Texas [US], May 15 (ANI): Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla-piloted private astronaut ‘Axiom Mission 4’ launch to the International Space Station (ISS) has been delayed to no earlier than June 8. Axiom Space, a Houston-based private space company, announced the new target date for the Ax-4 mission, which will launch aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule on a Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
NASA shared an update on the rescheduling, citing the need to finalize mission plans, spacecraft readiness, and logistics. The mission is now set for 9:11 a.m. EDT on Sunday, June 8 (6:41 p.m. IST). Initially, NASA had planned the liftoff for May 29, 2025.
Once docked at the ISS, the private astronauts will spend up to 14 days aboard the orbiting laboratory, conducting science, outreach, and commercial activities. Shukla will become the first astronaut from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to visit the station, as part of a joint effort between NASA and ISRO. He will also be the second Indian astronaut to go to space, following Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 mission.
Group Captain Shukla, who has logged 2,000 flight hours on various aircraft, was promoted to group captain in March 2024. Besides Shukla, the Ax-4 mission will include European Space Agency (ESA) project astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, will command the mission.
The Ax-4 mission will involve nearly 60 science investigations from 31 countries. ISRO is spearheading transformative research on Ax-4 in collaboration with NASA and ESA. The studies will contribute to advancements in life sciences, technology for long-duration space missions, and understanding biological processes in microgravity.
One key experiment will examine how astronauts interact with electronic displays in microgravity, aiming to enhance spacecraft computer usability. Another project, “Space Microalgae,” investigates microgravity’s effects on the growth of edible microalgae, potentially aiding long-term space missions. ISRO is also studying cyanobacteria for their potential use in spacecraft environmental control systems and researching muscle regeneration under microgravity to combat muscle atrophy in astronauts.
Additionally, the mission will explore growing crops in space through the “Sprouting Salad Seeds in Space” experiment, and study the resilience of tardigrades, known for surviving extreme conditions. These experiments are intended to push the boundaries of space exploration and biotechnology.
The Ax-4 mission is the fourth private astronaut mission by Axiom Space, following successful missions in 2022, 2023, and 2024. Meanwhile, India’s Gaganyaan program has entered its final phase, with the first human spaceflight scheduled for early 2027. Union Minister Jitendra Singh described Gaganyaan as a historic mission, showcasing India’s rise as a global space power through indigenous technology and cost-effective strategies. (ANI)
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