India's Gaganyatris complete initial astronaut training for ISRO-NASA mission to ISS

India's Gaganyatris complete initial astronaut training for ISRO-NASA mission to ISS
by Simon Mansfield
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Dec 02, 2024

ISRO Update: Towards the goal of accomplishing a joint ISRO-NASA mission to the International Space Station, two Gaganyatris (Prime-Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and Backup-Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair) assigned for Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) have successfully completed their initial phase of training in the United States, which began in the first week of August, 2024.

India's journey towards human spaceflight began with the Gaganyaan Program, a flagship initiative by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) aimed at demonstrating human spaceflight capabilities. Announced in 2018, the Gaganyaan mission represents India's ambition to join the ranks of countries capable of independent crewed space missions. The program involves sending Indian astronauts, known as Vyomanauts or Gaganyatris, into low Earth orbit to demonstrate crew safety, re-entry, and life support technologies.

In recent years, ISRO has been actively collaborating with international space agencies to accelerate its human spaceflight capabilities. Notably, its partnership with Roscosmos (Russia's space agency) provided critical support for astronaut training and the development of key technologies. The Gaganyaan mission is designed as a precursor to more ambitious crewed missions, including potential lunar exploration efforts. To further enhance mission safety and technological maturity, ISRO has also developed indigenous technologies like the Crew Escape System and Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS).

Joint Programs with NASA
ISRO's collaborative endeavors with NASA have significantly bolstered India's human spaceflight program. One of the most prominent collaborations is towards participation in the International Space Station (ISS). The current joint ISRO-NASA mission is an extension of India's efforts to integrate with the broader international human space exploration community. The collaboration with Axiom Space, a private space company, involves Indian astronauts being part of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) to the ISS, allowing the Gaganyatris to participate in scientific research and gain firsthand experience of extended space habitation.

In addition to ISS-related activities, ISRO and NASA have also been working together on the Artemis Program, an ambitious multinational effort aimed at returning humans to the Moon and establishing a sustainable presence there. NASA's Artemis mission aims to include contributions from international partners, and ISRO has been working on various potential roles, such as technology demonstrations and providing support for lunar surface exploration.

Highlights of the Initial Training Phase:
Mission-related Activities: Gaganyatris completed orientations including mission ground facility tours, an overview of launch phases, SpaceX suit fit checks, and sampling of selected space food options.

Spacecraft Familiarization: They underwent familiarization with the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and onboard systems of the International Space Station, including learning about photography in space, daily operations, and communication protocols.

Emergency Preparedness: Training sessions also covered various types of potential emergencies in space, particularly medical scenarios.

The upcoming training will focus on the U.S. Orbital Segment of the ISS, scientific research in a microgravity environment, and performance of different mission scenarios in the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.