Axiom-4 Mission: Group Captain Shukla will become the first Indian astronaut to go to the International Space Station (ISS) and the first Indian to go to space in the last 40 years.

• About: Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) is a private mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

o Conducted by Axiom Space using a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft.

o Collaboration: In partnership with NASA, marking the fourth Axiom Space mission after Ax-1, Ax-2, and Ax-3.

• Mission Objectives:

o Commercial Space: Supports research, technology, and tourism.

o Global Collaboration: Involves astronauts from multiple nations.

o R&D: Conducts microgravity experiments in various fields.

• About International Space Station (ISS): Launched in 1998, allowing modular expansion and flexibility.

o Purpose: Conducts research in astrobiology, astronomy, meteorology, and physics.

o Largest Artificial Object in Space: At altitude of 400 km above Earth.

o First Crew Arrival: November 2, 2000.

• Collaborative Project involving five major space agencies: NASA (USA), Roscosmos (Russia), JAXA (Japan), ESA (Europe) & CSA (Canada)
• Two Segments of the ISS: Russian Orbital Segment (ROS) - Managed by Russia.

o United States Orbital Segment (USOS): Managed by USA & partner nations.

• Governance: Established through the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), these agreements between NASA and other space agencies were signed on January 29, 1998.