SpaceX Falcon 9 Prepares to Launch Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla in Historic Axiom Mission to ISS
SpaceX Rolls Out Falcon 9 and Dragon for Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla’s Historic Space Mission
In a momentous step for India’s space journey, SpaceX rolled out its Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft to the historic launch pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, setting the stage for the upcoming Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4). This landmark mission, scheduled for launch on June 10, 2025, will carry Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to space, marking India’s return to human spaceflight after an iconic gap of 41 years since Rakesh Sharma’s historic journey aboard the Russian Soyuz in 1984. This mission is being executed in collaboration with Axiom Space, NASA, and ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation), and is expected to dock at the International Space Station (ISS) on June 11 at around 10:00 PM IST, following a 28-hour space journey. The rollout of Falcon 9 and Dragon on Saturday confirmed the final phase of preparations, making the countdown to liftoff officially underway.
Shubhanshu Shukla, representing ISRO as part of this international collaboration, will serve as the mission pilot on the Ax-4 flight. He will be joined by veteran astronaut and mission commander Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut and now Director of Human Spaceflight at Axiom Space. Completing the crew are two mission specialists — Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski from Poland, representing the European Space Agency (ESA), and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. This mission holds additional significance as it will also see the first astronauts from Poland and Hungary stay aboard the ISS, showcasing the truly global nature of this private spaceflight. The team will travel aboard a newly designed SpaceX Dragon spacecraft launched atop the trusted Falcon 9 rocket.
The Ax-4 mission is not only a symbolic return for India to the human spaceflight stage but also a reflection of deepening international cooperation in space exploration. It fulfills a longstanding commitment made during discussions between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to send an ISRO astronaut to the ISS. The mission includes five joint science investigations and two in-orbit STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) demonstrations, reinforcing the enduring partnership between NASA and ISRO aimed at pushing the boundaries of scientific and technological knowledge.
This mission is being closely watched by millions around the globe, especially in India, as Shubhanshu Shukla prepares to carry the nation’s aspirations back into orbit after four decades. The excitement and pride surrounding this launch are immense, not just as a technological feat but as a moment of national celebration and inspiration for the next generation of Indian scientists and engineers.
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