Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Completes Final Rehearsal with Ax-4 Crew Ahead of Historic Space Launch
Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is all set to make history as part of the Axiom Space Ax-4 mission, scheduled for launch on June 10 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Ahead of the mission, Shukla and his fellow astronauts successfully completed a full dress rehearsal, including a static fire test of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, marking a major milestone in the final countdown to liftoff.
This mission is particularly significant for India, as it marks the nation’s return to human spaceflight after over four decades. The last Indian to travel to space was Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, who flew aboard the Russian Soyuz T-11 in 1984.
International Crew and Objectives
Shukla, who will serve as the pilot of the Ax-4 mission, is joined by a diverse international crew:
Peggy Whitson (USA) – Mission Commander
Tibor Kapu (Hungary) – Mission Specialist
Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski (Poland) – Mission Specialist
The crew will launch aboard a newly developed SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, mounted atop the Falcon 9 rocket. Once launched, they are expected to reach the International Space Station (ISS) approximately 28 hours later, with docking scheduled for Wednesday, June 11 at 10:00 PM IST (12:30 PM EDT).
Originally set for June 8, the launch was delayed by two days to ensure all systems were optimally checked and mission-ready.
Mission Scope: Science and Collaboration
During their stay on the ISS, the Ax-4 astronauts will conduct around 60 scientific experiments covering a wide range of fields including:
Human health research
Earth and space observation
Material sciences
These investigations involve collaborations across 31 countries, making Ax-4 one of the most internationally diverse commercial space missions to date.
A Proud Moment for India
Shukla's journey has reignited enthusiasm across India for human space exploration, symbolizing the country’s expanding role in global space missions. His participation in this commercial venture highlights India’s growing footprint in the global aerospace sector and serves as an inspiration for future generations of Indian scientists and explorers.
As anticipation builds worldwide, all eyes are now on the Ax-4 launch — a mission that not only advances scientific progress but also celebrates international cooperation in space.