“This is not the start of my journey to the International Space Station, but the start of India’s human space programme.”
— Gp. Capt. Shubhanshu Shukla, moments after reaching orbit (indianexpress.com)
Contents
- Why Ax-4 Matters for India and the World
- Launch Day Recap and Key Timings
- Meet the Multinational Crew of Ax-4
- Shubhanshu Shukla: From Lucknow to Low-Earth Orbit
- Science at 400 km: 60 Experiments, 7 Indian Firsts
- Schedule on the ISS: 14 Days of Research, Outreach and STEM
- Linking Ax-4 to Gaganyaan: A Test-Bed for India’s 2027 Crewed Flight
- Behind the Scenes: The Delays, the Dragon and the Debut Capsule “Grace”
- How to Watch, Follow and Engage from India
1. Why Ax-4 Matters for India and the World
On 25 June 2025, the roar of a Falcon 9 rocket echoed across Florida’s Space Coast as Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) lifted off toward the International Space Station (ISS). At its right-hand seat: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force—the first Indian in space in 41 years and the first ever bound for the ISS. For India, it is more than a personal milestone; it is a re-entry into human spaceflight and a crucial dress rehearsal for ISRO’s upcoming Gaganyaan missions. Globally, Ax-4 represents the fourth private astronaut flight organised by Axiom Space and a real-time demonstration of how commercial, governmental and international partners can share the world’s only microgravity laboratory. (reuters.com, nasa.gov)
2. Launch Day Recap and Key Timings
| Event | GMT / IST | What Happened |
|---|---|---|
| Liftoff | 06:31 GMT / 12:01 IST | Falcon 9 Block 5 ignites on LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center |
| Stage 1 Landing | T + 8 min | Booster lands at Landing Zone-1 |
| Dragon “Grace” Orbit Insertion | T + 9 min | Twelve-minute ride to a 210 × 330 km parking orbit |
| ISS Docking | 11:00 GMT / 16:30 IST, 26 Jun | Autonomous docking to the forward port of Harmony |
| Mission Duration | 14 days | Crew undocks ~10 Jul 2025 |
After 28 hours of orbital phasing burns, Dragon will dock at 7 a.m. EDT (4:30 p.m. IST) on 26 June 2025. NASA’s live coverage resumes two hours before contact. (nasa.gov, dynamitenews.com)
3. Meet the Multinational Crew of Ax-4
| Role | Astronaut | Nation | Spaceflight Experience |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commander | Dr Peggy Whitson | USA | 3 NASA ISS expeditions, >675 days in space |
| Pilot | Gp. Capt. Shubhanshu Shukla | India | Test-pilot, debut flight |
| Mission Specialist | Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski | Poland | ESA reserve astronaut, debut |
| Mission Specialist | Tibor Kapu | Hungary | HUNOR programme astronaut, debut |
Whitson’s veteran leadership pairs with three first-timers—all representing first ISS visits for their home countries. (reuters.com)
4. Shubhanshu Shukla: From Lucknow to Low-Earth Orbit
Born in Lucknow in October 1985, Shukla was just a toddler when Sqn Ldr Rakesh Sharma returned from his 1984 flight aboard Soyuz T-11. Inspired by both Sharma and the 1999 Kargil War fly-bys he witnessed on TV, Shukla cleared the NDA exam, flew Su-30 MKIs as a fighter pilot and logged 2,000 flight hours before being short-listed for the Vyomanaut (Gaganyaan) class of 2019. (en.wikipedia.org, timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
Why Shukla’s Flight Is Symbolic
- National Pride: Carries the tricolour patch over his heart and invoked “Jai Hind” in his first call-down. (indianexpress.com)
- Knowledge Transfer: Gains hands-on ISS operations experience for India’s own crewed vehicle.
- STEM Inspiration: Serves as a living role model for 1.4 billion Indians dreaming of the stars.
5. Science at 400 km: 60 Experiments, 7 Indian Firsts
Ax-4 is billed as Axiom’s most science-intensive mission yet, packing ~60 experiments from 31 nations. Shukla alone will run seven ISRO-selected microgravity studies: (economictimes.indiatimes.com, firstpost.com)
- Methi & Moong Sprouting Trial – tests cultivation of Indian superfoods in orbit (food sustainability).
