Indian Astronaut Set for Historic Flight as Axiom Mission 4 Prepares for Launch to ISS

 Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is poised to embark on a landmark journey to the International Space Station (ISS) on Wednesday, joining a four-member crew aboard Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4). The mission, operated by Axiom Space and launched by SpaceX, marks another milestone in commercial human spaceflight and deepens international cooperation in space exploration.

Following a series of postponements caused by unfavorable weather conditions and technical anomalies, including a leak detected on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and a subsequent issue aboard the Russian Zvezda module, the mission is now ready for liftoff. SpaceX has confirmed that launch conditions are currently 90% favorable.

“All systems are looking good for Wednesday’s launch of @Axiom_Space’s Ax-4 mission to the @Space_Station,” SpaceX announced in a post on X.

According to NASA, the launch is scheduled for 12:01 PM IST on Wednesday, June 25, from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center, Florida. The crew will ascend aboard a brand-new SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, propelled by a Falcon 9 rocket, with docking at the ISS anticipated at 4:30 PM IST on Thursday, June 26.

Commanding the Ax-4 mission is veteran NASA astronaut and Axiom Space Director of Human Spaceflight Peggy Whitson. Shubhanshu Shukla, representing the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), will serve as the pilot. Rounding out the international crew are mission specialists Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of the European Space Agency (ESA), and Tibor Kapu, a HUNOR astronaut from Hungary.

The mission underscores growing global partnerships in space exploration, particularly the collaboration between NASA and ISRO. It fulfills a joint commitment announced by U.S. President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to send the first ISRO astronaut to the International Space Station.

“NASA and Roscosmos have a long history of cooperation and collaboration on the ISS. This professional working relationship has enabled the agencies to arrive at a shared technical approach, paving the way for the Ax-4 launch,” said Acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro.

During their approximately two-week stay aboard the ISS, the Ax-4 crew will undertake a robust agenda of scientific research, STEM demonstrations, and commercial outreach activities, including five joint science investigations and two in-orbit educational projects.

With Shukla’s participation, India strengthens its growing presence in human spaceflight and reinforces its commitment to international scientific cooperation in low-Earth orbit.