Astronauts from India, Poland, Hungary launched on first space station mission
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Shubhanshu Shukla Axiom-4 Mission Launch LIVE: ‘Namaskar from space,’ says Shubhanshu Shukla; Dragon spacecraft set to dock with ISS at 4:30 pm
Shubhanshu Shukla becomes only the second Indian in history to travel to space after Rakesh Sharma in 1984. He is the first Indian astronaut to go to the International Space Station (ISS) Parents, sisters, senior defence personnel, CMS faculty, the city’s who’s who and wide-eyed students watched the launch live. There were thunderous applause, cheers and impromptu bhangra as the rocket lifted off.
Shubhanshu Shukla Axiom-4 Mission Launch LIVE: Bhangra and tears in Lucknow as city-boy Shukla lifts off to space
Chants of “Hip Hip Hurray”, spontaneous bhangra and quiet tears. It was a morning to remember at the City Montessori School as Lucknow boy Shubhanshu Shukla lifted off into space — and history — on board the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Centre (KSC) in Florida on Wednesday.
As the rocket pierced through Florida skies, Group Captain Shukla became only the second Indian in history to travel to space after Rakesh Sharma in 1984, and the first Indian astronaut to travel to the International Space Station (ISS).
“It’s a great moment not just for us but for our country. What can we say at this moment, I am struggling for words now. My blessings are always there with my son,” his father Shambhu Shukla told PTI.
“I have nothing more to say at this moment. I am delighted,” Shubhanshu’s mother Asha Shukla said. “I know he will be successful. Though I am eagerly looking forward for him to return after a successful mission, I also know that even after returning to earth, it will take a while before he actually gets back among us. We are all overwhelmed with pride… Our son has made history,” she told PTI.
The proud parents were there with many others at CMS Kanpur Road’s World Unity Convention Centre (WUCC) auditorium to witness the launch live.
Among those gathered were his sisters, senior defence personnel, CMS faculty, the city’s who’s who and wide-eyed students. There were thunderous applause, cheers and impromptu bhangra as the rocket lifted off. Some students were also heard chanting ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’.
PTI
Axiom-4 lifts off successfully: Shubhanshu Shukla sends message from space, says ‘All of India part of this journey’ – Watch
Shubhanshu Shukla delivered an emotional message from space, saying that “it has been a wonderful journey” The historic launch marks India’s return to human spaceflight after more than four decades. The Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) to the International Space Station (ISS) is expected to dock with the ISS on Thursday around 4:30 pm IST and remain for up to 14 days. The mission will carry out over 60 scientific studies from 31 countries.
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SpaceX Axiom 4 launch LIVE: Astronauts from India, Poland, Hungary head to space station
NEW DELHI: Minutes after lifting off on the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) to the International Space Station (ISS), Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla delivered an emotional message from space, saying that “it has been a wonderful journey.” The historic launch marks India’s return to human spaceflight after more than four decades.“Hello my fellow countrymen,” Shukla said in Hindi. “What a ride. After 41 years, we have returned to space. And it has been a wonderful journey,” Shukla said in his message aboard the Dragon Space capsule.Also read: ‘Shubh’ Yatra: Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla lifts off for Axiom-4 mission as emotional mother watches from Lucknow “Right now, we are orbiting the Earth at a speed of 7.5 km per second. And on my shoulder, I carry our tricolour flag, which shows that I am with all of you.”Describing the moment as more than personal achievement, Shukla said, “This is not just the beginning of my journey to the International Space Station. This is the beginning of India’s human space programme, and I want all of you, my fellow countrymen, to be part of this journey.”The Ax-4 mission lifted off aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida at noon IST on Wednesday. Shukla is serving as pilot on the multinational crew, led by former Nasa astronaut Peggy Whitson.The team is expected to dock with the ISS on Thursday around 4:30 pm IST and remain for up to 14 days.The mission will carry out over 60 scientific studies from 31 countries. India’s research, done in partnership with Nasa and ESA, includes studies on muscle regeneration, microalgae growth, and the effects of microgravity on the human body.
Live: NASA Axiom 4 Mission Launch – Shubhanshu Shukla’s ‘Namaskar from space’, says learning space walking ‘like a baby’
Shubhanshu Shukla, along with three fellow astronauts, launched into space on the Axiom-4 Mission from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, at 12:01 PM on Wednesday, June 25. The Ax-4 crew is set to dock at the International Space Station (ISS) space-facing port today, June 26 at 4:30 PM IST.
The mission, a key step forward in commercial space exploration, is being conducted by Texas-based Axiom Space in partnership with SpaceX. The crew is aboard a SpaceX launch system, which includes the Crew Dragon capsule atop a Falcon 9 rocket.
Celebrating the achievement, the Union Cabinet passed a resolution lauding the successful launch. “He carries with him the wishes, hopes and aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians. Wish him and other astronauts all the success,” the statement said, referring to Group Captain Shukla.
