Axiom experience being used for Gaganyaan mission: Shukla

Indian astronaut and Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla said the experience he has gathered from the Axiom mission is being utilised to aid the Gaganyaan mission, India’s maiden human spaceflight mission.

Interacting with mediapersons on the sidelines of the India International Space Conclave, he said teams at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) are identifying gaps, if any, and his insights are being analysed as India is gearing up for the Gaganyaan uncrewed mission in 2026.

“Gaganyaan is an ongoing developmental programme. It is training and development which is happening simultaneously. Whatever experience I have gained in the Axiom mission, a template has been created to compare what we are doing. These missions are so complex that you want to be sure when you send something up. All the systems are being discussed and revised," he said.

Shukla also said training has been underway for Gaganyaan and a formal process for it will begin soon.

Commenting on the status of the results of the seven experiments he had conducted in space, Shukla said he recently had a meeting with the researchers.

“The seven experiments had come at different times. So, the timelines are different. Researchers are being thorough with the analysis. The bigger learning has been how to enable these experiments in space as environments change,” he said.

Sharing his experience of human space flight mission, Shukla said, “When you cross the boundary of space, you are given a number, and I was number 634. But when I came back, kids told me: 'We didn't know that there is an ISS in space before you went; we cared because you were there.' When you see someone like yourself doing things you find impossible, it gives you courage to dream. We have established extremely ambitious goals, but for us to achieve that, all of us have to be active participants.”