<ul><li>Shubhanshu Shukla, a 39-year-old air force fighter pilot, is set to become the first Indian astronaut in over four decades to visit the International Space Station as part of a four-person mission with Axiom Space.</li><li>India's department of space sees this mission as a significant step in its space exploration program, paying over $60 million for the venture, with plans for further missions including a moon landing by 2040 and the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission in 2027.</li><li>Shukla has undergone training in Russia and at ISRO's center in Bengaluru, aiming to bring back valuable lessons from the Axiom Mission 4 and the 14-day stay at the ISS, where they will conduct 60 scientific studies.</li><li>India's advancements in space exploration, marked by achievements like landing an unmanned craft on the moon in 2023, showcase the country's growth in the field compared to established powers at a more cost-effective price.</li></ul>

India to send first astronaut on mission to International Space Station

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