Shubhanshu Shukla’s cosmic quest: India soars in Axiom-4 mission

In a historic stride for India’s space ambitions, astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is poised to embark on the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission, a private spaceflight venture by Axiom Space. Set to launch on June 10, 2025, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, this mission marks India’s return to human spaceflight after a 41-year hiatus since Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 journey aboard the Soviet Soyuz T-11.

Also Read:PM Modi introduces astronauts for Gaganyaan Space Mission

As the mission’s pilot, Shukla recently joined SpaceX teams for an intensive launch rehearsal, culminating in a successful static fire test of the Falcon 9 rocket—a critical step to verify engine performance. Engineers are now scrutinizing the test data and monitoring weather patterns along the rocket’s trajectory to ensure a smooth liftoff.

Shukla is set to carry out the mission with mission commander Peggy Whitson of the United States, alongside mission specialists Tibor Kapu from Hungary and Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland. The crew will travel aboard a state-of-the-art SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, recently delivered to Launch Pad 39A’s hangar for its debut flight. The spacecraft which is atop Falcon 9 will carry the astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS).

Representing India, meet #Ax4 Mission Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla. @isropic.twitter.com/3NkwIP3ER7

— Axiom Space (@Axiom_Space)

Representing India, meet #Ax4 Mission Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla. @isropic.twitter.com/3NkwIP3ER7

— Axiom Space (@Axiom_Space) June 8, 2025

">June 8, 2025

Originally planned for June 8, the launch was deferred by two days to fine-tune all systems. The Dragon is slated to dock with the ISS on June 11, 2025, at around 10 PM IST (12:30 PM EDT), following a 28-hour orbital voyage.

While aboard the ISS, the Ax-4 team will undertake approximately 60 scientific studies, exploring human health, Earth monitoring, and material sciences. With collaborations spanning 31 countries, the mission stands as a beacon of international unity in space exploration.