The distance of the International Space Station (ISS) from Earth is about 403 km, but the Dragon spacecraft will take about 28.5 hours to cover this distance. It will take so much time to cover such a short distance because the spacecraft will need a lot of speed and energy to escape the Earth's gravity and enter the correct orbit also docking of the spacecraft with the ISS is a very precise and complex process. The International Space Center (ISS) is at a height of about 403 km from the Earth. The ISS revolves around the Earth at a speed of 27,800 kilometers per hour. That is, the ISS revolves around the Earth once in 90 minutes.
The spacecraft has to travel at a very high speed to escape the Earth's gravity and enter the orbit.
The spacecraft has to prepare precisely to enter the correct orbit and this takes time and energy. After launch, the spacecraft has to remain on its fixed path using guidance systems. These are complex processes.
The journey has to be carefully planned to ensure the safety of the astronauts and the equipment.
These are the challenges.
During launch or en route, the spacecraft's systems may malfunction, such as engine failure, fuel leakage, or communication system problems.
Accurate navigation is required to reach the ISS. If the spacecraft is not on the right track or is unable to control its speed, it may miss the space station.
Low gravity in space can hurt the health of astronauts. This can lead to weakness in muscles and bones and problems like dizziness or vomiting.
There is a high level of radiation in space, which can be harmful to astronauts and spacecraft.
There are also small debris in space, which move at very high speeds. These pieces can collide with the spacecraft and cause damage.
ISS is like a fortress
ISS is like a fortress built in the outer orbit of the Earth. Approval was given to build it in 1984. On 2 November 2000, the first crew left for the ISS. The entire assembly of the ISS took place through 41 spacewalks. Every part of the ISS was launched and assembled in space. In the last 25 years, 270 astronauts have come here. The ISS weighs more than 4,00,000 kilograms. The total area of the ISS is 2,247 square meters. The length of its panels and other structures is 109 meters. It is not stable in one place and keeps revolving around the Earth.
India spent 548 crores.
India has spent about Rs 548 crore on the Axiom-4 mission so far. This includes the cost of training Shubhanshu and his backup Group Captain Prashant Nair. This money is spent on training, equipment, and international partnerships. This mission is like India's practice for Gaganyaan.
An Indian will reach the ISS for the first time.
India has never been a part of the ISS. This is the first time an Indian will reach there. The Axiom mission will help fulfill India's four major goals in the future. These are, sending the first human mission to Gaganyaan in the year 2027, establishing its space center in space by 2035, and sending a human moon mission by 2040.
You can watch the live telecast today.
NASA said in a statement that live coverage of the spacecraft's arrival can be seen on NASA Plus on Thursday, June 26 at 2:30 pm Indian time. Shubhanshu's spacecraft will automatically dock at 4:30 pm Indian time on the space-facing port of the Harmony module of the space station.
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