The launch of Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhashu Shukla to the International Space Station (ISS) has been postponed to June 10 due to the unfinished mandatory pre-flight quarantine process of the pilot group.
This mission is part of Axiom Space's Ax-4 program, initially planned for May 29, re-scheduled to June 8, and now set for June 10 due to operational preparation and ongoing quarantine processes.
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Shubhashu Shukla Will Pilot the Mission
Shubhashu Shukla will serve as the pilot on this mission, set to be the first Indian to visit the ISS and the second Indian in space after Rakesh Sharma's historic 1984 mission. Ax-4 Mission's Commander is Peggy Whitson, a seasoned NASA astronaut.
Also on the mission is Poland's expert Slawoj Uznanski-Wisniewski and Hungary's Tibor Kapu, who will be the first from their countries to fly to the ISS. The pilot group has been in a two-week pre-launch quarantine at Kennedy Space Center in Florida since May 25.
Daily Health Checkups
This "health status" protocol is a standard safety measure for all manned space flights, aimed at ensuring astronauts are free from infectious diseases that could jeopardize the mission or the safety of other ISS crew members.
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During this time, astronauts are kept in a controlled environment with stringent hygiene rules. They undergo daily health checkups, and contact with external people is limited. This procedure is crucial because the ISS is a closed system where even a minor illness can have severe consequences.
