Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force is set to embark on a historic mission to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4). This mission is a collaborative effort between Axiom Space Inc., NASA, and ISRO. However, a recent public dispute between Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, and former US President Donald Trump briefly cast a shadow over the mission's prospects.

The controversy began when Musk criticized a major spending bill supported by the Trump administration, labeling it an "abomination." Trump responded by suggesting the US could save billions by cutting Musk's government contracts, even questioning why such action hadn't been taken already. In a swift reaction posted on X, Musk initially declared that SpaceX would immediately begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft.

This announcement sent ripples of concern throughout the global space community. The Crew Dragon spacecraft is crucial for transporting astronauts to the ISS. With Shubhanshu Shukla's launch scheduled for June 10, 2025, aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule on a Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Musk's decision raised serious questions about the fate of the Ax-4 mission. The mission had already faced delays, being pushed back from May 29 to June 8 and then to June 10 due to various factors.

The potential decommissioning of the Dragon spacecraft could have severely disrupted operations aboard the International Space Station, leaving Russia's Soyuz as the sole crewed transport option. This would have limited crew rotations and reduced international access to space. Furthermore, it could have jeopardized over $22 billion in contracts between SpaceX, NASA, and the Pentagon, impacting critical programs like lunar Starship development and military satellite launches. Scientific missions, including the planned microgravity experiments of Axiom Space's Ax-4, would have faced significant delays.

However, the situation took a positive turn when Musk reversed his decision. Responding to advice on X, he stated, "Good advice. Ok, we won't decommission Dragon." This reversal brought immense relief to the scientific community and ensured that the Ax-4 mission could proceed as planned.

As of today, June 6, 2025, the Ax-4 mission remains on track despite the earlier political turmoil. The four astronauts, including Shubhanshu Shukla, are in the final stages of preparation in protocol quarantine. Their Dragon spacecraft has already reached its launch pad at Kennedy Space Center.

Shukla's mission marks a significant milestone in US-India space collaboration. He will be the second Indian to venture into space, following Rakesh Sharma's journey aboard Russia's Soyuz spacecraft in 1984, and the first Indian to visit the ISS. India has invested over $60 million in this mission, highlighting its commitment to space exploration.

The Ax-4 mission will see Shukla accompanied by Peggy Whitson, a veteran NASA astronaut and mission commander, along with Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. During their 14 days aboard the orbiting laboratory, the astronauts will conduct a range of scientific, outreach, and commercial activities.

Shubhanshu Shukla, a decorated test pilot with the IAF, will serve as the Mission Pilot. His journey to space represents a momentous occasion for India and a testament to international collaboration in space exploration, overcoming the brief uncertainty caused by the Musk-Trump feud.