Axiom 4 Mission Carrying Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to Launch Today
The Axiom 4 mission, carrying Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, is launching today at 2:31 AM EDT. This mission represents the return to government-sponsored spaceflights for India, Poland, and Hungary in over 40 years, with around 60 scientific studies planned aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. SpaceX confirmed favorable conditions for liftoff as the crew prepares for this historic event.
The highly anticipated Axiom 4 mission is finally set to launch today, June 25, at 2:31 AM EDT, or around 12:00 noon IST. This mission, which had faced numerous delays for several reasons, will transport Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station (ISS). The launch will occur from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, specifically from Launch Complex 39A, aboard SpaceX’s renowned Falcon 9 rocket.
Axiom 4 will not just be a record-setting flight for India but also for Poland and Hungary. Each of these nations will be making their first government-sponsored flight in over four decades, with Axiom describing this as a key step in returning to human spaceflight. The mission is comprised of approximately 60 scientific studies and activities representing 31 countries, encompassing nations like the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Brazil.
In a positive update ahead of the launch, SpaceX announced via a post on X that all systems are functioning well for today’s liftoff, with an optimistic weather forecast granting a 90 percent chance of favorable conditions. This departure marks a significant occasion as it is the second human spaceflight for each of the involved nations, although this will be the first collaborative mission aboard the ISS for all three.
The crew for this mission includes a diverse lineup: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will pilot the craft, while Peggy Whitson, a seasoned former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, will command. Additionally, Polish astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski and Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu are on board as mission specialists, contributing their expertise to the scientific work planned during the mission.
In summary, the Axiom 4 mission represents a historic moment for India, Poland, and Hungary as each nation prepares for its first government-sponsored spaceflight in decades. With Shubhanshu Shukla as pilot among a four-member crew, and a robust scientific agenda carried aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, the mission has captured significant global attention. As all systems align, and weather forecasts look favorable, today could mark a new chapter in international collaboration in space exploration.
Original Source: www.hindustantimes.com
