Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is now soaring above Earth. His historic Axiom-4 mission lifted off successfully from Kennedy Space Centre, Florida. The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft is carrying Shukla and three crewmates towards the International Space Station.
The Falcon 9 rocket launched at 12:01 p.m. IST on Wednesday. This marks a proud moment for India, as Shukla becomes the first Indian pilot of a commercial space mission. His journey follows in the footsteps of Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 mission to Salyut 7.
Docking Plans Underway
The Dragon capsule will connect with the ISS today at 4:30 p.m. IST. It will dock at the Harmony module’s space-facing port. NASA flight engineers Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers will oversee the approach.
After docking, the Axiom-4 crew will meet the seven Expedition 73 members aboard the station. They will share greetings, hold a safety briefing, and begin their mission. The station crew continued regular research and maintenance during the approach.
A Message from Space
In an emotional message from orbit, Shukla said, “Namaskar, my dear countrymen, what a ride. We are back in space once again after 41 years.”
He added, “The Tiranga on my shoulders tells me I am with you all. This journey is not just to the ISS but for India’s Human Space Programme. Together, let’s begin this mission. Jai Hind! Jai Bharat!”
Focus on Science and Research
The Ax-4 crew will spend 14 days aboard the ISS. Their work includes scientific research, outreach, and commercial projects. This is the most research-dense mission Axiom Space has undertaken to date.
NASA and ISRO are working on a number of crucial studies. Among these are muscle recovery, cultivating microalgae and sprouts, and experimenting with how people physically engage with electronic screens in space.
The experiments will also examine the survival of small aquatic animals in microgravity. These findings will support both space exploration and applications back on Earth.
Axiom-4 follows three earlier private missions to the ISS since 2022. Commanding this flight is veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson, with mission specialists Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary joining Shukla.
The mission stands as a proud step forward for India’s space ambitions.
(Inputs From ANI)
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