ALSO READ Who is Shubhanshu Shukla? IAF pilot set to become first Indian in over 40 years to travel to space on June 25
The Axiom-4 mission had faced several delays since its initial May 29 launch date. Issues ranged from technical glitches in the launch vehicle to concerns related to pressure fluctuations in the ISS’s Zvezda module. The module, which had shown signs of leakage as far back as 2019, underwent essential repairs before the current launch. Space agencies worked for years to resolve these issues to ensure a smooth and safe mission for the Ax-4 crew.
Axiom Mission 4 Launch Live Updates: NASA Shubhanshu Shukla Axiom-4 Mission Launch Live Streaming
Live Updates
Shubhanshu Shukla to dock Dragon with Space Station: When and how to watch it LIVE
The Ax-4 mission, which carries an international crew including India’s Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, marks a significant milestone in commercial human spaceflight and international collaboration. The Dragon spacecraft is set to dock the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) spacecraft with the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday, June 26, at approximately 4:30 p.m. IST. Live coverage of the docking will begin on India Today Science around 2:00 p.M. IST on Thursday.
The Ax-4 mission, which carries an international crew including India’s Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, marks a significant milestone in commercial human spaceflight and international collaboration.
The Ax-4 crew launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 12:01 p.m. IST aboard a brand-new SpaceX Dragon capsule named “Grace.”
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WHEN WILL AX-4 DOCKING HAPPEN?
The Dragon spacecraft is set to dock the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) spacecraft with the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday, June 26, at approximately 4:30 p.m. IST.
The spacecraft is scheduled to autonomously dock to the space-facing port of the ISS’s Harmony module.
The mission’s crew includes Peggy Whitson, a veteran NASA astronaut commanding the flight, pilot Shubhanshu Shukla representing India, and mission specialists Sawosz Uznaski-Winiewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary.
HOW TO WATCH AX-4 DOCKING LIVE?
Live coverage of the docking will begin on India Today Science around 2:00 p.m. IST on Thursday, allowing viewers worldwide to witness the crew’s arrival and welcome ceremony.
This mission marks the first time astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary have conducted a mission aboard the ISS in over 40 years, with Shukla being the first Indian to visit the ISS since Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 flight.
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During their approximately two-week stay, the crew will conduct around 60 scientific experiments from 31 countries, covering fields such as human research, Earth observation, biological sciences, and technology demonstrations.
The mission also serves as a stepping stone toward Axiom Space’s goal of developing the world’s first commercial space station.
The docking follows a series of delays caused by weather, a leak in the Falcon 9 rocket, and concerns about a long-standing leak in the ISS’s Russian Zvezda module. NASA and Roscosmos assessed the situation and deemed it safe to proceed with the mission, pointing to the strong international cooperation behind the endeavour.
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Astronaut Shukla’s new message; enroute to ISS on Axiom-4
The Ax-4 mission faced several delays due to bad weather, followed by a fuel leak in SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, and a separate issue involving a leak in the Russian Zvezda module of the ISS. The mission marks a major milestone in India–US space cooperation. The crew will carry out around two weeks of scientific research, educational outreach, and commercial activities. It fulfills a joint commitment made by US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to send the first Isro astronaut to the space station. It is the fourth private astronaut mission to the ISS, conducted by Nasa, Axiom Space, and SpaceX.
The mission, conducted by Nasa, Axiom Space, and SpaceX, lifted off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Docking with the ISS is expected at 4:30 PM IST on June 26.
SpaceX confirmed that “all systems are looking good” and that weather conditions were 90% favourable for liftoff.
NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX are targeting a 12:01 PM IST launch on Wednesday, June 25, for the fourth private astronaut mission to the ISS—Axiom Mission 4. The liftoff will take place from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The crew will travel aboard a new SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, launched atop a Falcon 9 rocket.
According to Nasa, the spacecraft is scheduled to dock with the ISS around 4:30 PM IST on Thursday, June 26.
Former Nasa astronaut and Axiom Space’s director of human spaceflight, Peggy Whitson, will command the mission. Shubhanshu Shukla, representing ISRO, will serve as the pilot. The two mission specialists are Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski, a project astronaut with the European Space Agency (ESA), and Tibor Kapu from Hungary’s HUNOR program (Hungarian to Orbit).
The Ax-4 mission faced several delays—initially due to bad weather, followed by a fuel leak in SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, and later a separate issue involving a leak in the Russian Zvezda module of the ISS.
Nasa said the launch window was finalized after consultation with Russia’s space agency, Roscosmos, following repair work in the transfer tunnel at the aft end of the ISS’s Zvezda service module.
“Nasa and Roscosmos have a long history of cooperation and collaboration on the International Space Station. This professional working relationship has allowed the agencies to arrive at a shared technical approach and now Axiom Mission 4 launch and docking will proceed,” said acting Nasa Administrator Janet Petro.
This mission marks a major milestone in India–US space cooperation. As Nasa noted, it fulfills a joint commitment made by US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to send the first Isro astronaut to the space station.
Aboard the ISS, the crew will carry out around two weeks of scientific research, educational outreach, and commercial activities. The mission also includes five collaborative science investigations and two in-orbit STEM demonstrations between Nasa and Isro.