ISRO selects astronaut-designates for Axiom-4 mission to International Space Station; Malayali Prasanth Balakrishnan named backup pilot

BENGALURU: ISRO has recommended Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and Malayali Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair as the Indian passengers for the upcoming Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station. Shubhanshu Shukla is the prime traveller (prime mission pilot). Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair has been named the backup pilot. ISRO said that their training will begin this week.

It was the National Mission Assignment Board that recommended Shubhanshu Shukla and Prasanth Balakrishnan for the joint India-US mission to the space station. The assigned crewmembers will be finally approved to fly to the International Space Station by the Multilateral Crew Operations Panel (MCOP).

Both Shukla and Prasanth are part of the four-member team selected for Gaganyaan, India's manned space mission. ISRO has signed an agreement (Space Flight Agreement) with American-based Axiom Space Inc. to send both of them to the space station.

ISRO said that the Indian astronauts will conduct scientific and technological experiments on the space station. The experience in the space station will be useful in the Gaganyaan mission. The Axiom Mission will also strengthen the Space cooperation between ISRO and NASA.