Cosmic Welcome Awaits: Indian Astronaut to Make History with Ax-4 Liftoff

The International Space Station (ISS) is gearing up for a truly historic moment as it prepares to welcome Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who will make history as the first Indian to visit the ISS and only the second Indian in space, following in the footsteps of Rakesh Sharma. Shukla, who will be at the helm of the multinational Ax-4 mission led by seasoned astronaut Peggy Whitson, is scheduled to launch from Kennedy Space Center on June 10, 2025, after a brief delay due to some operational tweaks and quarantine measures.

 

Key Highlights

 

•⁠  ⁠The Ax-4 mission is a groundbreaking event, marking the first time astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary will set foot on the ISS, showcasing a new era of global teamwork.

 

•⁠  ⁠Shukla will be conducting seven innovative experiments crafted by Indian research institutions, focusing on areas like space nutrition and how plants grow in microgravity.

 

•⁠  ⁠This mission will also include around 60 scientific studies from 31 different countries, making it the most research-heavy Axiom Space mission to date.

 

•⁠  ⁠Shukla carries the aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians on his shoulders, aiming to inspire the next generation and bolster India’s standing in the realm of space science.

 

Outlook

 

As the ISS crew gets ready for this monumental docking, Shukla’s journey is poised to ignite a new chapter in India’s space ambitions and enhance international scientific collaborations.

 

Source: BBC, Axiom Space, Hindustan Times, India Today, Times of India, NASA