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Congress leader Udit Raj on Tuesday stated that a Dalit candidate could have been selected instead of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla for the Axiom-4 space mission.
He noted that when Rakesh Sharma became India's first astronaut, there were no representatives from the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, or Other Backwards Classes (OBC), who were not well-educated. Speaking to ANI, the Congress leader said, "... When Rakesh Sharma was sent earlier, the SC, ST, and OBC people were not that educated. This time, I think it was the turn to send a Dalit... It is not that NASA conducted an exam, and then there was a selection. Any Dalit or OBC could have been sent in place of Shukla ji..." After spending almost 20 days in space, with almost 19 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 mission (Ax-4), Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian astronaut to visit the ISS, along with this crew for the mission, is set for a splashdown on earth off the coast of San Diego, California, at around 3 PM IST on Tuesday. The undocking of the AX-4 mission took place at around 4:35 AM IST on Monday with assistance from the ISS. After travelling for over 22 and a half hours, the Dragonfly spacecraft is expected to land on the California coast at 3 PM IST. Following recovery, the astronauts will undergo medical check-ups and rehabilitation. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said that Indian astronaut Subhanshu Shukla's 15-day mission in space will play a crucial role in India's first manned spaceflight under the Gaganyaan program. Shukla became the first Indian in 41 years to travel to space, where he undertook scientific experiments aboard the International Space Station (ISS). "This has been an unforgettable experience for him (Shubhanshu Shukla). He carried out multiple experiments aboard the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station. After experiencing space and microgravity, he conducted several scientific tests. This mission has been a major learning opportunity for us. ISRO took up this mission to gather experience that will help us in our Gaganyaan program," said Nilesh M. Desai, Director, Space Applications Centre, ISRO. (ANI)
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