Axiom 4 Mission Carrying Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to Launch Today
The Axiom 4 mission is scheduled to launch today with Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. It supports over 60 scientific studies involving 31 countries and marks a historic return for several nations to human spaceflight. Launch conditions are currently deemed favorable, promising a significant step in international collaboration in space exploration.
The much-anticipated Axiom 4 mission, carrying Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, is poised for launch today, June 25, at 2:31 AM EDT, which is about 12:00 noon IST. This mission has faced numerous delays but is now expected to lift off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida’s Launch Complex 39A. The astronauts will be aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket.
The Axiom 4 mission is a significant venture featuring around 60 scientific studies and activities that represent 31 countries, including India, the US, Poland, and Hungary, among others. If successful, this mission marks a notable return to human spaceflight for India, Poland, and Hungary, all of which have not had government-sponsored manned missions in over 40 years. Axiom describes this as the second human spaceflight mission for these nations.
SpaceX has provided updates indicating that all systems are functioning well for today’s launch. They further mentioned in a post on X that the weather conditions are about 90% favorable, enhancing the hopes for a successful launch.
The crew for this mission includes four astronauts: Shubhanshu Shukla from the Indian Space Research Organisation, who will act as pilot; Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut and current director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, will command the mission; along with Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski from the European Space Agency serving as a mission specialist, and Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu, who will also fulfill mission specialist duties. This mix of expertise and international collaboration embodies the mission’s goals, as they aim to engage in various studies aboard the International Space Station.
In summary, the Axiom 4 mission is set to launch today, carrying a diverse international crew, including Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla. This mission not only carries out significant scientific research but also marks a historic moment for multiple nations returning to human spaceflight after decades. With favorable conditions reported, this launch represents a milestone for international collaboration in space exploration.
Original Source: www.hindustantimes.com
