Axiom-4 Mission Set for Launch Today, Carrying Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to the ISS-All You Need to Know

After several delays, Axiom Mission 4 will lift off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center with astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9—marking a historic return to human spaceflight for three nations.

June 25, 2025 | New Delhi:
In a landmark moment for India’s space ambitions, the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) is scheduled to launch today at 2:31 AM EDT (12:00 PM IST) from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Florida. The mission will carry Indian Air Force Group Captain and ISRO astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla as pilot aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to the International Space Station (ISS).

Also Read: India’s Shubhanshu Shukla Set for Space: NASA Confirms June 25 Launch for Axiom Mission 4

The Ax-4 mission represents a historic milestone—it marks the first human spaceflight mission in over 40 years for India, Poland, and Hungary, and the first time astronauts from these nations will fly to the ISS on a government-backed private mission.

“All systems are looking good for Wednesday’s launch,” SpaceX confirmed on social media, adding that weather conditions are 90% favorable for liftoff.

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🌍 What is Axiom Mission 4?

The Axiom-4 mission is the latest private astronaut mission to the ISS, organized by Axiom Space. The crew will conduct around 60 scientific experiments and technology demonstrations representing 31 countries, including India, the US, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Brazil, Nigeria, and several European nations.

This flight also symbolizes India’s reentry into human spaceflight on an international platform, even as ISRO prepares for its own Gaganyaan mission in the coming years.

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👨‍🚀 Who Are the Crew?

• 🧑‍✈️ Pilot: Shubhanshu Shukla, Indian Air Force Group Captain and ISRO astronaut.
• 👩‍🚀 Commander: Peggy Whitson, veteran NASA astronaut and current Director of Human Spaceflight at Axiom.
• 🧪 Mission Specialist: Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, European Space Agency astronaut from Poland.
• 🧬 Mission Specialist: Tibor Kapu, astronaut from Hungary.

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🔬 Why This Mission Matters

Also Read: India’s Shubhanshu Shukla’s Spaceflight Axiom, Delayed Again, No New Launch Date Announced

• It marks the return of Indian human spaceflight on a global stage.
• It is India’s second-ever human spaceflight, after Rakesh Sharma’s historic 1984 mission.
• It opens the door for international collaboration in microgravity research and technology demonstration.

Shukla will also take part in seven space experiments, including those focused on bio-monitoring, space agriculture, and materials testing—bringing cutting-edge Indian science to the ISS.

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