India’s long-awaited return to human space flight is set to take place this spring, as Indian Air Force officer Shubhanshu Shukla prepares to be launched to the International Space Station as part of the private Axiom-4 mission.
The flight, expected to take up to 21 days, will be the first time an Indian citizen has travelled to space since Rakesh Sharma’s historic voyage on board a Soviet spacecraft in 1984.
Mr Shukla, a decorated fighter pilot and test pilot in the Indian Air Force, spoke at an online press conference on Thursday, alongside three of his crew members.
“I’m really excited to go into the microgravity and experience the spaceflight,” he said. “The tempo for the mission has been building up each month. I think we are at a stage wherein all the pieces are kind of coming together and I’m extremely excited to see how this unfolds in the coming months.”
Milestone for India
India has been steadily expanding its presence in space exploration, with missions to the Moon and Mars, but human spaceflight remained an ambition rather than a reality for decades.
The country’s space agency, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), is developing its own crewed craft, Gaganyaan, with the goal of sending astronauts into orbit aboard an Indian-made vehicle. However, delays in the programme have pushed its first human flight beyond this year, making Axiom-4 the first opportunity for an Indian astronaut to participate in a modern space mission.
Mr Shukla will fly as a privately funded astronaut, with Axiom Space facilitating the mission in collaboration with Nasa and SpaceX. The Houston-based company has pioneered commercial missions to the ISS, allowing countries without direct space partnerships to send astronauts to orbit.
The company also facilitated a trip for two Saudi astronauts to the ISS in 2023, including the first Arab woman.
Anna Hazlett, founder of AzurX, a UAE-based advisory and investment firm specialising in the space sector, said India’s involvement in Axiom-4 shows the changing landscape of human spaceflight.
“Private space companies like Axiom Space are transforming human spaceflight, allowing nations without ISS partnerships to send astronauts to orbit,” she told The National.
“This model democratises space access, accelerates national space ambitions and fosters global collaboration. It helps create a more diverse space economy, which is what the new space sector is all about."
Inspiration from Rakesh Sharma
Mr Shukla’s journey to becoming an astronaut has its roots in a childhood dream sparked by Mr Sharma.
“Consequently, I grew up reading about him in textbooks and listening to his stories from space. I was deeply, deeply impressed by him,” he said.
However, the lack of an active Indian human spaceflight programme at the time meant becoming an astronaut seemed an impossible goal. Instead, Mr Shukla pursued a career in aviation, inspired by an air show he attended as a sixth-grade pupil.
“I remember being shaken by a sneaking fighter jet that came up from behind us, extremely low, and pulled up towards the sky. I lost it in a matter of a few seconds. This was nerve-racking like never before and I left the air show thoroughly impressed,” he said.
That moment led him to join the Indian Air Force in 2006, to become a test pilot. His experience in high-performance aircraft made him an ideal candidate for India’s astronaut programme and he was among four pilots shortlisted for training.
Yoga in space
When Mr Sharma flew with the Soyuz T-11 mission, he famously practised yoga in space and described his view of India from orbit as “saare jahan se achha” (better than the entire world). Yoga has long been associated with India’s cultural heritage.
Asked if he planned to continue the tradition, Mr Shukla said: “I would probably demonstrate a few poses of yoga while we are up on the station, but a more important aspect is that we need to practise that while we are on the ground so that we have a healthy body, which can house a healthy mind and allows us to execute this mission in our full spirits,” he said.
Challenges and opportunities
Despite the excitement surrounding the mission, some experts have raised concerns about aspects of India’s astronaut selection process and media engagement.
Dr Dimitra Atri, an Indian astrophysicist at New York University Abu Dhabi, said Mr Shukla’s flight was historic but he also pointed out gaps in India’s human spaceflight strategy.
“The Axiom-4 mission is historic as it marks the second time an Indian citizen is going to space, over 40 years after Rakesh Sharma, and the first time an Indian will visit the ISS,” Dr Atri said.
“However, it’s unusual that the Indian astronauts haven’t been allowed to interact with the media or the public, which is typically a key part of human spaceflight.”
In contrast, countries such as the UAE have taken an active role in engaging the public through astronaut outreach programmes. When Emirati astronaut Dr Sultan Al Neyadi spent six months aboard the ISS in 2023, he regularly shared updates and participated in live calls with students.
Dr Atri also pointed out that all four astronauts selected by India for training were men, missing an opportunity to promote gender diversity in space exploration.
