Shubhanshu Shukla to soar towards India's space dream; first Indian to reach International Space Station

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Shubhanshu Shukla's journey to the International Space Station for which India is eagerly waiting for, will begin at 5.30 pm today. Commander Peggy Whitson, Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski (Poland) and Tibor Kapu (Hungary) are the co-passengers of SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft. Shubhanshu will also serve as a pilot. The mission is called the Axiom 4 mission.

The Falcon-9 rocket carrying the spacecraft is ready at Launchpad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA. The trip scheduled for yesterday was postponed due to adverse weather conditions. The Launch Review Committee meeting has given final approval for the launch.

After a 28-hour journey, the spacecraft will reach the space station at 10 pm on Thursday and return to Earth on the 26th. The journey, which was supposed to be on the 8th, had to be changed twice due to unfavourable weather conditions. The journey is being carried out by Axiom Space Company.

Shubhanshu is going for experiments in preparation for India's Gaganyaan project. India is spending Rs 550 crore on the journey and 14 days of research at the space station. The new mission comes 41 years after Rakesh Sharma went into space in a Soviet rocket in 1984.

A team, including ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan, has reached Florida. 60 research projects are being carried out. This includes research to provide an opportunity for diabetics to visit space. 12 experiments are being carried out for India.

International Space Station entry on Thursday at 11 pm

• Today at 2.30 pm: Passengers will enter the spacecraft at least three hours before departure. This is to complete safety assessments and other procedures.

• 5.30 pm: Falcon-9 rocket will lift off with Crew Dragon spacecraft

• 5.39 pm: The spacecraft will be in orbit around the Earth. Falcon-9 returns to Earth

• Thursday at 10 pm: Crew Dragon will dock with the Harmony module of the International Space Station. One-hour safety check.

• 11 pm: The hatch in the Harmony module will open and Shubhanshu and his team will enter the space station. The occupants will welcome them.

• The schedule of duties will be handed over. They will start research missions.

• Crew Dragon returns on 26th.