Indian Air Force Group Captain and ISRO astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is ready to go on his first space flight as part of the Axiom-4 mission (Ax-4). The mission will liftoff to the International Space Station (ISS) on Wednesday. SpaceX affirmed that conditions are 90% ripe for liftoff, a big step forward following the mission experiencing several delays.
All systems go for Wednesday’s liftoff of @Axiom_Space’s Ax-4 mission to the @Space_Station and weather at 90% favorable for launch,” SpaceX tweeted on X.
All systems are looking good for Wednesday’s launch of @Axiom_Space’s Ax-4 mission to the @Space_Station and weather is 90% favorable for liftoff. Webcast starts at 12:30 a.m. ET → https://t.co/6RXoybzInV pic.twitter.com/988o685PVF
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) June 24, 2025
The launch, as per NASA, is scheduled for 12:01 PM IST. It will take place from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Ax-4 crew will fly onboard a new SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, launched into orbit by the company’s Falcon 9 rocket. The docking at the ISS is to be done around 4:30 PM IST on Thursday, June 26, NASA said.
Axiom-4 Crew Headed by Peggy Whitson, Commanded by Shubhanshu Shukla
The Ax-4 mission will be commanded by Peggy Whitson, a retired NASA astronaut and Axiom Space Director of Human Spaceflight. The pilot will be Shubhanshu Shukla, the first ISRO astronaut to travel to the ISS under a commercial agreement.
They are accompanied by two mission specialists. Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland represents the European Space Agency (ESA), and Tibor Kapu of Hungary is part of the HUNOR (Hungarian to Orbit) program.
Several Delays Addressed, Launch Greenlit Following Repairs
The Ax-4 mission had several delays, first because of weather conditions and then due to technical matters. Leaks were discovered in SpaceX’s Falcon-9 rocket and the Russian Zvezda module of the ISS.
NASA affirmed that after extended repair and inspection, including consultations with Roscosmos, the mission was greenlit to go ahead.
“NASA and Roscosmos have cooperated and worked together on the International Space Station over many years. This professional working relationship has permitted the agencies to come to a consensus on a technical approach, and now Axiom Mission 4 launch and docking will go forward,” said Acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro.
India-US Partnership and Science Goals
The mission is therefore a milestone in India-US space cooperation, stemming from the commitment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former U.S. President Donald Trump to send an ISRO astronaut to the ISS for the first time.
As part of the collaboration, NASA and ISRO are engaged in five collaborative science investigations and two STEM education demonstrations during the mission.
After docking, the crew of Ax-4 will stay for two weeks on board the ISS. During this time, they will conduct experiments, engage in outreach, and carry out commercial activities. These efforts will enhance India’s capabilities for subsequent human spaceflight missions such as Gaganyaan.
