The Crew Dragon capsule carrying four astronauts, including the first Indian, the first Polish and the first Hungarian to stay in the ISS, landed Thursday at the international space station.
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 launcher took off on Wednesday morning. The Dragon capsule established contact with the station at 10:31 GMT, according to images broadcast live by the private company Axiom, organizer of the Axiom-4 mission, marking a key step in the spatial ambitions of India.
“Grace is happy to be on Harmony,” said American astronaut Peggy Whitson, commander of this mission and former NASA, now working for Axiom Space, American company offering, among other things, private space flights.
Grace is the nickname of the capsule, Harmony that of the module of the station to which they have stuck. “We are honored to be here, thank you,” she added.
Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla piloted this mission alongside the Polish Slawosz Uznanski-Wisnishwski, Hungarian Tibor Kapu and Mrs. Whitson, who commands her.
When they arrived, the astronauts were warmly welcomed by the ISS team, taking them in turn in their arms, according to a video broadcast on X. They had the right to a brief welcome ceremony.
The crew will start its mission which provides around sixty experiences, especially on micro-algae and late, microscopic animals.
The last space flights in which India, Poland or Hungary have dated over 40 years old, with Soviet vessels at the time.
– “Fantastic trip” –
The Indian Asian giant has large space ambitions and wants to make its first inhabited flight in 2027.
Mr. Shukla is the first Indian to reach space from Rakesh Sharma, who went to the Saliout 7 station in 1984 as part of an indo-Soviet mission.
The Indian space agency, ISRO, considers this flight as a key step towards its first independent inhabited mission, scheduled for 2027 as part of the Gaganyaan program (“celestial vessel”).
“Congratulations Axiom-4! Mooring made. Shubhanshu is held at the entrance to the international space station … waiting to enter it for a 14-day stay … while the world is watching with enthusiasm and waiting,” reacted on X Jitera Singh, the Indian Minister of Sciences.
“What a fantastic journey,” Shukla said in Hindi after the launch. “This is not only the start of my trip to the international space station – it is the start of the inhabited space program of India.”
The Axiom-4, or AX-4 mission, should have taken off in early June, but was delayed due to technical problems.
Each country has financed the journey of its astronaut. Poland spent 65 million euros, according to the Polish space agency. Hungary announced an agreement of $ 100 million with Axiom in 2022, according to the specialized media Spacenews, while India has not officially commented.
This mission occurs after the spectacular dispute that occurred in early June between Donald Trump and Elon Musk, during which the wealthy entrepreneur threatened to put his Crew Dragon capsule out of service before Retropedaler.
Used by Axiom, Crew Dragon also plays a crucial role in the American space agency (NASA) because it is, to date, the only American vessel authorized to transport astronauts to the ISS.
The conflict between the two men has highlighted the interdependence of the American government and this private space company, NASA and the Pentagon that has largely recourse to SpaceX rockets and vessels to send crews, cargoes and satellites in space.
Posted on June 26 at 7:17 p.m., AFP
