Shubhanshu Shukla’s Axiom‑4 Mission Set for ISS Launch Today; SpaceX Confirms “Weather Favourable
At 12:01 pm IST Today SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket will lift off from Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, carrying Axiom Mission 4—the fourth private crewed trip to the International Space Station. Indian Air Force pilot Shubhanshu Shukla, serving as pilot, embarks on this historic mission alongside a global crew, with weather reported 90% favorable for launch .
SpaceX confirmed via X that “all systems are looking good,” with webcast coverage starting at 12:30 am ET (10:00 am IST) on SpaceX, Axiom Space, and NASA+ platforms .
The spacecraft is scheduled to dock with the ISS around 4:30 pm IST on June 26, 2025, after a nearly 29‑hour orbital journey. The two‑week mission, jointly organised by Axiom Space, NASA, and SpaceX, features scientific experiments, educational outreach, and commercial initiatives .
Originally planned for June 10, the mission was delayed due to a liquid‑oxygen leak in the Falcon 9 and prior ISS module inspections and repairs . Astronauts have undergone rigorous pre‑flight checks and quarantines ensuring safety .
The four‑member crew includes mission commander Peggy Whitson (USA), pilot Shubhanshu Shukla (India), and mission specialists Sławosz Uznanski‑Wiśniewski (Poland) and Tibor Kapu (Hungary)—marking India’s first ISS visit in over 40 years and similar milestones for Poland and Hungary .
NASA acting Administrator Janet Petro praised the strong NASA‑Roscosmos collaboration that cleared the launch following ISS tunnel repairs. She said the mission “underscores international cooperation and expands commercial spaceflight” .
