Open to become a superior space, India sends the first spacecraft to space in 4 decades

The most famous Axiom Mission 4, a special space flight to the International Space Station carrying four astronauts from four different countries, was full of intense preparation at the company’s base in Houston.

For the crew pilot, the astronaut Shophansu Chocolate, the expectation grew greatly as he was preparing to become the first Indian to go to space for 41 years.

“It is an enormous event for me as an individual and our country as a whole,” Chocolate, 39, told CBC News in an interview before the task was launched, which is scheduled for Thursday.

He said he was the person who would return India to space hitting him at certain moments.

“I saw this Indian flag on my shoulder,” said Chocolate, which was the sign of its calls, with a smile. “You are thinking about this … What is the size of this.”

Houston -based space -run space with Houston supported by NASA and India’s Space Research Organization (ISRO) is a symbol of a new era. Countries can ride horse riding from commercial companies to enter their astronauts, where they can conduct experiments sponsored by national space agencies, instead of those agencies that spend time and build their missile funds.

It is appropriate for India’s ambitions to quickly expand space and use the private sector to get there.

“Big responsibility”

After many delay due to weather problems and equipment, the latest task of Axiom is scheduled to be launched from the Kennedy Space Center in NASA in Florida on Thursday. Space Pioneers on the Dragon Crew Crew Dragon will be launched in space by Rockket Falcon 9.

The crew, led by former NASA astronaut Baiji Whittson and also includes Poland and Hungary astronauts, will spend two weeks in experiments at the International Space Station.

Shukla will only become the second Indian citizen to go into space, in the footsteps of Rakesh Sharma, who developed Earth for eight days in 1984 on a Soviet spacecraft.

“It is a great responsibility to inspire an entire young generation through my mission (and) carry the hopes and dreams of a billion heart.”

Indian news means that Shukla will carry a few India to space with it on the trip, including delicious dishes such as Mango Nextar, Moong Dal Halwa and Carrot Halwa.

Until recently, the space activity in India was controlled by ISRO, but in 2023, the space agency opened its facilities for private companies and the flow of investments. The country has more than 250 startups that attract millions of dollars.

“India is looking forward to becoming a very important player in the space industry,” said Somak Richodry, astronomical physicist and vice president of Ashoka University in Sonipat, Haryana, near Delhi. “He realizes that the private sector should be used.”

Great challenges

The country’s leaders are convinced that having a successful space program not only brings soft power and prestige but also wealth.

But there are great challenges in the future, according to Raychaudhury.

India is one of the five main players in space exploration, however its share of the global market does not exceed 2 percent. South Asia wants to get up to 10 percent in the next decade.

Richudhouri said that the country produces many high skills engineers, but a few of them remain in this type of sector.

It even even carries only a small percentage of the global space market, there are already many benefits for the Indian economy from the 8 billion dollar industry segment and 100,000 people you use.

Great ambitions

But the country aims to the top.

In August 2023, the Chandrayan 3 mission successfully sent Rover to the dark side to be reached from the moon to explore the Antarctic-a world first.

It is scheduled to be the first human space trip, which is called Gaganian, for the next year. It aims to send many Indian astronauts to a low -Earth orbit for three days.

This would make India only the fourth nation, after the United States, Russia and China, has a program for its human space.

Richudhori said that the success of this task will be essential.

The professor said: “The space industry in India has a record in being very economical,” where projects come in projects that are much cheaper than space programs in the United States, Russia or China.

“The question is whether or not the same quality can be achieved.”

The mission of Chandrayan 3, for example, was a great victory for India, less than the price of a Boeing or one Airbus plane.

Mars and Venus are also in the landmarks of India

In May, a spokeswoman at a global space conference in New Delhi and the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, put more plans, including building the space station in the country to Earth during the next decade.

The country’s space agency focuses on exploring the moon, with the aim of sending an Indian astronaut to walk on the surface by 2040.

“Mars and Venus on our radar,” Modi promised in his speech.

He ended his remarks by highlighting how space exploring has the ability to “inspire future generations” and push the country to “dream together”.

Inspire students

These dreams were fully displayed at Mumbai School one morning in May, when hundreds of children of cardboard and plastic were used to build their own small missiles, barely longer than their assistants.

Children have spent time learning about upcoming space projects in India before the launch of Rockkets Toy outside.

“It was a lot of fun,” Ret Dhameja, nine -year -old, shouted, referring to the extent that she fell into her mini robot.

Another colleague, the ambitious scientist Arif Singvy, was pain to ensure that his missile was perfect.

“I want to be a space engineer,” said the 10 -year -old. “To create larger missiles for India.”

But he asked if he wanted to go to space himself, shook his head firmly.

“I want to make missiles. I don’t want to be an astronaut.”

This feeling is exactly what school programs focus on.

“When we talk to students, we tell them that there are only 10 astronauts who go to space,” he said. “(But) there are 10,000 minds or hands that work to achieve this thing.”