With delays overcome, history made, and a borderless crew in orbit, Axiom Mission 4 marks a turning point in India’s space story—and in the expanding role of private players in global science.
By PC Bureau
June 25, 2025– In a landmark achievement for private spaceflight and international cooperation, Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) successfully lifted off early Tuesday morning at 2:31 a.m. EDT (12:01 p.m. IST) from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. The mission is being hailed as a historic step in space diplomacy, with Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla becoming the first ISRO-trained astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS).
The crewed mission, organized by Axiom Space in partnership with NASA and SpaceX, is being carried aloft aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, which deployed a new Dragon spacecraft into orbit. Aboard the Dragon are four astronauts: Commander Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut with four spaceflights to her name; Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla from India; and Mission Specialists Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary. All three nations—India, Poland, and Hungary—are participating in their first government-sponsored ISS missions in more than four decades.
A Launch Delayed, But Not Deterred
Originally slated for May 29, the launch faced six delays due to a series of technical setbacks and environmental challenges. These included a propellant leak in the Falcon 9 booster, a minor air leak in the ISS’s Russian Zvezda service module, and persistent weather uncertainties over the Atlantic recovery zone.
Despite these setbacks, the mission team remained confident. After comprehensive system checks and favorable weather forecasts—90% go for launch—the rocket soared into the early morning sky with no anomalies reported during ascent.
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Live streams from NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX broadcast the launch to millions around the world. At mission control, engineers and scientists erupted in cheers as the Dragon spacecraft achieved orbit. Moments later, Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X: “A proud moment for India and humanity. Congratulations to Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and the entire Ax-4 team. Jai Hind!”
Shubhanshu Shukla: Making History for India
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, a decorated Indian Air Force pilot, underwent over a year of intensive astronaut training in Houston and Bengaluru. His role as mission pilot places him at the heart of navigation and operations onboard the Dragon spacecraft.
His selection comes at a time when India is scaling up its presence in global space affairs. In addition to ISRO’s Gaganyaan mission, India has partnered with several international agencies to deepen space research ties.
“This is a historic leap for India,” said Dr. G. Raju, former ISRO Project Director. “We are not just watching others go to space anymore—we are participating, contributing, and leading in scientific exploration.”
#AxiomMission4 succesfully launched today 12:01 PM IST, carrying Shubhanshu Shukla to the #ISS India’s first astronaut on the station, along with 3 others! Join the pride as we watch him soar with crewmates on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon. #Ax4 #IndiaInSpace #ISRO #NASA #SpaceX pic.twitter.com/4CprBxb7lB
— Krish_RK (@Krish9) June 25, 2025
Back home in Uttar Pradesh, Shukla’s mother, Asha Shukla, expressed joy and anxiety: “He dreamt of space as a child. Today, he’s living that dream. My blessings are with him and the entire crew.”
Science Beyond Borders: Global Research on the ISS
Ax-4 is a 14-day mission packed with over 60 scientific experiments, ranging from microgravity biology to satellite communications. Notably, India is leading seven of these projects, including:
A microgravity protein-folding experiment for Alzheimer’s research
A zero-gravity drone test for deep-space missions
A new biosensor developed by students under Space Kidz India
“These aren’t just token experiments,” said Srimathi Kesan, CEO of Space Kidz India. “They reflect the brainpower of our youth and the vision of a borderless scientific community.”
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The mission’s multi-national nature has become a model for global collaboration. Axiom CEO Michael Suffredini noted, “With astronauts from Asia, Europe, and North America on a single crew, Ax-4 showcases what humanity can achieve when politics take a back seat to progress.”
A Billion Eyes on Docking Day
The Dragon spacecraft is scheduled to dock with the ISS around 7:00 a.m. EDT (7:00 p.m. IST) on June 26, following a series of carefully calibrated orbit-raising maneuvers and rendezvous procedures. Once docked, the Ax-4 astronauts will live and work aboard the ISS, contributing to ongoing international research and engaging in educational outreach with schools across 31 countries.
Live video coverage of the docking will be available on NASA TV, YouTube, and other international streaming platforms.
The Ax-4 launch is also symbolic of deepening U.S.-India ties in strategic technologies. The mission follows high-level talks between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Modi, who have both championed the use of private-sector partnerships in space.
The mission, which cost India an estimated ₹550 crore, is seen as an investment in both prestige and practical capability. Sources say the Indian government is already exploring more slots on future Axiom missions and potential joint lunar payloads.
Political analyst Dr. Paroma Sen summed it up: “India’s participation in Ax-4 is as much about aspiration as it is about alignment. It signals to the world that India is not on the sidelines anymore—it’s in orbit.”
What’s Next: ISS Work and Return
Once aboard the ISS, the Ax-4 team will collaborate with the Expedition 71 crew, participating in ongoing research on:
Space agriculture
Radiation protection technologies
Human physiology in long-duration spaceflight
A historic and proud moment for #India
Group Capt. #ShubhanshuShukla becomes the 2nd Indian astronaut to soar into space, aboard #Axiom4 with Poland & Hungary.
Onboard the ISS, they’ll conduct 60+ microgravity experiments advancing tech, biology & humanity’s cosmic future. pic.twitter.com/lWrinuccmq
— Kushagra Saxena🇮🇳 (@KushagraSaxena_) June 25, 2025
Following the 14-day stay, the crew will return aboard the same Dragon capsule, splashing down in the Atlantic under parachutes. Weather permitting, the return is expected in early July.
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SpaceX recovery vessels will retrieve the crew for immediate post-flight medical evaluations. Shukla will then return to Houston for a debrief before flying back to India, where a national reception is being planned.
A Proud Moment for a Rising Space Power
With Ax-4, India has taken a bold new step into the global space arena. As private space missions become more frequent, the country’s role is evolving—from a low-cost satellite launch provider to a full-spectrum space collaborator.
And for Shubhanshu Shukla, a man who once gazed up at the stars from a small airbase in northern India, this is more than a personal milestone. It is a signal to young Indians that space is no longer out of reach.
