Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Soars to ISS Aboard Axiom-4, Marking Historic Leap for India in Space Exploration
Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla today successfully launched into space aboard the Axiom-4 mission, a private astronaut journey to the International Space Station (ISS). The lift-off occurred from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, propelling India into a new era of space exploration. This mission, the fourth private astronaut flight to the ISS, is a collaborative effort between NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX.
The crew is en route to the orbiting laboratory on a new SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, launched by the company’s Falcon 9 rocket. NASA has stated that the targeted docking time at the ISS is approximately 4:30 PM IST on Thursday, June 26. A video released by ANI showed the powerful Falcon 9 rocket majestically lifting off, signaling the successful commencement of the Axiom-4 Mission.
Moments before the launch, Dragon’s hatch had been closed, and all communication and suit checks were completed. The crew’s seats were rotated as they braced for the monumental lift-off.
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is piloting the Axiom-4 mission, a significant milestone for India. He is joined by Slawosz Uznanski of Poland, a European Space Agency (ESA) project astronaut, and Tibor Kapu of Hungary. Uznanski’s participation makes him Poland’s second astronaut since 1978, while Kapu becomes Hungary’s second since 1980. The mission is being commanded by veteran American astronaut Peggy Whitson, further extending her record for the longest cumulative time spent in space by any American. The four-member crew had been in quarantine in Florida, meticulously preparing for the launch once the ISS was cleared for their arrival.
The Axiom-4 mission faced multiple delays before its successful launch today. Originally slated for May 29, the lift-off was postponed to June 8, then June 10, and subsequently June 11, due to a liquid oxygen leak detected in the Falcon-9 rocket’s boosters and leaks in the aging Russian module of the International Space Station. Further delays pushed the launch to June 19 and then June 22, to allow NASA additional time to evaluate ISS operations following repair work in the aft segment of the Zvezda service module. The highly interconnected nature of the orbital laboratory’s systems necessitated thorough review of relevant data to ensure readiness for the incoming crew.
