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After multiple delays, the Axiom-4 mission carrying Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and three others lifted off at 12:01 pm on Wednesday from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The crew is travelling to the orbiting laboratory on a new SpaceX Dragon spacecraft after launching on the SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket. The targeted docking time is approximately 4.30 pm IST on Thursday, June 26, as per NASA.
Peggy Whitson, former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, is commanding the commercial mission, while ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is serving as pilot.
The Axiom-4 mission had run into multiple delays, first on account of inclement weather and then due to leaks detected on SpaceX's Falcon-9 rocket and later on the Russian module of the International Space Station.
The launch opportunity comes after NASA and Roscosmos officials discussed the status of the recent repair work in the transfer tunnel at the aft (back) most segment of the orbital laboratory's Zvezda service module, NASA said.
Here are the key highlights:
- The weather was 90 per cent favourable for lift-off.
- Once docked, the private astronauts plan to spend about two weeks aboard the orbiting laboratory, conducting a mission comprising science, outreach, and commercial activities.
- India’s contribution to the Ax-4 mission, led by ISRO in collaboration with NASA and ESA, focuses on advancing microgravity research aboard the ISS.
- The goal is to better understand how living systems behave in space and to develop technologies crucial for future long-duration missions.
- The research complement includes around 60 scientific studies and activities representing 31 countries, including the U.S., India, Poland, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Nigeria, UAE, and nations across Europe.
- This mission is historic for India, Poland, and Hungary, marking each nation's return to government-sponsored human spaceflight after more than 40 years. It also represents the first time all three will participate in a mission aboard the ISS.
- The crew had been in quarantine in Florida ahead of liftoff.
- For Group Captain Shukla, this is a milestone moment, as he follows in the footsteps of Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian in space, who flew aboard Soyuz T-11 in 1984.
- Born in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, Shukla has over 2,000 flying hours across various aircraft, including the MiG-29 and Su-30 MKI.
- The Indo-US Axiom-4 mission, also referred to as Mission Akash Ganga, was born out of the India-USA joint statement during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to the United States in 2023.
