New Delhi: In an important milestone for India’s area program, astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is poised to make historical past as the primary Indian to consult with the International Space Station (ISS) as a part of the Axiom-4 venture. Shukla, together with 3 different astronauts, will release from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 10 and dock on the ISS on June 11 at round 10 pm IST.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) mentioned in a remark, “The crew will travel to the orbiting laboratory on a new SpaceX Dragon spacecraft after launching on the company’s Falcon 9 rocket. The targeted docking time is approximately 12:30 pm EDT (10 pm IST), Wednesday, June 11.”
The #Ax4 staff is scheduled to release to the International Space Station on June 10 at 8:22 AM EDT from Launch Complex 39A at @NASAKennedy. Tune in for the release broadcast beginning at 6:15 AM EDT. pic.twitter.com/2ACocwFRSQ
— Axiom Space (@Axiom_Space) June 3, 2025
The Axiom-4 Crew
According to NASA, Shukla will pilot the Ax-4 venture, accompanied through venture commander Peggy Whitson, a veteran NASA astronaut, and venture consultants Tibor Kapu from Hungary and Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland. This various staff represents a joint effort between NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), marking an important step in global cooperation in area exploration.
Mission Objectives
During their 14-day keep on the ISS, the staff will behavior more than a few clinical experiments, outreach actions, and business endeavors. Shukla will focal point on meals and nutrition-related experiments, together with learning the sprouting of Indian meals grains like methi (fenugreek) and moong (inexperienced gram) in microgravity prerequisites. These experiments goal to advance area vitamin and reinforce techniques essential for long run long-duration missions.
Preparations and Training
The staff has been in quarantine since May 25 and has gone through rigorous coaching, together with underwater break out drills, to organize for the venture. ISRO Chairman V Narayanan just lately visited Axiom Space to study the arrangements for the spaceflight, making sure a easy and a success venture.
The #Ax4 staff undergoes intensive emergency coaching, that includes a variety of eventualities reminiscent of underwater break out drills. pic.twitter.com/Mwoeb9fk51
— Axiom Space (@Axiom_Space) June 6, 2025
Significance of the Mission
The Axiom-4 venture marks India’s go back to human spaceflight 41 years after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma’s historical spaceflight aboard a Soviet Soyuz spacecraft in 1984. Shukla’s venture is anticipated to pave the way in which for India’s development in microgravity science and give a contribution to the rustic’s Gaganyaan venture, slated for a 2027 release.
Ahead of the venture’s release, SpaceX rolled out the Falcon 9 and Dragon spacecraft to the release pad in Florida on Saturday.
The Dragon spacecraft used to be observed built-in atop Elon Musk-owned SpaceX’s reusable Falcon 9 rocket.
Falcon 9 and Dragon rolled out to pad 39A in Florida previous nowadays forward of Tuesday’s release of @Axiom_Space’s Ax-4 venture to the @Space_Station pic.twitter.com/IenCNUSYFQ
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) June 7, 2025
Experiments and Outreach
Shukla will behavior seven experiments designed through Indian analysis establishments, together with stem cellular cultures and crop seed habits in microgravity. The staff can even engage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, college scholars, and area business leaders right through their keep on the ISS. The venture is an important step ahead for India’s area program, with ISRO making an investment roughly ₹550 crore within the Axiom-4 venture.
As Shukla mentioned, “Even stars are attainable.” This venture is a testomony to India’s rising presence in area exploration and its dedication to pushing the limits of clinical wisdom.