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Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla-piloted private astronaut ‘Axiom Mission 4’ launch to the International Space Station (ISS) has now been delayed to no later than June 8 this year.
Houston-based private space company Axiom Space announced that it is now targeting “no earlier than June 8 for the launch of the Ax-4 mission to the space station aboard a Space X Dragon capsule on a Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, US.
The American space agency NASA also shared an update on the rescheduling of Ax-4 mission.
“After reviewing the Space Station flight schedule, NASA and its partners are shifting launch opportunities for several upcoming missions. The schedule adjustments provide more time to finalize mission plans, spacecraft readiness, and logistics.” It said that the mission will be no-earlier than at 9:11 a.m. EDT, Sunday, June 8 (6.41 pm India Standard Time).
Earlier, NASA had announced that the mission will lift off ‘no earlier than May 29, 2025 at 10.33 pm India Time’.
Once docked at the ISS, the private astronauts plan to spend up to 14 days aboard the orbiting laboratory, conducting a mission comprised of science, outreach, and commercial activities.
Shukla is set to become the first astronaut from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to visit the station as part of a joint effort between NASA and the Indian space agency. He will also be India’s second national astronaut to go to space since 1984. Rakesh Sharma earned the distinction of being the first Indian to go to space on board Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft in 1984.
The IAF pilot who is among the astronauts chosen for ISRO’s Gaganyaan mission, India’s first human space flight was promoted to group captain in March 2024. He has 2,000 flight hours on various aircraft, including the Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, and the An-32.
Meanwhile, apart from Shukla, the Ax-4 mission also carries two mission specialists – European Space Agency (ESA) project astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary to stay aboard the space station. Peggy Whitson, former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, will command the commercial mission.
IAF Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair has been designated an astronaut, as part of the backup pilot of the Ax-4 if Group Captain Shukla is unable to fly.
Shukla and his three other crewmates will carry nearly 60 science investigations from 31 countries worldwide during their stay aboard the ISS, which is expected to last about two weeks.
ISRO is spearheading transformative research on Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), in collaboration with NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA).
Scientifically, the studies will contribute to understanding biological processes in microgravity, leading to developments in life sciences. Technologically, developing resources for long-duration space missions will enhance India’s capabilities in space exploration, positioning the country as a leader in cutting-edge space technology. The studies also play a crucial role in inspiring the next generation of Indian scientists and engineers, while reinforcing India’s commitment to global scientific progress and its influential presence in the international space community.
The forthcoming mission is the fourth private astronaut mission to the station of the space company.
