India To Send First Astronaut On Mission To ISS (theguardian.com) 14
Shubhanshu Shukla will become the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station as part of a four-person mission by Axiom Space launching from the U.S.. The mission will include 14 days aboard the ISS and over 60 scientific studies. The Guardian reports: He will be the third astronaut of Indian origin to reach orbit, following Rakesh Sharma, who was part of a 1984 flight onboard a Soviet Soyuz spacecraft, and Kalpana Chawla, who was born in India but became a US citizen and flew on two space shuttle missions, including the 2003 Columbia flight that ended in disaster when the spacecraft disintegrated, killing all seven astronauts onboard. "I truly believe that even though, as an individual, I am traveling to space, this is the journey of 1.4 billion people," Shukla was quoted as saying by the Hindu newspaper this year. Shukla said he hoped to "ignite the curiosity of an entire generation in my country."
India's department of space has called the trip a "defining chapter" in its ambitious space exploration program. The International Space Station mission (ISS) "stands as a symbol of a confident, forward-looking nation ready to reclaim its place in the global space race," the agency said before the launch. "His journey is more than just a flight -- it's a signal that India is stepping boldly into a new era of space exploration." New Delhi has paid more than $60m for the mission, according to Indian media reports. [...]
Shukla trained at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Russia in 2020, before undertaking further training at the ISRO's centre in Bengaluru. He has said the journey aboard the Axiom Mission 4, and the expected 14 days on the ISS, will provide "invaluable" lessons to bring back home. Shukla will be led by the mission commander, Peggy Whitson, a former Nasa astronaut and an Axiom employee, and joined by the European Space Agency astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski, of Poland, and Tibor Kapu, of Hungary. They will conduct 60 scientific studies, including microgravity research, earth observation, and life, biological and material sciences experiments.
India's department of space has called the trip a "defining chapter" in its ambitious space exploration program. The International Space Station mission (ISS) "stands as a symbol of a confident, forward-looking nation ready to reclaim its place in the global space race," the agency said before the launch. "His journey is more than just a flight -- it's a signal that India is stepping boldly into a new era of space exploration." New Delhi has paid more than $60m for the mission, according to Indian media reports. [...]
Shukla trained at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Russia in 2020, before undertaking further training at the ISRO's centre in Bengaluru. He has said the journey aboard the Axiom Mission 4, and the expected 14 days on the ISS, will provide "invaluable" lessons to bring back home. Shukla will be led by the mission commander, Peggy Whitson, a former Nasa astronaut and an Axiom employee, and joined by the European Space Agency astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski, of Poland, and Tibor Kapu, of Hungary. They will conduct 60 scientific studies, including microgravity research, earth observation, and life, biological and material sciences experiments.
Is Katy Perry an astronaut? (Score:1)
Is India sending up an astronaut or is this person a passenger on a spacecraft like was the case with Katy Perry and company on Blue Origin NS-31?
What is an astronaut? I envisioned the term to mean the person had some control over the spacecraft, or at least some task vital to the function of that spacecraft, much like I'd call a person a "sailor" if they were part of a ship's crew even if their contribution to the control of the ship was as minimal as keeping watch for icebergs and people being tossed ove
Re:Is Katy Perry an astronaut? (Score:5, Informative)
Is India sending up an astronaut or is this person a passenger on a spacecraft like was the case with Katy Perry and company on Blue Origin NS-31?
Not a lot of comparison between him and Ms Perry. One of the first differences is he is the pilot of the mission. That's quite real astronaut activity. He is also hella accomplished if you check his Wikipedia Page. Sounds like the kind of guy you want on your team. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... [wikipedia.org].
The other part is I think that Ms Perry was profoundly affected by her short flight, so I'm not going to pick on her.
Re: (Score:2)
I missed the part where Group Captain Shukla was the pilot for this mission. In the photos he was shown in one of the back seats which implied he was to be a mere passenger on the trip to and from the ISS.
I will retract any claim that he is not an astronaut. As a pilot of the spacecraft he is clearly someone that fits all the conditions for anyone that could be considered an astronaut. I will apologize for my mistake on any claim he is not an astronaut, and I will defend his title as the fist astronaut f
Re: (Score:2)
I missed the part where Group Captain Shukla was the pilot for this mission. In the photos he was shown in one of the back seats which implied he was to be a mere passenger on the trip to and from the ISS.
I will retract any claim that he is not an astronaut. As a pilot of the spacecraft he is clearly someone that fits all the conditions for anyone that could be considered an astronaut. I will apologize for my mistake on any claim he is not an astronaut, and I will defend his title as the fist astronaut from India. I agree this is the kind of guy I'd want on my team if I were to go to space, it appears he is a capable pilot and scientist which could make him an above average member of any mission to ISS.
Wow, that was a screw up on my part. I wish I had read the details on the mission more closely before commenting.
No problem, We all do at times. Anyhow, it illustrates that the first all female astronaut crew (if we exclude Valentina Tereshkova who soloed in the early 60's) hasn't turned out the way pop culture hoped it would. And the media didn't help by making incredible claims, which really backfired.
Katy Perry was a space tourist (Score:3)
Is India sending up an astronaut
Yes. Shubhanshu Shukla will take part in an actual mission.
or is this person a passenger on a spacecraft like was the case with Katy Perry
Kate Perry was a tourist: she just paid big bucks to go have some fun at low G in a capsule.
What is an astronaut? I envisioned the term to mean the...
Nobody cares what you personally envion. (Just as you wouldn't care if I personally decided to envions you as a "Zorglub").
Check instead the first paragrph at Wikipedia [wikipedia.org]:
Re:Is Katy Perry an astronaut? (Score:4, Insightful)
Re: (Score:3)
William Shatner has equivalent scientific credentials to Katy Perry, yet he receives no criticism for taking the same ride.
Sure, Shatner is a better vocalist, but that’s hardly the point if you’re talking about qualifications.
Re: (Score:1)
William Shatner has equivalent scientific credentials to Katy Perry, yet he receives no criticism for taking the same ride.
I don't recall anyone trying to claim Shatner was an astronaut.
I recall Shatner saying he'd like to take a spaceflight but the price of admission was too steep for him. Enough people wanted to see how he'd react to going to space so he got an all expenses paid trip above the Karman line. He made a few comments on camera shortly after landing, and did some appearances on science oriented programs like that with Neil deGrasse Tyson, as a kind of compensation for the ride. Everyone still considered Shatner
Start small (Score:1)
Probably terrorist Turkeys hand in crash (Score:2)
Probably terrorist Turkeys hand in crash
*Probably terrorist Turkeys hand in crash*
- https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=... [youtube.com]
*Context:*
- Reuters reported on Friday that Air India was lobbying Indian officials to disallow rival IndiGo's (INGL.NS), opens new tab leasing tie-up with Turkish Airlines (THYAO.IS), opens new tab, citing business impact as well as security concerns sparked by Ankara's support for Pakistan.
- Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan expressed public solidarity with Pakistan, another majority-Muslim