Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force is poised to make history as he embarks on his first space mission aboard a new SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. As part of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), Shukla will be the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS), marking India's return to space after 41 years.

The Axiom-4 mission, a collaborative effort between NASA, SpaceX, and ISRO, is scheduled to launch on June 25th from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The mission has faced several postponements due to weather conditions and technical snags, including a liquid oxygen leak detected in the Falcon-9 rocket boosters and issues with the Russian module of the ISS.

The Ax-4 crew will travel to the ISS aboard a new SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, launched by a Falcon 9 rocket. The targeted docking time is approximately 4:30 PM IST on June 26th. The mission is led by veteran NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, who serves as the commander. Shubhanshu Shukla is the mission pilot, while Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu and Polish astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski are mission specialists.

This mission marks the debut of SpaceX's fifth and final Crew Dragon spacecraft, tail number C213. SpaceX has stated that this latest Dragon includes updated storage areas and improved propulsion systems. The Dragon 2 spacecraft is partially reusable, consisting of a reusable space capsule and an expendable trunk module. The capsule has a pressurized volume of 9.3 cubic meters and can carry up to 4 crew members in normal operations, or 7 in an emergency evacuation scenario.

Shukla's role as mission pilot involves shared responsibility for the smooth operation of the flight, launch, docking, and splashdown. During his 14-day mission on the ISS, Shukla will conduct seven Indian science studies designed by academics and scientists across India. These experiments are focused on space nutrition and developing self-sustaining life support systems for long-duration space travel. He will also participate in five joint studies planned by NASA for its human research program.

Shukla's journey to space began with his selection as one of the four astronauts for India's Gaganyaan mission, the country's first human spaceflight program. He underwent rigorous training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Russia and the Astronaut Training Facility in Bangalore. His selection for the Axiom-4 mission provides invaluable experience for India's Gaganyaan program and its long-term vision of a sustained presence in space.

The Dragon spacecraft has a history of upgrades and mission expansions. SpaceX has been working with NASA to increase the number of certified flights for each Crew Dragon capsule from five to fifteen. The spacecraft also now lands in the Pacific Ocean to improve debris management.