Image Source theindianalert
After enduring several delays, Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s Axiom-4 mission (Ax-4) was successfully launched to the International Space Station (ISS) on Wednesday (June 25, 2025) from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
In his initial message from space, Shubhanshu Shukla expressed that this isn’t merely the beginning of his personal voyage, but rather the inception of India’s human space program.
“Namaskar my esteemed countrymen. What an exhilarating journey this has been. After 40 years, we have again reached the vastness of space, and it has been a remarkable experience. I carry my tri-color flag, which reminds me that I am not solitary in this journey; all of you are with me,” he stated.
“This isn’t just the commencement of my expedition to the ISS, but the launch of India’s human space program. I urge my fellow countrymen to be a part of this adventure, let us unite and initiate India’s human space program. Jai Hind Jai Bharat,” he continued.
Group Captain Shukla, who leads the Ax-4 mission alongside four additional crew members including Commander Peggy Whitson from the U.S., Mission Specialist Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski from Poland, and Mission Specialist Tibor Kapu from Hungary, embarked on a 28-hour journey to the ISS aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft following the launch on the Falcon 9 rocket.
Crew to spend 14 days at ISS
The intended docking time at the orbiting station is around 7 a.m. Eastern Time (4:30 p.m. IST) on June 26. The Axiom Mission 4 crew is set to reside at the ISS for up to 14 days.
Group Captain Shukla will achieve the milestone of being the first Indian astronaut to visit the ISS and is also the first Indian to venture into space in the past 40 years. Rakesh Sharma was the last Indian to make a trip to space back in 1984 aboard the former Soviet Union’s Soyuz spacecraft.
On Wednesday at 12:01 p.m., the Falcon 9 rocket successfully lifted off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, and about 10 minutes post-launch, the Dragon space capsule disengaged from the rocket’s second stage, initiating the Dragon nosecone opening sequence.
Upon docking, the crew members will commit to 14 days of diligent research and exploration activities at the ISS.
(Newsroom staff only edited this story for style from a syndicated feed)
