An Indian Astronaut Could Be On International Space Station This Year, Here Is How

In a major boost to India's space mission, the country could soon have an astronaut at the International Space Station (ISS). US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti has said America will send an Indian astronaut to the ISS by the end of this year. “We are going to put an Indian astronaut into the International Space Station this year," he said on Wednesday.

Promised to Modi in 2023

“We promised when PM (Narendra) Modi came (to the US in 2023) that by the end of this year, we will do this and our mission is still on track to be able to go into space this year,” he added.

PTI

Garcetti further said that the NISAR project, a joint Earth-observing mission between NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), is also likely to be launched by the end of the year.

Also read:?International Space Station Will Be Visible To Naked Eyes

What is ISS

The ISS, which was launched in 1998, is a joint mission of five space agencies - NASA (US), Roscosmos (Russia), JAXA (Japan), ESA (Europe), and CSA (Canada).

The ISS is larger than a six-bedroom house with six sleeping quarters, two bathrooms, a gym, and a 360-degree view bay window and can accommodate a maximum of eight crew members at a time.?

ESA

Astronauts and cosmonauts stationed at the ISS also regularly conduct spacewalks for space station construction, maintenance, and upgrades.

Also read:?International Space Station Captures Breathtaking View Of Bengaluru

Sunita Williams on ISS

Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams has spent a total of 322 days on the ISS during her two missions. With 50 hours and 40 minutes, she is second on the list of total cumulative spacewalk time by a female astronaut.

In November 2023, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson?had?said that the agency would train an Indian astronaut for a voyage to the ISS.

Indians who have been to space

So far, Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma is the only Indian citizen to travel in space. Sharma, an Indian Air Force pilot, flew aboard the USSR's Soyuz T-11 in April 1984 as part of the Interkosmos program and stayed in space for 7 days, 21 hours, and 40 minutes.

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Aviator Gopi Thotakura is set to become the second Indian to venture into space and the first space tourist from the country aboard Amazon founder Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin's NS-25 mission.

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