Axiom-4 launch: India's Shubhanshu Shukla sets off on historic space odyssey

After multiple delays, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket successfully lifted off on Wednesday, carrying four astronauts — including India’s Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla — to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 Mission (Ax-4).

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The launch took place at 12:01 pm IST from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The mission is expected to dock at the ISS on Thursday at 4:30 pm IST, marking the end of a 28-hour journey.

Alongside Shukla, the Ax-4 crew includes former NASA astronaut and mission commander Peggy Whitson, Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland, and Tibor Kapu of Hungary. They are aboard the Dragon spacecraft, which is making its maiden voyage atop SpaceX’s Falcon-9 rocket.

With this mission, Shukla becomes the first Indian astronaut to travel to the International Space Station (ISS), a journey that comes 41 years after Rakesh Sharma's eight days in orbit as part of the then Soviet Union's Salyut-7 space station in 1984.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the successful launch of the Axiom-4 mission and congratulated Shukla on his historic journey to the ISS.

“The Indian astronaut, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, is on the way to become the first Indian to go to the International Space Station. He carries with him the wishes, hopes, and aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians. Wish him and the other astronauts all the success,” Modi said.

Watch Falcon 9 launch Dragon and @Axiom_Space's Ax-4 mission to the @Space_Station https://t.co/OJYRpM5JCF

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) June 25, 2025

Union Minister for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh, who watched the live launch from CSIR, extended his congratulations. “Congratulations Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla — you are the first Indian astronaut to embark on a mission to the International Space Station. Indeed a proud moment for India!” he said.

“ISRO’s growing global collaborations, after the reforms introduced by the government headed by PM Narendra Modi, have placed India as a frontline nation in space exploration,” he added.

The Ax-4 mission carries a diverse research complement of around 60 scientific studies and activities representing 31 countries, including the US, India, Poland, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Nigeria, the UAE, and several European nations.

Meet the crew flying on Dragon for @Axiom_Space’s fourth mission to the @Space_Station → https://t.co/JoT0daagtL pic.twitter.com/eNGk0XPiJE

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) June 25, 2025

The mission includes research and scientific activities conducted aboard the International Space Station as part of an Axiom Space mission, highlighting its global significance and collaborative spirit in advancing microgravity research in low-Earth orbit (LEO).

The mission emphasises scientific portfolios led by the US, India, Poland (in partnership with European Space Agency), and Hungary.

“It aims to boost participation in these countries by involving diverse stakeholders, showcasing the value of microgravity research, and fostering international collaboration. The studies will enhance global knowledge in human research, Earth observation, and life, biological, and material sciences, demonstrating the space research capabilities of the crew's home nations,” SpaceX said.