Axiom 4 Launch: Shubhanshu Shukla's Axiom Mission Lifts Off To Space; PM Modi Wishes Success

The mission will lift off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The crew will travel to the orbiting laboratory on a new SpaceX Dragon spacecraft after launching on the company's Falcon 9 rocket.

NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX are now targeting 12.01 PM (IST), Wednesday, June 25, for launch of the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, Axiom Mission 4, NASA said.

The targeted docking time is approximately 4.30 pm IST on Thursday, June 26, NASA said in a statement.

he Axiom-4 mission, scheduled to carry Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and three others to the International Space Station on June 10 was put off due to a leak in the SpaceX's Falcon-9 rocket.

SpaceX announced that it was "standing down" from the Falcon-9 launch to allow time for repairs after a post-static inspection of the rocket's boosters identified a liquid oxygen leak.

ISRO Chairman V Narayanan said the liquid oxygen leak was detected in the propulsion bay during a seven-second hot test on the launch pad. The hot test was to validate the performance of the booster stage of Falcon-9 launch vehicle. He also hailed the decision pointing out that humans are involved in this.

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Peggy Whitson, former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, will command the commercial mission, while ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will serve as pilot.

The two mission specialists are ESA (European Space Agency) project astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland, and HUNOR (Hungarian to Orbit) astronaut Tibor Kapu of Hungary.

Watch the Axiom launch live streaming from Space X official handle on X microblogging site.

A successful lift off for Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, marking the launch of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s historic Axiom-4 mission took place at 12 pm(IST).

Shukla becomes the first Indian to pilot a commercial crew mission to the International Space Station.

The four astronauts in the mission are now on their way to orbit, embarking on a 14-day scientific expedition.

The crew has successfully completed the first abort mode and has now entered Abort Mode 2 Alpha. This is a standard safety protocol for this phase of flight.

As per reports, all systems are nominal and the mission is continuing smoothly toward orbit.

Booster load is also complete and is now heading back to Florida coast. 

Shukla became the first Indian astronaut to travel to the International Space Station, a journey that comes 41 years after Rakesh Sharma’s eight days in orbit as part of the then Soviet Union's Salyut-7 space station in 1984.

There were several watch parties organised across India and the world, including at Shukla's City Montessori School in Lucknow where his parents witnessed the historic launch.

According to Nasa, the targeted docking time is approximately 4.30 pm IST on Thursday, June 26.

In a post on X, Indian Air Force wrote, "From conquering the skies to touching the stars— a journey powered by the indomitable spirit of the IAF Air Warrior. Group Captain Shubahanshu Shukla sets forth on a landmark Space Mission, carrying the pride of the nation beyond Earth. This is a dèjà-vu moment for India, 41 years after the mission of Sqn Ldr Rakesh Sharma, who first carried our Tricolour beyond Earth. Being more than a mission — it is reaffirmation of India’s ever-expanding horizon."

Union MoS for Science & Technology Jitendra Singh speaking to reporters after the launch, said, "India is no longer a follower but an equal partner. Shubhanshu Shukla, the Indian member of the crew, is going to be the most crucial component of this entire mission, which is going to last about 2 weeks or so because he is the pilot and he is going to perform seven exclusive experiments which have been designed by India."

Parents of Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla were seen celebrating as Axiom-4 mission successfully lifted off from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, US.

His parents were part of a watch party organised in Lucknow at Shukla's City Montessori School.

The Lucknow-born Shukla, former NASA astronaut Mission Commander Peggy Whitson, Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland, and Tibor Kapu of Hungary are part of the Axiom-4 mission that marks the return to space for the three nations.

In a post on X, PM Modi wrote, "We welcome the successful launch of the Space Mission carrying astronauts from India, Hungary, Poland and the US. The Indian Astronaut, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is on the way to become the first Indian to go to International Space Station. He carries with him the wishes, hopes and aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians. Wish him and other astronauts all the success!".