The much-anticipated Axiom-4 mission, with Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla on board, is set to launch at 12:01 PM (IST). SpaceX has confirmed all launch systems are operating as expected. The launch is a collaborative effort by NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX, aiming for a 2:31 a.m. EDT launch (12:01 PM IST) on Wednesday. Axiom-4 is the fourth private mission to the International Space Station.
SpaceX indicated on X that favourable weather conditions are highly likely for Wednesday’s launch from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. The launch can be watched live on SpaceX’s X platform and NASA’s YouTube channel.
The launch was initially postponed from June 11, then from June 19, before being rescheduled for June 25. The Ax-4 crew comprises astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary. This mission is historically significant for each country and is the second government-sponsored human spaceflight in over four decades.
The mission will conduct approximately 60 scientific studies involving 31 countries. The research activities are designed to be extensive for an Axiom Space mission aboard the ISS. Shubhanshu Shukla, a Group Captain with the Indian Air Force, hails from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Inspired by the Kargil War, he joined the National Defence Academy and earned a degree in Computer Science in 2005.