“None of the four astronauts shortlisted by India were women, despite global efforts to improve gender diversity in space missions," he said. "The Indian government should make better use of this opportunity to inspire the country’s youth, much like the UAE has done effectively with its space programme."
India’s participation in the Axiom-4 mission is part of a broader effort to establish itself as a key player in human spaceflight. While the country has already made significant strides with missions such as Chandrayaan-3, which was successfully landed on the Moon’s south pole, and Aditya-L1, its first solar observatory, crewed missions present new challenges.
Dr Atri said India’s long-term vision goes beyond low Earth orbit. “This mission also highlights India’s expanding human spaceflight ambitions, with ISRO developing its own Gaganyaan crew capsule for future missions and aiming to land an astronaut on the Moon in the coming years,” he said.
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
A Cat, A Man, and Two Women
Junichiro Tamizaki
Translated by Paul McCarthy
Daunt Books
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Places to go for free coffee
- Cherish Cafe Dubai, Dubai Investment Park, are giving away free coffees all day.
- La Terrace, Four Points by Sheraton Bur Dubai, are serving their first 50 guests one coffee and four bite-sized cakes
- Wild & The Moon will be giving away a free espresso with every purchase on International Coffee Day
- Orange Wheels welcome parents are to sit, relax and enjoy goodies at ‘Café O’ along with a free coffee
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Jetour T1 specs
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Uefa Nations League: How it Works
The Uefa Nations League, introduced last year, has reached its final stage, to be played over five days in northern Portugal. The format of its closing tournament is compact, spread over two semi-finals, with the first, Portugal versus Switzerland in Porto on Wednesday evening, and the second, England against the Netherlands, in Guimaraes, on Thursday.
The winners of each semi will then meet at Porto’s Dragao stadium on Sunday, with the losing semi-finalists contesting a third-place play-off in Guimaraes earlier that day.
Qualifying for the final stage was via League A of the inaugural Nations League, in which the top 12 European countries according to Uefa's co-efficient seeding system were divided into four groups, the teams playing each other twice between September and November. Portugal, who finished above Italy and Poland, successfully bid to host the finals.
Lexus LX700h specs
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Veil (Object Lessons)
Rafia Zakaria
Bloomsbury Academic
BACK%20TO%20ALEXANDRIA
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AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
Film: Raid
Dir: Rajkumar Gupta
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Ileana D'cruz and Saurabh Shukla
Verdict: Three stars
THE SPECS
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher: Activision
Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
The view from The National
Scoreline
Abu Dhabi Harlequins 17
Jebel Ali Dragons 20
Harlequins Tries: Kinivilliame, Stevenson; Cons: Stevenson 2; Pen: Stevenson
Dragons Tries: Naisau, Fourie; Cons: Love 2; Pens: Love 2
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
Pox that threatens the Middle East's native species
Camelpox
Caused by a virus related to the one that causes human smallpox, camelpox typically causes fever, swelling of lymph nodes and skin lesions in camels aged over three, but the animal usually recovers after a month or so. Younger animals may develop a more acute form that causes internal lesions and diarrhoea, and is often fatal, especially when secondary infections result. It is found across the Middle East as well as in parts of Asia, Africa, Russia and India.
Falconpox
Falconpox can cause a variety of types of lesions, which can affect, for example, the eyelids, feet and the areas above and below the beak. It is a problem among captive falcons and is one of many types of avian pox or avipox diseases that together affect dozens of bird species across the world. Among the other forms are pigeonpox, turkeypox, starlingpox and canarypox. Avipox viruses are spread by mosquitoes and direct bird-to-bird contact.
Houbarapox
Houbarapox is, like falconpox, one of the many forms of avipox diseases. It exists in various forms, with a type that causes skin lesions being least likely to result in death. Other forms cause more severe lesions, including internal lesions, and are more likely to kill the bird, often because secondary infections develop. This summer the CVRL reported an outbreak of pox in houbaras after rains in spring led to an increase in mosquito numbers.
What's in the deal?
Agreement aims to boost trade by £25.5bn a year in the long run, compared with a total of £42.6bn in 2024
India will slash levies on medical devices, machinery, cosmetics, soft drinks and lamb.
India will also cut automotive tariffs to 10% under a quota from over 100% currently.
Indian employees in the UK will receive three years exemption from social security payments
India expects 99% of exports to benefit from zero duty, raising opportunities for textiles, marine products, footwear and jewellery
HIJRA
Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
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The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
The specs
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo and dual electric motors
Power: 300hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 520Nm at 1,500-3,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.0L/100km
Price: from Dh199,900
On sale: now
Honeymoonish
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