Artemis II crew surpassed Apollo 13 record for farthest human travel, completing a lunar far-side flyby and capturing images. The mission also tested new science operations, aiding future moon missions and advancing lunar geology research
Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian to travel to the International Space Station as part of the Axiom-4 mission, emphasised that the next five to ten years will be crucial for India’s space exploration. He is also among the four astronauts selected for India’s upcoming Gaganyaan mission in 2027.
ISRO Chairman V Narayanan said 90 per cent of the Gaganyaan mission’s development is complete. Three uncrewed missions, including Vyommitra’s flight, will precede the crewed launch planned for early 2027, following successful air-drop tests of the crew module’s parachute system
ISRO has outlined a four-decade roadmap to establish human presence beyond Earth, including a lunar crew station by 2047, Moon mining, 3D-printed Martian habitats, and upgraded rockets capable of carrying 150-tonne payloads, paving the way for Mars landings
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hailed the Gaganyaan mission as a milestone in Atmanirbhar Bharat, felicitating astronauts Shubhanshu Shukla, Prasanth Nair, Ajit Krishnan, and Angad Pratap. He said India is prepared for human spaceflight, describing the astronauts as “gems” of national aspirations
Since the advent of space exploration, humans have launched more than 6,700 satellites and spacecraft from countries around the globe, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists.
"The system could support lunar surface communications at greater distances, increased speeds and provide more reliability than current standards," NASA noted in its contract award announcement.
Besides the US, other founding member nations that have signed the Artemis Accords are Australia, Canada, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom, NASA said on Tuesday.
