New Delhi: Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is poised to make history as the first Indian to reach the International Space Station (ISS), with lift-off scheduled for Tuesday. The mission, led by US-based Axiom Space, will mark a significant milestone in India’s space journey, aiming to inspire future generations to pursue careers in space exploration.

The Ax-4 Mission, after facing two delays, is now set to launch from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on June 10 at 8:22 a.m. ET (5:52 p.m. IST). Shukla will be part of a four-member international crew aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Once launched, he will become the second Indian to travel to space, following Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 mission to the Soviet space station Salyut 7.

During a recent press conference, Shukla expressed confidence in the mission’s success. Speaking to IANS earlier in March, the IAF Group Captain said he was inspired by Sharma’s achievement and hoped his journey would encourage young Indians to explore careers in the space sector.

Shukla will serve as the pilot of the mission, alongside Commander Peggy Whitson from the United States. The crew also includes mission specialists Sławosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary.

While aboard the ISS, Shukla is expected to carry out specialised food and nutrition experiments. Developed through a collaborative effort involving the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), and supported by NASA, the experiments are focused on space nutrition and the development of self-sustaining life support systems — crucial for long-duration space missions.

The research will investigate how microgravity and space radiation affect the growth and nutritional profiles of edible microalgae. These nutrient-rich organisms are being studied as a sustainable food source for future space missions. Scientists will monitor variations in transcriptomes, proteomes, and metabolomes of algal species grown in space versus those on Earth.

Ahead of the launch, Axiom Space confirmed that the Ax-4 crew and SpaceX teams have completed full launch day rehearsals. In a social media post, the company expressed its readiness for the mission with a brief message: “Go #Ax4!” A backup launch window has also been scheduled for June 11 at 8:00 a.m. ET (5:30 p.m. IST), should any issues arise.

This marks Axiom Space’s second commercial spaceflight to the ISS, featuring a crew entirely composed of government and European Space Agency-sponsored astronauts. The Ax-4 team will conduct approximately 60 scientific experiments, with contributions from 31 countries, including India, the US, Poland, Hungary, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Nigeria, and other European nations.

With IANS inputs

New Delhi, June 9: Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is set to undertake the “journey to inspire an entire generation for space” and become the first Indian to reach the International Space Station (ISS) on Tuesday.

After being delayed twice, the US-based Axiom Space is scheduled to launch its Mission-4 (Ax-4), carrying Shukla, along with three others from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on June 10 at 8:22 a.m. ET (5:52 pm IST). Axiom Mission 4: Ax-4 Crew and SpaceX Complete Launch Rehearsal Ahead of June 10 Liftoff; Mission Features International Team From US, India, Poland, and Hungary.

Ax4 Mission Crew Scheduled To Launch to International Space Station on June 10

The #Ax4 crew is scheduled to launch to the International Space Station on June 10 at 8:22 AM EDT from Launch Complex 39A at @NASAKennedy. Tune in for the launch broadcast starting at 6:15 AM EDT. pic.twitter.com/2ACocwFRSQ — Axiom Space (@Axiom_Space) June 3, 2025

While Shukla will become the first Indian on ISS, he will be the second to go to space, after Rakesh Sharma flew to space station Salyut 7 in 1984. During a recent press conference, Shukla stated that “he is extremely confident of success during Mission-4″.

Speaking to IANS in March, Shukla said he hopes to use his “journey to inspire this entire generation to pursue their careers in the field of space”, as he “was extremely inspired and motivated”, by Rakesh Sharma. Shukla will pilot the mission along with Commander Peggy Whitson, from the US. Other crew members include mission specialist Sławosz Uznanski-Wisniewski (Poland), and mission specialist Tibor Kapu (Hungary).

Once aboard the ISS, IAF Group Captain Shukla is expected to conduct exclusive food and nutrition-related experiments. The experiments — developed under a collaboration between the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), with support from NASA — aim to pioneer space nutrition and self-sustaining life support systems vital for future long-duration space travel.

The experiment will examine the impact of microgravity and space radiation on edible microalgae — a high-potential, nutrient-rich food source. The study will focus on key growth parameters and the changes in transcriptomes, proteomes, and metabolomes of various algal species in space compared to Earth conditions.

Meanwhile, Axiom Space has also expressed readiness for its fourth mission to the ISS. Ahead of liftoff, the Ax-4 crew, together with SpaceX teams, completed a full rehearsal for launch day activities. “Go #Ax4!”, it said in a post on social media platform X. Axiom Mission 4: Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and Other Ax-4 Crew Members Completes Full Rehearsal of Launch Day Activities, Will Lift Off Aboard SpaceX Dragon Spacecraft to ISS; Check Date, Time and Other Details.

