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Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla's long-awaited trip to the International Space Station (ISS) has been delayed. The Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission, a tremendous milestone in India's space dreams, will now take off no earlier than June 8, 2025, replacing the originally planned May 29. The mission will blast off from the historic Launch Complex 39A of NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Florida, the same launchpad where Neil Armstrong went to the Moon.
Reason for Delay
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The launch was delayed because of a small technical problem found while conducting pre-launch tests and to support changes in the ISS flight schedule and mission logistics.
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NASA and its partners regularly reschedule missions to maintain operational readiness and safety, particularly because of the heavy traffic at the ISS and the low margin of error for human spaceflight.
About the Mission
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Shubhanshu Shukla is the mission pilot of Ax-4, along with commander Peggy Whitson (USA) and mission specialists Slawosz Uznanski (Poland) and Tibor Kapu (Hungary).
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It will be the first ISS mission to both Poland and Hungary, and the second government-supported human spaceflight for both countries in more than 40 years.
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The crew will travel on SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft, launched on a Falcon 9 rocket, and the mission could last as long as 14 days.
Importance for India
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Shukla will be the first Indian to visit the ISS and only the second Indian in space after Rakesh Sharma's mission on Russia's Soyuz spacecraft in 1984.
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The mission is a key milestone for India's human spaceflight program, gaining practical experience for the future Gaganyaan mission scheduled for 2027.
Scientific and Strategic Objectives
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Shukla will perform 7 to 9 experiments on agriculture, food, human biology, and adaptation to microgravity, such as muscle loss and bio-farming studies.
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These tests are conducted to help India's future spaceflight missions and coordinate with the country's aim to develop its own space station by 2035 and reach the Moon by sending an astronaut by 2040.
About Shubhanshu Shukla
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Shukla is a decorated Indian Air Force test pilot with more than 2,000 flying hours on several aircraft.
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He was chosen for India's astronaut program in 2019 and has received extensive training in Russia, India, and the US.
Official Statements and Outlook
ISRO and Axiom Space officials have reassured that the delay is minimal and non-concerning, showing optimism about the readiness of the mission and the credibility of the launch vehicle.
Indian government officials have emphasized the mission's contribution to enhancing global cooperation and promoting India as a global space power.
Sources: Business Standard, Mashable India, Economic Times, Business Today, Goodreturns, NDTV
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