Space.
• It will utilize SpaceX's Falcon-9 rocket and Crew Dragon space module to fly four astronauts to space.
• The mission is expected to dock with the ISS for fourteen days.
• The crew will consist of astronauts from the United States, Hungary, Poland, and India.
• It is set to launch no earlier than October 2024.
• Indian Gaganyatris: The Indian astronauts, referred to as Gaganyatris, are Air Force pilots with extensive flying experience. They have also undergone cosmonaut training in Russia.

Falcon 9 Rocket

• Designed and manufactured by SpaceX, is a reusable two-stage rocket for transporting people and payloads into Earth orbit and beyond. As the world's first orbital-class reusable rocket, it lowers space access costs by reusing its most expensive components

Training and Mission Objectives

• The recommended Gaganyatris will begin training in the first week of August 2024. 
• During the mission, they will undertake selected scientific research and technology demonstration experiments aboard the ISS and engage in space outreach activities. 
• The experiences gained will benefit the Indian Human Space Program and strengthen ISRO-NASA cooperation.
  Gaganyaan Mission is India’s first human spaceflight program of ISRO to send a three-member crew to low Earth orbit and bring them back safely.
  It is expected to launch in 2025.