1 / 12Historic Launch: Axiom Mission 4, carrying India’s Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, will launch today at 2:31 AM EDT (12:01 PM IST) from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, aboard a Falcon 9 rocket, will depart from Launch Complex 39A, the same site used for Apollo 11 in 1969. Shukla, along with three other astronauts, will head to the International Space Station (ISS) for a 14-day mission, marking a significant milestone for India’s space program.
2 / 12Second Indian Astronaut: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will become India’s second astronaut in space, following Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma’s historic 1984 mission. ISRO selected the 39-year-old Indian Air Force officer as the prime astronaut for Axiom Mission 4. His participation in this Indo-US collaboration, named Mission Akash Ganga, highlights India’s growing role in global space exploration and strengthens ties with NASA.
3 / 12Rigorous Training: Shubhanshu Shukla underwent extensive training for this mission, including a year at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre in Moscow. In 2019, ISRO’s Institute of Aerospace Medicine selected him as one of four astronauts for the Gaganyaan program. His preparation in the US and Russia equipped him to pilot the spacecraft and conduct complex experiments, showcasing his technical expertise and readiness for spaceflight.
4 / 12Scientific Experiments: The Axiom Mission 4 crew will conduct 60 scientific experiments, seven proposed by Indian researchers. Shukla will study crop seed growth, cyanobacteria, microalgae, muscle degradation, and tardigrades in a microgravity environment. These experiments, in collaboration with Indian universities and global institutions, aim to advance space farming, life support systems, and health solutions for astronauts, contributing to India’s future space missions.
5 / 12Mission Delays: Axiom Mission 4 faced multiple delays since its initial May 29 launch date due to weather and technical issues, including an oxidiser leak. June 25 marks the sixth announced launch date. Despite setbacks, SpaceX reported a 90% favourable weather forecast for today’s liftoff. The crew, including Shukla, has been in precautionary quarantine for over a month to ensure their health.
6 / 12Cultural Symbols: Shukla will carry Indian delicacies like mango nectar, carrot halwa, and moong dal halwa to share with his crewmates, fostering cultural exchange aboard the ISS. Additionally, a toy swan named Joy, symbolising wisdom and unity across Indian, Polish, and Hungarian cultures, will serve as the mission’s zero-gravity indicator, floating freely once the spacecraft reaches orbit.
7 / 12Inspiring Future Generations: During the mission, Shukla is set to speak with a high-profile Indian VIP, speculated to be Prime Minister Narendra Modi, from the ISS. Through four STEMonstration modules, he will share real-time science activities with Indian schoolchildren, aiming to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers. His mission carries the aspirations of a billion Indians, as he stated.
8 / 12Crew Composition: The Axiom Mission 4 crew includes mission commander Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut with 675 days in space, and mission specialists Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. This international team represents a historic return to human spaceflight for India, Poland, and Hungary, each marking their second government-sponsored mission in over 40 years.
9 / 12Global Collaboration: India, Poland, and Hungary are sending astronauts to space for the first time in decades through Axiom Mission 4, an American commercial mission. Each nation is funding its astronaut’s seat, with Hungary reportedly paying $100 million. The mission, docking with the ISS on Thursday at approximately 11:00 GMT (4:30 pm IST), underscores a new era of international cooperation in space, building on the legacy of Soviet-era missions.
10 / 12SpaceX Dynamics: The mission follows a public dispute between US President Donald Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who briefly threatened to retire the Crew Dragon spacecraft. Musk later retracted the statement, ensuring the launch of the fifth Crew Dragon vehicle, to be named upon reaching orbit. SpaceX’s critical role in NASA’s operations highlights the mission’s importance amid ongoing reliance on Falcon 9 for ISS crew transport.
11 / 12Gagananyaan Foundation: Shukla’s role in Axiom Mission 4 lays the groundwork for India’s Gaganyaan program, the country’s first crewed spaceflight mission planned for 2027. His experience piloting the Crew Dragon and conducting experiments will inform India’s ambitions to land an astronaut on the Moon by 2040. The mission strengthens India’s capabilities for independent and collaborative space exploration.
12 / 12Personal Journey: Born in Lucknow in 1985, Shukla graduated from the National Defence Academy in 2005 and joined the Indian Air Force in 2006. A decorated fighter pilot with 2,000 hours of flight experience across aircraft like the Su-30 MKI and MiG-21, he earned the rank of Group Captain in 2024. His colleagues praise his sharp intellect and problem-solving skills, calling him “wicked smart.” (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
