One Gaganyan Astronaut To Travel To International Space Station In Joint ISRO-NASA Mission

Minister of Science and Technology Jitendra Singh told the Lok Sabha that one of the four astronauts, who are undergoing training for the Gaganyan mission, will travel to the International Space Station as part of a joint mission with United State's National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). In a written reply, Singh stated that NASA has identified Axiom Space, a private entity, and that ISRO had signed a Space Flight Agreement with the American firm for the mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

The announcement about the India-US joint mission, slated to be launched in 2024, was made by President Joe Biden during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US last year.

Earlier this year, India's Astronaut Selection Board had selected four astronauts from the Indian Air Force for the Gaganyaan mission, which is India's first human space flight, planned to take place in 2025.