New Delhi:

Astronaut Sunita Williams’ mission may have been prolonged because of glitches in the Boeing Starliner capsule but she is in the “safest possible place in space” and there is no cause for concern, ISRO Chairman S Somanath has said. 

Speaking exclusively to NDTV on Tuesday, Mr Somanath was asked whether he had any concerns about Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla going to the International Space Station (ISS) later this year, given that Ms Williams – an Indian-origin astronaut – has been there for two months on what was supposed to be a mission lasting approximately a week.

“That has nothing to do with the ISS. Apart from Ms Williams, there are eight other astronauts, many of whom have been there for a long time. Their plan of return is with some other missions that are yet to be scheduled. The only question with Ms Williams is that she had planned for a week-long mission and should have returned aboard the Boeing starliner, which has faced some technical issues,” the ISRO chief said. 

“But they are in the safest place possible in space, which is the International Space Station, so there is no cause for concern. There is definitely a way to bring them back. Either on the Starliner or some other capsule, two of which are already there. But to bring back a crew trained on one craft with certain specifications to another… switching is not easy, it has never been done before. There are technical issues to be addressed which can be done by the concerned people,” he added.

Mr Somanath emphasised, however, that his expectation is that Ms Williams and her fellow astronaut on the Starliner mission, Barry “Butch” Wilmore, would return to Earth on the Boeing capsule itself. 

“They may delay it to make sure that the Starliner becomes cleared for return,” he said. 

Ms Williams and Mr Wilmore took off aboard the Boeing Starliner in June and have been at the ISS since the sixth of that month. The Starliner has faced glitches in the propulsion system following a series of helium leaks and the astronauts, NASA and Boeing are working on a fix to get them back to Earth. 

Group Captain Shukla will be on the Indo-US Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station, which is expected to launch in early 2025. According to ISRO, the Gaganyatri will undertake selected scientific research and technology demonstration experiments on board the ISS as well as engage in space outreach activities. The mission will be led by Dr Peggy Annette Whitson, who is America’s most experienced astronaut. 

Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair (left) and Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

India has shortlisted two astronaut-designates for the upcoming Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station. Indian astronauts Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair have been shortlisted to go to the U.S. to train for the upcoming Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

A National Mission Assignment Board has recommended two Gaganyatris (astronauts) as prime and backup Mission Pilot for this mission. Group Captain Shukla will be the prime mission pilot and Group Captain Nair will be the back up.

The Axiom-4 mission is the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station.

It can be recalled that the India-U.S. joint statement during the official state visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the U.S. in June 2023 envisions a joint ISRO-NASA effort to the ISS.

“Towards the goal of mounting a joint ISRO-NASA effort, the Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) of ISRO has entered into a Space Flight Agreement (SFA) with NASA-identified service provider M/s Axiom Space Inc., USA for its upcoming Axiom-4 mission to the ISS,” ISRO said,

ISRO added that the assigned crew members will be finally approved to fly to the International Space Station by the Multilateral Crew Operations Panel (MCOP).

“The recommended Gaganyatris will commence their training for the mission from 1st week of August 2024. During the mission, the Gaganyatri will undertake selected scientific research and technology demonstration experiments on board the ISS as well as engage in space outreach activities. The experiences gained during this mission will be beneficial for the Indian Human Space Program and it will also strengthen human space flight cooperation between ISRO and NASA,” ISRO said.

Group Captain Shukla and Group Captain Nair are among the four astronauts-designates selected for India’s Gaganyaan mission.

Group Captain Shukla is an alumnus of NDA and was commissioned on June 17, 2006 in the fighter stream of IAF. He is a Fighter Combat Leader and a Test Pilot with approx 2000 hrs of flying experience. He has flown a variety of aircraft including Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, An-32 etc.

Group Captain Nair is alumnus of NDA and recipient of Sword of Honour at Air Force Academy. He was commissioned on December 19, 1998 in the fighter stream of IAF. He is a Cat A Flying Instructor and a Test Pilot with approx 3000 hours of flying experience. He has flown a variety of ac including Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Hawk, Dornier, An-32, etc. He is also an alumnus of United States Staff College and a DS at DSSC, Wellington and FIS, Tambaram. He has commanded a premier fighter Su-30 Squadron.