The company has also set up a backup opportunity on June 11 at 8:00 a.m. ET (5:30 pm IST). The Ax-4 mission is the second commercial spaceflight and is made up entirely of government and ESA-sponsored astronauts. The Ax-4 crew will conduct approximately 60 scientific studies and research activities involving contributions from 31 countries, including the US, India, Poland, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Nigeria, UAE, and several European nations.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 09, 2025 02:17 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).

Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla

The launch of the Axiom-4 mission, which will carry an Indian astronaut, Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station, has been postponed due to weather conditions, ISRO said in a post on X. The launch was originally scheduled for June 10, 2025 and now the mission will have a lift off on June 11, 2025, at 5:30 PM IST.

The Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission, set for lift-off from Launch Complex 39A of the KSC in Florida, comprises Commander Peggy Whitson, pilot Shukla and specialists Tigor Kapu of Hungary and Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland.

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Launch of Axiom-4 mission to International Space Station:Due to weather conditions, the launch of Axiom-4 mission for sending Indian Gaganyatri to International Space Station is postponed from 10th June 2025 to 11th June 2025.The targeted time of launch is 5:30 PM IST on 11th

ISRO (@isro) June 9, 2025

During the 14-day stay at the ISS, the Ax-4 crew is expected to interact with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, school students, and space industry leaders among others.

Shukla is set to conduct exclusive food and nutrition-related experiments developed under a collaboration between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), with support from NASA.

The experiments aim to pioneer space nutrition and self-sustaining life support systems vital for future long-duration space travel.

ISRO has lined up a set of seven experiments for Shukla, who will also participate in five joint studies planned by NASA for its human research program. It has drawn up plans to focus on India-centric food for carrying out experiments on the ISS, including sprouting methi (Fenugreek) and moong (green gram) in microgravity conditions.

Shukla will also expose the seeds to the macrobiotic conditions and bring them back to earth where they will be cultivated into plants not just once but over generations.

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Shukla’s experience on the Axiom Mission 4 would be very well utilised on the Gaganyaan mission which is planned for 2027. ISRO is spending Rs 550 crore on the Axiom-4 mission.

*With Agency Inputs

Due to unfavorable weather conditions, the anticipated Axiom-4 mission launch, which includes Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, has been rescheduled to June 11, according to a statement by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Monday evening.

The launch, originally set to occur at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida via SpaceX’s Falcon-9 rocket, has now been postponed for a day, with a targeted liftoff time of 5:30 PM IST on June 11, 2025.

This mission symbolizes India’s reentry into human space exploration, marking 41 years since Rakesh Sharma’s historic space journey. Shukla, from Lucknow, is set to participate alongside Commander Peggy Whitson, and specialists Tigor Kapu and Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski, representing a collaborative international effort.

Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to become the first Indian aboard the International Space Station on June 10 via Axiom Space’s Mission-4.

Shukla will conduct unique food and nutrition experiments developed by ISRO, DBT, and NASA focusing on edible microalgae in microgravity.

The Ax-4 mission includes a multinational crew and will carry out around 60 scientific studies with participation from 31 countries.

Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is set to make history as the first Indian to reach the International Space Station (ISS) on Tuesday, June 10. The mission, named Ax-4, will be launched by US-based Axiom Space from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at 8:22 a.m. ET (5:52 p.m. IST). After two prior delays, the launch is now scheduled with a backup opportunity set for June 11.

While Shukla will be the first Indian aboard the ISS, he is the second Indian to venture into space, following Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 flight to the Salyut 7 space station. Shukla has expressed confidence in the success of the mission and hopes to use his journey to inspire a new generation of Indians to pursue careers in space exploration, citing Sharma’s pioneering flight as a key motivation.

The Ax-4 mission will see Shukla piloting alongside Commander Peggy Whitson from the US, with mission specialists Sławosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary rounding out the crew. Once on the ISS, Shukla is expected to conduct exclusive experiments focused on food and nutrition in space.

These experiments are the result of a collaboration between the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), and NASA. They aim to pioneer research on space nutrition and self-sustaining life support systems essential for long-duration space missions. The study will examine how microgravity and space radiation affect edible microalgae, a nutrient-rich food source with high potential for space travel. Researchers will analyze growth parameters and changes in transcriptomes, proteomes, and metabolomes of various algal species in space compared to Earth conditions.

Also Read: Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to Launch from Iconic Pad 39A

Axiom Space has prepared extensively for the launch, with the Ax-4 crew and SpaceX teams completing full rehearsals of launch day activities. The mission marks the second commercial spaceflight crewed entirely by government and ESA-sponsored astronauts. During the mission, the crew will conduct approximately 60 scientific studies and research projects involving contributions from 31 countries, including India, the US, Poland, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Nigeria, UAE, and several European nations.

As the countdown begins, global eyes remain fixed on this landmark mission that could inspire a new era of space exploration for India and the world.