The Ax-4 crew, including Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla from India, has completed a full rehearsal of launch day activities, according to SpaceX, ahead of the scheduled liftoff on Tuesday, June 10 at 8:22 a.m. ET from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. The mission marks a major milestone in India’s space history, as Shukla becomes only the second Indian national astronaut to fly into space after Rakesh Sharma in 1984.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), SpaceX confirmed:
“The Ax-4 crew and SpaceX teams completed a full rehearsal of launch day activities ahead of liftoff on Tuesday.”
A Global Crew for a Historic Mission
The Axiom Space Ax-4 mission is a pioneering commercial flight to the International Space Station (ISS), involving government-sponsored astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary. The flight will be carried aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and represents each nation’s first government-backed human spaceflight to the ISS, and only their second ever since the 1970s–80s.
Ax-4 Crew Highlights:
- Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla (India): Second Indian in space, first aboard the ISS.
- Slawosz Uznanski (Poland): ESA astronaut and second Polish astronaut after Mirosław Hermaszewski (1978).
- Tibor Kapu (Hungary): Second Hungarian astronaut after Bertalan Farkas (1980).
- Peggy Whitson (USA): Mission Commander, holds the record for most cumulative time in space by an American.
“This is a proud moment for India,” posted ISRO, while Axiom Space lauded Shukla’s participation as part of its mission to “redefine access to low-Earth orbit.”
Science and Collaboration at the Core
The Ax-4 mission will carry out 60 research experiments from 31 countries, making it the most science-intensive Axiom mission to date. Research domains include:
- Human physiology in space
- Earth observation
- Biological and materials sciences
India, Poland, Hungary, and the U.S. will lead many of these projects, emphasizing international collaboration and the benefits of microgravity research.
The mission supports Axiom Space’s vision of expanding opportunities for nations with growing space ambitions. As Axiom put it:
“Ax-4 stands as a beacon of opportunity… showcasing the value of microgravity research and fostering international collaboration.”
Strategic Significance for India
Shukla’s participation symbolizes India’s return to crewed space missions, coming ahead of ISRO’s Gaganyaan mission, and reflects New Delhi’s growing cooperation with private and international space agencies. It also demonstrates India’s capability to contribute to scientific and technological research in LEO (low-Earth orbit).
“Shukla’s mission is a giant leap for India’s space diplomacy,” noted space analyst Rakesh Vohra.
Launch Details
- Date & Time: Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at 8:22 a.m. ET (5:52 p.m. IST)
- Launch Site: Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
- Vehicle: SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, atop a Falcon 9 rocket
- Mission Duration: Approx. 14 days on the ISS
Conclusion
The Ax-4 mission is more than a launch—it’s a landmark of international cooperation, scientific advancement, and national pride for countries like India, Poland, and Hungary. For India, it revives a long-dormant legacy of human spaceflight and sets the stage for deeper involvement in global space exploration.