- Tardigrade Survivability Assay – explores DNA repair in cosmic radiation.
- Myogenesis-μ – studies muscle-stem-cell regeneration pathways.
- Algal Bio-reactor Demo – evaluates oxygen and biofuel production.
- Screens-in-Space – gauges eye/brain strain from prolonged screen use in zero-g.
- Voyager Displays HCI Test – maps gaze and touch accuracy for future spacecraft cockpits.
- STEMonstrations Live-Link – broadcasts hands-on physics lessons to Indian classrooms.
6. Schedule on the ISS: 14 Days of Research, Outreach and STEM
- Docking – Day 1: Safety briefings, payload unpack, baseline health checks.
- Days 2-5: Biology block – sprouting, myogenesis, tardigrades.
- Days 6-8: Technology block – HCI touch-panel, algae photobioreactor, AI data-logging tests.
- Days 9-10: International & commercial integrations—joint NASA bone-density study, ESA crystal growth.
- Days 11-12: STEM broadcasts to school networks in India, Poland and Hungary.
- Day 13: Cargo stowage, pre-departure checkout.
- Day 14: Undock, deorbit, splashdown off Florida.
Whitson’s seasoned hand ensures every 15-minute increment is choreographed for maximum research return. (reuters.com)
7. Linking Ax-4 to Gaganyaan: A Test-Bed for India’s 2027 Crewed Flight
Shukla is one of four Gaganyaan astronaut-designates. His ISS stint delivers:
- Life-support Familiarity – Dragon’s ECLSS shares design philosophies with ISRO’s forthcoming Orbital Module.
- On-orbit Robotics – he will help test Canadarm-like procedures useful for India’s planned docking adapters.
- Operational Protocols – exposure to NASA flight rules, EVA prep and emergency drills sets a knowledge baseline for India’s own mission-control teams. (reuters.com)
8. Behind the Scenes: The Delays, the Dragon and the Debut Capsule “Grace”
Ax-4’s path to the pad was anything but linear:
- Initial Target – 29 May 2025.
- Push #1 – Weather front over Cape Canaveral.
- Push #2 – Electrical harness checks on the brand-new Crew Dragon (Tail #C213).
- Push #3 – LOX leak detected during Falcon 9 propellant load.
- Push #4 – Zvezda module snag aboard the ISS required clearing.
The mission finally lifted off 25 June at 12:01 IST, minutes after engineers re-verified wind-data uploads. (economictimes.indiatimes.com, spaceflightnow.com)
Dragon “Grace”: The Fifth and Final Crew Capsule
SpaceX introduced its fifth Crew Dragon on this flight, nick-named Grace by the crew. Built with upgraded avionics and larger windows, Grace is expected to log at least five missions before SpaceX transitions to its Starship-based crew transporter later in the decade. (spaceflightnow.com)
9. How to Watch, Follow and Engage from India
- NASA+ live streams docking (5 a.m. EDT / 2:30 p.m. IST, 26 Jun).
- ISRO YouTube channels will simulcast major on-orbit experiment demos.
- Follow @axiom_space, @isro, @space_station and #Ax4 on X for real-time updates.
- Students can submit questions via ISRO’s ‘Talk to Shukla Sir’ portal; selected queries will be answered in orbit during Day 9 STEM link-up.
