Another proud moment is coming for India. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is ready to visit the International Space Station (ISS) under the Indian Air Force experienced Test pilot, Axiom Mission-4 (AX-4). The mission will be launched on 25 June 2025 from the launch pad 39A of the Kennedy Space Center in Florida from the Falcon 9 rocket of SpaceX. The weather conditions are said to be 90% favorable, which is an auspicious sign for this historical flight.
After Rakesh Sharma in 1984, Shubhanshu will be the second astronaut of India, who will give another moment of pride to the country. Come, let’s know about this mission.
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Shubhanshu Shukla: India’s second astronaut
In 1984, Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma stepped into space under the Soviet Union’s Soviet Union’s Soyuz T-11 mission. He waved India’s tricolor in space. In a conversation with the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, he said that all from Jahan. This was the first moment of pride for India. Now, after 41 years, Shubhanshu Shukla is going to carry forward this legacy. He will not only go to space, but will also do scientific experiments by staying on ISS for 14 days.
Axiom Mission-4: A Historical Step
Axiom Mission-4 is a private space mission, which is being operated in collaboration with Axiom Space, NASA and SpaceX. This mission is a symbol of international cooperation of India, Poland, Hungary and America. Shubhanshu will be the pilot of this mission and will be with him …
- Commander Pegi Whitson: Former NASA astronaut and experienced commander.
- Slavosh Uzni: Poland astronauts.
- Tibor Kapu: Hungarian astronauts.
This mission is the first government space mission for these countries after 40 years. This is special for India, because Shubhanshu will be the first Indian to go to ISS.
Also read: Launch Pad of Kennedy Space Center 39: From where the journey of Neel Armstrong started and now Shubhanshu Shukla will create history
Mission detail
- Launch: The mission will be launched on 25 June 2025 from the launch pad 39A of the Kennedy Space Center. This is the same pad from where Neil Armstrong left for the moon in 1969.
- Spacecraft: SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft will take Shubhanshu and his team to ISS.
- Travel time: It will take about 28 hours to reach ISS. This time is necessary for class adjustment, safety check and accurate docking. The Dragon will do the ISS’s Hormony module between 4 pm and 10:00 pm on 26 June 2025.
- Duration: Shubhanshu and his team will stay on ISS for 14 days, where they will do scientific experiments.
Weather conditions: 90% favorable
Weather is very important for space missions. NASA and SpaceX said that the weather will be 90% favorable at the launch on 25 June 2025. This means that there is very little chances of having problems like strong winds, rain or electricity. However, the mission has been postponed several times before, such as oxygen leakage and weather failure. This time the favorable weather mission is increasing the possibility of success.
Also read: Know- Shubhanshu Shukla will take 28 hours to go from earth and connect with space station
Training and experience of Shubhanshu
Shubhanshu Shukla is an experienced Test pilot of the Indian Air Force. He has experience of more than 3000 hours in aircraft such as Sukhoi-30, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar and Hawk. He has undergone difficult training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonot Training Center of Russia, which prepares him for this mission. He will play the role of a pilot in the mission, including the operation of the spacecraft and monitoring the system.
The works of Shubhanshu on ISS
Shubhanshu will do many important tasks by staying on ISS for 14 days.
Scientific experiment: He will use 7 Indians and 5 NASA, including … grow moong and fenugreek in space. Study of the effect of space on the human body. Research on material science and fluid behavior.
Demonstration of Indian Culture: Shubhanshu will do yoga in space and take Indian sweets and a toy Hans (“Joy”), which will be a symbol of mission by swimming in zero gravity.
Conversation with students: He will hold live conversations with Indian students from ISS, who will increase interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (Stem).
Also read: Shubhanshu Shukla Axiom-4 Mission Live Updates: Dragon capsules ready … Shubhanshu Shukla will leave for space station in a while, Shubhanshu Shukla, Mission 3 minutes to be successful.
Its importance for India
Shubhanshu’s mission is important for India in many ways …
New history after Rakesh Sharma: After 41 years, an astronaut of India is going into space. It is a symbol of India’s scientific progress.
Preparation of Gaganyaan: The experience of the AX-4 mission will be important for India’s first human space mission, Gaganyaan (2026). Shubhanshu and backup astronaut Prasanth Balakrishna Nair will lay the foundation of Gaganyaan.
Global cooperation: This mission reflects the cooperation of India, America, Poland and Hungary, which strengthens India’s position on the global platform.
Source of Inspiration: The journey of Shubhanshu will inspire the new generation for space exploration and science.
Challenges and delays
The AX-4 mission has been postponed several times. Earlier it was scheduled in May 2025, but due to weather failure, oxygen leakage in Falcon 9 and maintenance in the Russian part of ISS, it was averted until June. Now 90% favorable weather situation is increasing the hope of success of the mission.
Launch Pad 39A: A Historical Site
Shubhanshu’s mission will start from the launch pad 39A of the Kennedy Space Center, which has been a witness to the Apollo 11 mission in 1969. This pad had brought Neil Armstrong to the moon. Now it will fly to India’s space dreams. SpaceX has adapted this pad to Falcon 9 and Dragon, which makes it suitable for modern missions.