Florida [US], June 26 (ANI): The Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), carrying Indian Air Force officer Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday. The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft completed an autonomous docking ahead of schedule at 4:05 pm IST, attaching to the space-facing port of the station’s Harmony module.
NASA Flight Engineers Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers closely monitored Dragon’s automated approach and docking procedures. The four-member Ax-4 crew will now join the seven astronauts of Expedition 73 and participate in standard safety briefings before beginning their two-week mission aboard the ISS.
The Ax-4 mission lifted off on June 25 at noon IST from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The crew comprises Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of ISRO, serving as the mission pilot and the first ISRO astronaut to visit the ISS; Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut and mission commander; Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of the European Space Agency (ESA), representing Poland; and Tibor Kapu of ESA, representing Hungary.
This marks a series of firsts: the first ISRO astronaut aboard the ISS and the first extended stays by astronauts from Poland and Hungary. The mission represents a major collaborative milestone for NASA, ISRO, ESA, and Axiom Space, with a strong focus on science, outreach, and commercial exploration.
In a live message from orbit, Group Captain Shukla reflected on the momentous experience, saying, “I am thrilled to be here with my fellow astronauts—what a ride it was. Honestly, as I sat in the capsule ‘Grace’ on the launchpad yesterday after 30 days of quarantine, all I could think was: just go. When the launch finally happened, it was something else entirely. You’re pushed back into the seat—and then suddenly, there’s silence. You’re just floating in the vacuum, and it’s magical.”
He emphasized the collective nature of the mission, adding, “I truly appreciate the efforts of every individual who made this journey possible. It’s not just a personal accomplishment—it belongs to all of us.”
The Ax-4 crew will spend up to 14 days aboard the ISS, engaging in a diverse portfolio of scientific investigations. Highlights of the research agenda include studies on muscle regeneration in microgravity, the growth of edible microalgae for long-duration missions, the survival of aquatic microorganisms, and human interaction with digital displays in zero-gravity environments.
The mission is Axiom Space’s most research-intensive to date and serves as a precursor for future private and national spaceflight collaborations. (ANI)
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