The Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) has been postponed again due to inclement weather. This is the third postponement for the mission.
Axiom-4 Mission: Another golden chapter is about to be added to Indian space history. After a long wait of 41 years, India is once again sending its representative to space. Although the launch of the Axiom-4 mission was postponed twice earlier due to bad weather, it has now been postponed for a third time. According to the latest information, this historic mission will now launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 11, 2025, at 5:30 PM IST.
India's New Leap into Space
The Axiom-4 mission is a commercial mission operated by the American private company Axiom Space. The mission's unique feature is the participation of four astronauts from four different countries, with India's Shubhanshu Shukla playing a prominent role. Shukla will be the first Indian to visit the International Space Station (ISS) and the second Indian to venture into space. The first was Rakesh Sharma, who made history in 1984 by flying aboard the Soviet Soyuz T-11 spacecraft.
Shubhanshu Shukla: India's Mark in Space
Born in Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, Shubhanshu Shukla is a trained aeronautical engineer. He will serve as the pilot on this mission. Shukla recently completed his full dress rehearsal and in a conversation with the media said, "I consider myself extremely fortunate to have received the opportunity to represent my country. This is not just my flight, but the flight of India's space ambitions."
Shukla's historic journey has received technical support from ISRO and NASA, while the mission is being launched in collaboration with Axiom Space and SpaceX.
Mission Highlights and Crew Composition
The Axiom-4 mission will be a 14-day journey, during which the four astronauts will participate in scientific experiments and technological tests on the ISS. The mission crew includes:
- Peggy Whitson (United States) – Mission Commander, former NASA astronaut
- Shubhanshu Shukla (India) – Pilot
- Tigor Kapu (Hungary) – Mission Specialist
- Sławosz Uznański-Wisiński (Poland) – Mission Specialist
This mission marks not only a technological milestone for India, Poland, and Hungary, but also symbolizes global partnership. It is being considered a 're-launching' of space programs for all three countries.
Launch Site and Technical Aspects
The Axiom-4 mission will be launched using SpaceX's reliable Falcon-9 rocket. The launch will take place from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA. The mission was initially scheduled for June 10th, but due to inclement weather, it has been postponed to 5:30 PM on June 11th. ISRO chief V. Narayanan stated that given the weather conditions, mission safety is paramount; therefore, this decision was made.