Axiom-4 Mission Quick Overview
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Mission Name | Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) |
| Launch Date & Time | June 25, 2025 at 12:01 PM IST |
| Launch Vehicle | SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5 |
| Spacecraft | Crew Dragon “Grace” |
| Launch Site | Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida, USA |
| Destination | International Space Station (ISS) |
| Journey Duration to ISS | ~28 hours |
| Docking Time | June 26, 2025 at 4:30 PM IST (7:00 AM EDT) |
| Mission Duration | Up to 14 days |
| Crew Members | 4 astronauts from India, USA, Poland, and Hungary |
Axiom-4 Crew Members and Nationalities
| Name | Role | Country | Previous Spaceflight Experience |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Peggy Whitson | Commander | USA | Veteran (3 ISS expeditions, 675+ days in space) |
| Gp. Capt. Shubhanshu Shukla | Pilot | India 🇮🇳 | First spaceflight (Gaganyaan astronaut) |
| Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski | Mission Specialist | Poland 🇵🇱 | First spaceflight |
| Tibor Kapu | Mission Specialist | Hungary 🇭🇺 | First spaceflight |
Major Indian Scientific Experiments on Ax-4
| Experiment Title | Focus Area | Indian Institution |
|---|---|---|
| Methi & Moong Growth in Microgravity | Space agriculture | IISc & ISRO Life Sciences Lab |
| Tardigrade Survival & DNA Repair | Astrobiology | BARC Mumbai |
| Muscle Stem Cell Myogenesis (Myogenesis-μ) | Regenerative medicine | AIIMS Delhi |
| Algae Photobioreactor for O₂ & Fuel | Life support systems | IIT Kanpur |
| Human-Computer Interaction in Microgravity | Space tech UI/UX | DRDO |
| Visual Stress & Eye Function Study | Health in space | LV Prasad Eye Institute |
| Live STEM Demonstration for Classrooms | Space education | ISRO & CBSE |
Ax-4 Launch Timeline: Key Events
| Event | Time (IST) | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Launch | 12:01 PM, June 25 | Liftoff from Kennedy Space Center |
| First Stage Separation | ~8 minutes post-launch | Booster lands at LZ-1 |
| Dragon Capsule Separation | ~9 minutes | Dragon “Grace” enters orbit |
| Nosecone Deployment | ~10 minutes | Starts phasing burns toward ISS |
| Docking | 4:30 PM, June 26 | Autonomous docking at ISS Harmony module |
| Undocking & Return | ~July 10, 2025 | After up to 14 days onboard ISS |
ISRO-NASA Joint Collaboration on Ax-4
| Collaboration Type | Project Name | Objective |
|---|---|---|
| Joint Science Study | Bone-Density Loss in Microgravity | Understand effects of long-term spaceflight |
| Joint Technology Demonstration | Smart Sensor Deployment | Test automated real-time health monitoring |
| STEM Education | Live ISS Broadcast to Schools | Inspire youth and promote science careers |
| Data Exchange Agreement | Payload Telemetry Sync | Enable co-analysis by ISRO & NASA scientists |
India’s Human Spaceflight Timeline: Milestones
| Year | Milestone | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Rakesh Sharma’s Soyuz Flight | India’s first human in space via USSR |
| 2019 | Gaganyaan Programme Launch | ISRO announces crewed mission goals |
| 2022 | Vyommitra Robot Testing | Indian humanoid AI space assistant tested |
| 2024 | Gaganyaan Uncrewed Test Flight | Validation of orbital module systems |
| 2025 | Axiom-4: Shukla on ISS | First Indian on ISS, 41 years after Sharma |
| 2027 | Planned Gaganyaan Crewed Launch | India’s first indigenously crewed mission |
Quick-Read FAQ: Axiom-4 Mission
| Question | One-Line Answer |
|---|---|
| Who is the first Indian to visit the ISS? | Gp. Capt. Shubhanshu Shukla becomes India’s first ISS visitor on Axiom-4 in June 2025. |
| How long will Ax-4 stay in space? | Up to 14 days, returning ~10 July 2025. |
| What experiments will India conduct? | Seven ISRO-backed studies on crops, cells, tardigrades and human-computer interaction. |
| Is this linked to Gaganyaan? | Yes—Shukla is one of four Gaganyaan astronauts; the mission serves as a proving ground. |
| Where can I watch the docking? | NASA+ and ISRO TV from 2:30 p.m. IST on 26 June 2025. |
Conclusion: A New Dawn for India’s Human Spaceflight
Forty-one years after Rakesh Sharma asked, “Saare jahaan se achha?”, another son of India has answered from orbit—this time carrying the aspirations of a modern, tech-savvy nation poised for its own crewed spacecraft. Axiom-4 is more than a commercial mission; it is the spark lighting India’s path to the Moon, Mars and beyond. Track the crew’s progress, tune into the science streams and let the tricolour flutter—virtually—aboard the ISS. Jai Hind, Jai Vigyan!