Axiom-4 mission: Countdown begins! Shubhanshu Shukla in India is set to historic ISS journey as SpaceX confirms launch is ready
After several delays, Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will head to the International Space Station (ISS) on Wednesday as part of Axiom Mission 4 (AX-4), a joint private space flight mission powered by NASA, SpaceX and Axiom Space.
SpaceX confirmed that the weather prospects are very favorable. “All systems are good for the AX-4 mission @space_station on Wednesday launch of @axim_space and all systems that benefit the lift,” the company said in a post on X.
Lifts scheduled for Kennedy Space Center
NASA announced that the launch targets Wednesday, June 25, IST at 12.01 pm. The mission will be evacuated from the launch complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in NASA, Florida, and will dock at 4.30 p.m. Thursday, June 26.
The new SpaceX Dragon Spacecraft launched by Falcon 9 Rocket will travel on a crew of four members.
Shukla of Isro serves as mission pilot
Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut and Axiom Space Director of Human Space, will be on the mission. Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will serve as the pilot.
Two other international astronauts will join their mission experts: Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from the European Space Agency (ESA) and Tibor Kapu from Hungary, part of the Hungarian program (Hungary vs. Orbit).
Tasks delayed by weather and technical issues
Axiom Mission 4 faces multiple setbacks before this startup window. The earlier delay was attributed to adverse weather, followed by problems found in SpaceX’s Falcon 9 Rocket, and later a leak was found in the Russian section of ISS.
The current release opportunity was confirmed after NASA and Roscosmos made restorations at the rear of the station’s Zvezda service module.
NASA, Roscosmos arrives with technology solutions
“NASA and Roscosmos have a long history of collaboration and cooperation on the International Space Station. This professional working relationship has led the agency to a common technical approach, and now the release and docking of the Axiom Mission 4 will continue.”
Once joined, staff will ride in the orbital laboratory for about two weeks, performing a combination of scientific experiments, educational outreach and business activities.
Milestones of the US-India space cooperation
According to NASA, Axiom Mission 4 marks an important milestone in the U.S.-India space relations. “As part of the cooperation between NASA and ISRO, Axiom Mission 4 provides a commitment to sending the first ISRO astronaut to the station for the commitment highlighted by President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” the agency said.
The mission also includes five joint scientific surveys and two intra-orbit (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).
With the countdown efforts, Shubhanshu Shukla will become the first Indian astronaut to fly to the International Space Station under a US-led commercial mission.
