The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced on Aug. 2 that two of its astronauts, Shubhanshu Shukla and Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, will begin training at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in the first week of August. Shukla has been assigned to Axiom Space’s Ax-4 mission to the International Space Station, with Nair serving as his backup.
The ISRO announcement marks the first confirmation that an Indian astronaut would go to the ISS on Ax-4. This was previously hinted at in a July 24 written response to questions from the Lok Sabha, India's lower house of parliament, by Jitendra Singh, the minister whose portfolio includes space. He stated that Indian astronauts would soon begin training for Ax-4, as part of a collaborative effort between ISRO, NASA, and Axiom Space.
Matt Ondler, president of Axiom Space, welcomed the collaboration, stating that "India, with its rich history in space exploration and clear leadership in technology and entrepreneurship, will be crucial in shaping the domain and advancing humanity’s presence in space."
The plans for the mission trace back to a June 2023 joint statement by the U.S. and Indian governments, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with President Joe Biden in Washington. The statement mentioned training of Indian astronauts in the U.S. for a "joint effort to the International Space Station in 2024."
A June 17 fact sheet, following a meeting of U.S. and Indian diplomats in New Delhi, confirmed a "Strategic Framework for Human Spaceflight Cooperation" between the countries. This included "securing a carrier for the first-ever joint effort between NASA and ISRO astronauts at the International Space Station." While the fact sheet didn’t specify the carrier, it’s now clear that Axiom Space will be facilitating this mission.
While NASA and ISRO have not disclosed specifics about the framework document, NASA confirmed in July that it is not yet publicly available. Neither NASA nor Axiom Space have officially announced an Indian astronaut flying on Ax-4.
The ISRO announcement did not reveal a launch date for Ax-4. However, Dana Weigel, NASA's ISS program manager, stated at a July 26 briefing that the mission is currently scheduled to fly to the station no earlier than November, with possible adjustments based on the mission manifest.
Interestingly, Boryung, a South Korean pharmaceutical company and investor in Axiom Space, has indicated that they expect Ax-4 to launch in 2025. The company is planning to send artwork from Korean students on the mission.