After multiple delays, the Axiom-4 mission, carrying Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station (ISS), is now targeting a launch date of June 25, 2025. NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX are jointly aiming for a launch time of 2:31 a.m. EDT (12:01 PM IST) from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Shukla's journey to space marks a significant moment for India, representing the nation's return to human spaceflight after more than four decades. He will be the second Indian in space, following Rakesh Sharma's mission in 1984. This mission is a joint venture between NASA, SpaceX, and ISRO, with India having purchased a seat for its astronaut.
The Axiom-4 mission is a commercial endeavor operated by Axiom Space, a Houston-based company, in partnership with NASA. The mission underscores the growing trend of private space missions and international collaboration in space exploration.
The crew of Axiom-4 includes Commander Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut and Axiom's director of human spaceflight, Shubhanshu Shukla as the pilot, and mission specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski from Poland, and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. This mission is particularly significant as it marks the first time astronauts from India, Hungary, and Poland will be launched to the ISS.
The mission has faced several postponements, originally scheduled for May 29, and subsequently delayed to June 8, June 10, and June 22. These delays were attributed to unfavorable weather conditions, technical issues, and necessary repairs on both the spacecraft and the ISS, including a leak detected in the Russian Zvezda module. While the leak in the Zvezda module isn't new, a change in the pressure data that measures the leak's severity prompted NASA and Axiom to postpone the Ax-4 launch until safety could be assured.
The Axiom-4 crew will travel to the ISS aboard a new SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, launched by a Falcon 9 rocket. Docking with the ISS is targeted for approximately 7:00 a.m. EDT on Thursday, June 26. During their two-week stay on the orbiting laboratory, the crew will conduct over 60 science experiments and STEM outreach events, exceeding the number of such activities in previous Axiom missions.
Shubhanshu Shukla, born on October 10, 1985, is a Group Captain in the Indian Air Force (IAF). He was commissioned into the IAF fighter wing in June 2006 and has an impressive 2,000 hours of flight experience across various aircraft, including the Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, and MiG-29. In February 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi identified Shukla as one of the astronauts undergoing training for India's Gaganyaan mission, scheduled for launch in 2025.
Despite the earlier delays, the Axiom-4 crew has remained in quarantine in Florida, adhering to medical and safety protocols. With the mission now seemingly back on track, anticipation is building for the launch, which will be a watched event for space enthusiasts worldwide. A livestream of the launch and rendezvous will be available.
