The spacecraft—a SpaceX Dragon—blasted off aboard a Falcon 9 rocket at 12:01 PM IST, a launch that was delayed multiple times due to weather, ISS module concerns, and technical checks.

Crew Composition & Launch Details

Axiom‑4 has a multinational crew of:

• Peggy Whitson (USA) – Former NASA astronaut, Commander
  
• Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla (India) – Pilot
  
• Sławosz Uznański‑Wiśniewski (Poland) – Mission Specialist
  
• Tibor Kapu (Hungary) – Mission Specialist
  
  

The Dragon capsule will dock with the ISS at approximately 4:30 PM IST on June 26, where the crew will carry out 14–21 days of scientific experiments, outreach, and commercial operations.

Why It Matters

• India’s Return to Space: Shubhanshu Shukla is taking after the late Rakesh Sharma, who went to space in 1984, it was a wait of 41 years.
  
• International Collaboration: With this flight, Indian, Polish, and Hungarian astronauts have their first ISS flight—a historic move in international cooperation in space.
  
• Commercial Space Evolution: Ax‑4 is one of the earliest missions supporting private astronaut flights, signaling a future of commercial low Earth orbit operations.
  
  

About Shubhanshu Shukla

• Born October 10, 1985, in Lucknow, Maharashtra.
  
• Commissioned in the Indian Air Force in 2006, he holds the rank of Group Captain since March 2024.
  
• A seasoned test pilot, he has flown Su‑30 MKI, MiG‑21, MiG‑29, Jaguar, and other aircraft, with over 2,000 flight hours.
  
• Selected as part of India’s first Vyomanaut group in 2019, he now serves as pilot for Ax‑4—India’s first astronaut to visit the ISS.
  
  

Mission Goals & Research

The Ax‑4 mission objectives will include:

• Medical and biological research, such as microgravity's impact on glucose levels and insulin delivery systems.
  
• ISRO-sponsored experiments on cognitive impact, microbial growth, muscle atrophy, and plant resistance to space.
  
• STEM outreach and cultural exchange activities  engage worldwide audiences .
  

This mission could be the gateway to having astronauts with chronic illnesses, like diabetes, train for upcoming space missions.

Launch Challenges & Solutions

The mission was delayed several times:

• Weather conditions, such as high-altitude winds
  
• A small propellant leak on the Falcon 9 rocket
  
• An air-leak in the Russian Zvezda module of the ISS
  

NASA confirmed the problem was fixed, and further checks provide a safe launch window.

Reactions & Celebrations

• Prime Minister Modi described it as a moment to be proud of, emphasizing Shukla's mission to carry "the hopes of 1.4 billion Indians".
  
• President Murmu hailed India's space heritage and the day's success.
  
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, scientists, and world leaders joined in to congratulate the crew, terming it a "quantum leap" in space cooperation.
  
• The Indian Air Force termed it a "déjà vu moment" that reminded one of Rakesh Sharma's mission.
  
  

Technical Mission Timeline

The Falcon 9's first stage performed a successful return landing shortly after launch.

Why This Mission Inspires

• Boosts India's space ambitions with ISRO's Gaganyaan program
  
• Highlights global cooperation, with the US, India, Poland, and Hungary collaborating together
  
• Shows private space success, confirming commercial missions' worth in future space stations.
  
• Engages public imagination, inspiring youth to pursue STEM through live outreach and special cargo
  
  

Final Thoughts

The Axiom‑4 mission marks a milestone in the space era:

• It brings India back to space after four decades
  
• It is part of expanding private astronaut missions transforming space exploration
  
• It is a source of inspiration, merging science, diplomacy, and human aspiration
  
  

As Shubhanshu Shukla makes the journey, the world observes—and commemorates a milestone in space, science, and India's foray into the stars.

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