NASA, ISRO to launch privatemission with Indian pilot

 

 

NATIONAL Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on Saturday (local time)said that as part of a collaboration with ISRO, Axiom Mission 4 will be launched on June 10, the fourth private astronaut mission from Axiom Space, which will be piloted by Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla. Axiom Mission 4 delivers on a commitment highlighted by US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to send the first ISRO astronaut to the station. Thespaceagenciesare participating in five joint science investigations and two in-orbit science, technology,engineering, and mathematics demonstrations.

 

NASA and ISRO have a longstanding relationship built on a shared vision to advance scientific knowledge and expand space collaboration, a statement by NASA said. NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX are targeting 8:22 am (local time), Tuesday, June 10, for launch of the fourth private astronautmissiontotheInternationalSpaceStation,AxiomMission 4. The mission will lift off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The crew will travel to the orbiting laboratory on a new SpaceX Dragon spacecraft after launchingonthecompany’sFalcon9rocket.Thetargeteddocking time is approximately 12:30pm, Wednesday (local time), June 11, as per NASA.