Shubhanshu Shukla: ISRO astronaut taking India to ISS after 41 years

PTC News Desk: Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is all set for his maiden voyage to the International Space Station. Ahead of lift-off the Ax-4 crew conducted a full dress rehearsal of the launch.

The Ax-4 crew, headed by seasoned astronaut Peggy Whitson, suited up in SpaceX flight gear and carried out the entire pre-launch routine—from exiting the assembly facility to boarding the spacecraft—rehearsing all steps up to the final launch sequence.

The Falcon 9 rocket, carrying the Dragon spacecraft, is scheduled to lift off on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at 5:54 PM IST. The mission will transport astronauts from the US, India, Poland, and Hungary to the International Space Station for a 14-day scientific expedition.

This mission marks the inaugural flight of the Dragon spacecraft being used, while the Falcon 9 first stage booster will be flying for the second time, having previously supported a Starlink launch. After stage separation, the booster is expected to land at Landing Zone 1 (LZ-1) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

While aboard the International Space Station, the crew will carry out over 60 scientific experiments and demonstrations, covering areas such as human health, Earth observation, and research in biological, life, and material sciences.

Shubhanshu Shukla described the lead-up to the Axiom-4 mission as an “amazing journey,” expressing deep gratitude for being part of something “much larger than yourself.”

Nicknamed as "Shux," Shukla will become the second Indian to travel to space, following in the footsteps of his hero Rakesh Sharma, who flew aboard the Soviet Soyuz spacecraft in 1984 for an eight-day mission in orbit.