1 / 12Historic Launch: Axiom Mission 4, featuring India’s Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, is set for launch today at 2:31 AM EDT (12:01 PM IST) from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft will ascend aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A, the same site that propelled Apollo 11 in 1969. Shukla and three fellow astronauts will journey to the International Space Station (ISS) for a 14-day mission, marking a momentous achievement for India’s space endeavors.
2 / 12Second Indian Astronaut: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is set to become India’s second astronaut in space, following Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma’s historic mission in 1984. Selected by ISRO, the 39-year-old Indian Air Force officer takes his place as the prime astronaut for Axiom Mission 4. His role in this Indo-US initiative, dubbed Mission Akash Ganga, signifies India’s expanding influence in global space exploration and bolsters ties with NASA.
3 / 12Rigorous Training: Shukhanshu Shukla has completed extensive training for this mission, including a year at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre in Moscow. In 2019, he was selected as one of four astronauts for the Gaganyaan program by ISRO’s Institute of Aerospace Medicine. His training experience in the US and Russia has readied him to pilot the spacecraft and carry out complex experiments, demonstrating his technical aptitude and preparedness for spaceflight.
4 / 12Scientific Experiments: During Axiom Mission 4, the crew will conduct a total of 60 scientific experiments, including seven proposed by Indian researchers. Shukla will explore factors such as crop seed growth, cyanobacteria, microalgae, muscle degradation, and tardigrades within a microgravity environment. The collaborative nature of these experiments with Indian universities and international institutions aims to push the boundaries of space farming, life support systems, and astronaut health, contributing to India’s future space ambitions.
5 / 12Mission Delays: Axiom Mission 4 has encountered several delays since its original launch date of May 29, due to inclement weather and technical glitches, such as an oxidizer leak. June 25 marks the sixth scheduled launch date. Nonetheless, SpaceX has reported a 90% favorable forecast for weather on the day of launch. The crew, including Shukla, has been in precautionary quarantine for over a month to secure their health.
6 / 12Cultural Symbols: Shukla plans to bring Indian delicacies such as mango nectar, carrot halwa, and moong dal halwa to enjoy with his fellow astronauts, promoting cultural exchange aboard the ISS. Additionally, he will carry a toy swan named Joy, serving as the mission’s zero-gravity indicator, symbolizing wisdom and unity across Indian, Polish, and Hungarian cultures, which will float freely once the spacecraft achieves orbit.
7 / 12Inspiring Future Generations: Throughout the mission, Shukla is expected to engage in discussions with a prominent Indian VIP, potentially Prime Minister Narendra Modi, directly from the ISS. Through four STEMonstration modules, he will share live science activities with Indian schoolchildren, aspiring to motivate the next generation of scientists and engineers. He expresses that his mission embodies the hopes of a billion Indians.
8 / 12Crew Composition: The Axiom Mission 4 team consists of mission commander Peggy Whitson, a NASA veteran with 675 days spent in space, and mission specialists Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. This international assemblage marks a momentous return to human spaceflight for India, Poland, and Hungary, each participating in its second government-sponsored mission in over four decades.
9 / 12Global Collaboration: Through Axiom Mission 4, India, Poland, and Hungary will send astronauts to space for the first time in decades, marking a significant achievement in an American commercial mission. Each nation is financing their astronaut’s seat, with Hungary reportedly contributing $100 million. The mission, set to dock with the ISS on Thursday around 11:00 GMT (4:30 PM IST), emphasizes a new chapter of international cooperation in space, building on the legacy of past Soviet missions.
10 / 12SpaceX Dynamics: This mission follows a brief public disagreement between US President Donald Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who had momentarily suggested discontinuing the Crew Dragon spacecraft. Musk later retracted this claim, ensuring the fifth Crew Dragon vehicle would launch, with its name being determined upon reaching orbit. SpaceX’s pivotal role in NASA’s operations underscores the mission’s significance, particularly in light of the ongoing reliance on Falcon 9 for ferrying ISS crew.
11 / 12Gaganyaan Foundation: Shukla’s involvement in Axiom Mission 4 serves as a foundation for India’s Gaganyaan initiative, aiming for the country’s first crewed spaceflight in 2027. His expertise in piloting the Crew Dragon and executing experiments will provide valuable insights for India’s goals of landing an astronaut on the Moon by 2040. The mission enhances India’s capabilities for independent as well as collaborative space exploration.
12 / 12Personal Journey: Born in Lucknow in 1985, Shukla completed his education at the National Defence Academy in 2005 and enlisted in the Indian Air Force in 2006. A highly decorated fighter pilot with 2,000 hours of flight experience on aircraft such as the Su-30 MKI and MiG-21, he attained the rank of Group Captain in 2024. His colleagues commend his sharp intellect and problem-solving skills, referring to him as “wicked smart.” (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
