Florida: Indian Air Force officer and astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla successfully launched into space on Tuesday aboard the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), a commercial spaceflight jointly coordinated by NASA and Axiom Space.
The mission lifted off at 12:01 PM IST from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Shukla is joined by three other international astronauts on the mission, which is headed to the International Space Station (ISS) for a 14-day stay.
The launch vehicle, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, completed its ascent flawlessly, followed by the successful separation of the Dragon spacecraft and the crew’s entry into orbit. The Ax-4 capsule is expected to dock with the ISS around 4:30 PM IST on Thursday, June 26.
Ax-4 is go for launch! pic.twitter.com/mnGATK01gf
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) June 25, 2025
The mission had faced multiple delays in recent weeks, first due to issues with the launch vehicle, and later because of technical concerns aboard the ISS.
Clearance for launch came following detailed discussions between NASA and Russian space agency Roscosmos, after a recent repair to the transfer tunnel in the aft section of the ISS’s Zvezda service module.
Both agencies agreed to reduce tunnel pressure to 100 millimeters of mercury, enabling safe passage for the arriving crew.
India’s Gaganyatri Takes Flight
Shukla’s spaceflight marks a historic milestone for India. He becomes the first astronaut from ISRO’s Gaganyaan program to enter space and only the second Indian national to do so after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 mission aboard a Soviet spacecraft.
First words spoken by our very own Shubhanshu Shukla from space!! ✨️
🗣 ” 𝘕𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘢𝘳, 𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘺𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘩𝘷𝘢𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘺𝘰.
𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘦!
41 𝘴𝘢𝘢𝘭 𝘣𝘢𝘢𝘥 𝘩𝘶𝘮 𝘸𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘬𝘴𝘩 𝘮𝘦𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘢𝘩𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘨𝘢𝘺𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘪 𝘢𝘶𝘳 𝘬𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘢𝘭… pic.twitter.com/MKNkOJ5h76— ISRO Spaceflight (@ISROSpaceflight) June 25, 2025
“This is a proud and emotional moment, not only for me but for every Indian. We are witnessing the beginning of India’s human spaceflight era. I carry with me the hopes of 1.4 billion people,” Shukla said in his first message from orbit.
Shukla is one of four astronauts selected by ISRO for the Gaganyaan program, which aims to launch India’s first Indigenous crewed spaceflight in 2026.
His flight aboard Ax-4 is expected to offer valuable experience in crew operations, life support systems, and mission protocols, key areas of focus as India ramps up preparations for upcoming uncrewed and crewed Gaganyaan missions.
Liftoff for #Ax4. The #Ax4 crew is on its way to the @Space_Station! https://t.co/Bq5B9D7fdi
— Axiom Space (@Axiom_Space) June 25, 2025
Axiom’s Fourth Private Mission
Axiom Mission 4 is the fourth commercial astronaut mission to the ISS, which was organized by Axiom Space. Unlike previous missions composed of entirely private individuals, Ax-4 features government– and ESA-sponsored astronauts, including Shukla, reflecting the growing collaboration between space agencies and the commercial space sector.
The crew will conduct a variety of experiments aboard the ISS and participate in public engagement activities aimed at fostering space education and awareness.
