Tue May 20 16:40:26 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
ISRO and NASA are collaborating on outreach events during Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s upcoming Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission to the ISS, set to launch on June 8, 2025. These events include student interactions and amateur radio links. Additionally, ISRO has selected seven microgravity research experiments from Indian institutions to be conducted on the ISS. ISRO and NASA will also conduct five joint experiments on human research programs. The Ax-4 mission crew includes Commander Peggy Whitson of the U.S., Mission Specialist Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland, and Mission Specialist Tibor Kapu of Hungary. The mission will launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Florida.
**News Article:**
**India and NASA Join Forces for ISS Outreach During Astronaut Mission**
*Bengaluru, May 20, 2025* – The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and NASA are teaming up for a series of outreach activities during Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission to the International Space Station (ISS), scheduled to launch on June 8th from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The collaborative effort aims to showcase the strength of international cooperation in space exploration and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers. According to ISRO, two student-focused events are planned, allowing direct interaction with Group Captain Shukla. These include an event with students and also a radio contact between the student community and the astronaut in space.
“These activities are a testament to our commitment to expanding access to space,” said Dana Weigel, Manager, International Space Station Program, NASA.
In addition to the outreach events, ISRO has selected seven microgravity research experiments from Indian R&D labs and academic institutions for implementation on the ISS. The two agencies will also conduct five joint experiments focusing on human research programs. Group Captain Shukla will be participating in the experiments.
The Ax-4 mission crew comprises Commander Peggy Whitson of the U.S., Mission Specialist Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland, and Mission Specialist Tibor Kapu of Hungary, alongside Group Captain Shukla as pilot. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will carry the crew aboard a Dragon spacecraft.
“We are in the final stages of integration and expect to transport the Dragon to our hangar next week,” said Sarah Walker, Director, Dragon Mission Management, SpaceX.
The mission represents a significant step forward in Indo-US collaboration in space exploration.
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