English हिन्दी
Connect with us

India News

Axiom-4 mission: Dragon spacecraft carrying Shubhanshu Shukla, other astronauts docks at ISS

Published

on

In a landmark achievement for Indian space exploration, astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and his three crewmates aboard the Axiom 4 Mission’s Dragon capsule successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS) at 4:30 PM IST on Thursday, marking a historic moment for India’s presence in space.

The four-member Axiom 4 crew, led by 65-year-old Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut and current director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, launched aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, propelled by a Falcon 9 rocket, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on Wednesday. The team, which includes Shukla (39) from India, Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski (41) from Poland, and Tibor Kapu (33) from Hungary, will spend 14 days aboard the ISS conducting microgravity experiments.

Shukla’s journey makes him only the second Indian to venture into space, following Rakesh Sharma, who orbited aboard the Soviet Union’s Salyut-7 station in 1984. He is also the first Indian to reach the ISS in four decades. Before the launch, Shukla expressed his aspiration to inspire future generations, much like Sharma’s mission did decades ago. In a message from space, he described adapting to microgravity as “like learning to live anew, like an infant,” and called the sensation of floating in a vacuum “truly remarkable.” Reflecting on the 30-day pre-launch quarantine, he added, “All I could think was—get us up there.”

The Dragon capsule, launched atop the Falcon 9, illuminated the Florida night sky with a fiery yellow trail as it ascended over the Atlantic coast. Live visuals captured the astronauts, clad in white-and-black suits, seated calmly in the pressurised cabin as the spacecraft began its ascent to low Earth orbit. After a 28-hour journey, the autonomously piloted Crew Dragon docked with the ISS, orbiting approximately 400 km above Earth.

Upon arrival, the Axiom 4 crew was greeted by the ISS’s seven current occupants, including three NASA astronauts, one Japanese astronaut, and three Russian cosmonauts. The team’s mission focuses on advancing scientific research in microgravity, contributing to global space exploration efforts.

This mission marks the fourth by Houston-based Axiom Space since 2022, as the company strengthens its role in private and international space missions. For India, Poland, and Hungary, it signifies a historic return to human spaceflight after over 40 years and their first crewed mission to the ISS.

Mission commander Peggy Whitson, who holds the US record for the most cumulative time in space—675 days across four missions—brings unparalleled expertise. A trailblazer, she was NASA’s first female chief astronaut and the first woman to command the ISS. She also led Axiom’s second mission in 2023.

The launch represents SpaceX’s 18th human spaceflight, a testament to its partnership with NASA, which has enabled the US to resume crewed missions from its soil since 2020, following the Space Shuttle program’s retirement in 2011.

India News

Vijay expresses gratitude to Modi, Rahul Gandhi for congratulatory messages after poll victory

Vijay thanked PM Modi and Rahul Gandhi after his party’s strong Tamil Nadu poll performance, promising governance focused on public welfare.

Published

on

Actor vijay

Actor-turned-politician C. Joseph Vijay has thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for congratulating him on his party’s strong performance in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections 2026.

Vijay, who leads the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), acknowledged the wishes shared by both leaders following the party’s impressive electoral debut, which has significantly altered the political landscape of Tamil Nadu.

Responding to the Prime Minister on social media platform X, Vijay said that his party’s focus would remain on public welfare and development. He emphasised that governance should rise above political differences and aim at improving the lives of the people.

“The well-being of our people remains our only goal… we shall focus on the state’s progress and welfare,” he said, while also expressing hope for support from the Union government in achieving these objectives.

The TVK has emerged as a major political force in the state, breaking the long-standing dominance of traditional parties and marking a major shift in Tamil Nadu’s political dynamics.

According to early developments, the party has staked claim to form the government and may seek additional support if required to prove its majority in the assembly.

Continue Reading

India News

Mamata Banerjee questions poll process, targets Election Commission after defeat

Mamata Banerjee accuses the Election Commission of misconduct after BJP’s historic win in West Bengal, questioning the fairness of the electoral process.

Published

on

mamta banerjee

TMC chief alleges irregularities in electoral process as BJP secures decisive victory in West Bengal

Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the Election Commission of India, accusing it of playing “nasty games” during the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly elections.

Reacting to her party’s defeat, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief alleged that the electoral process was not conducted fairly and raised serious concerns over the role of authorities in the outcome.

According to reports, Banerjee claimed that the mandate did not reflect the true will of the people, suggesting that irregularities and manipulation may have influenced the results. She questioned the credibility of the election process and indicated that her party would review the situation further.

The remarks came after the Bharatiya Janata Party registered a historic win in West Bengal, marking a major political shift in the state.

Banerjee’s criticism adds to a series of allegations made during and after the election period, where she had earlier also raised concerns about counting procedures and the conduct of central agencies.

Despite the setback, the TMC leadership has signalled that it will continue to challenge the results politically, while maintaining that democratic norms must be upheld.

Continue Reading

India News

Himanta Biswa Sarma attacks Congress after Assam win, says people made Pawan Khera eat Pera

Himanta Biswa Sarma targets Congress after BJP’s Assam win, saying voters made Pawan Khera eat pera.

Published

on

himanta

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma launched a sharp attack on the Congress after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led alliance secured a decisive victory in the 2026 Assam Assembly elections.

Reacting to the results, Sarma took a swipe at Congress leader Pawan Khera, saying that the people of Assam had made him “eat pera,” a remark aimed at highlighting the party’s defeat in the state.

The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) registered a commanding win, marking its third consecutive term in Assam. The BJP itself won a significant number of seats, while its allies — the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) — also contributed to the alliance’s strong tally.

The victory underlines the BJP’s continued dominance in the northeastern state, with Sarma emerging as the central figure in the party’s campaign and governance narrative.

Political observers note that the scale of the mandate reflects voter support for the party’s leadership and its governance approach, even as the opposition struggled to mount an effective challenge.

With this result, the BJP has further strengthened its position in Assam’s political landscape, while the Congress faces renewed questions over its performance in the state.

Continue Reading

Trending

© Copyright 2022 APNLIVE.com