An important milestone for India will be reached when Indian Air Force pilot Shubhanshu Shukla and three other crew members join the space mission Axiom 4. In order to conduct a mission centered on science, outreach, and commercial endeavors, the crew of Axiom Mission 4 is scheduled to enter orbit around the International Space Station.
Axiom Mission 4 Launching Delayed
Axiom Mission 4, which is scheduled to send Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla into space, has been delayed to give NASA more time to assess the space station's repairs. In a statement released Wednesday morning, Axiom Space stated that SpaceX and the US space agency aim to launch the spacecraft by Sunday, June 22, at the latest.
The mission was originally scheduled to be launched on June 10 at 8:22 a.m. ET. The Axiom 4 crew will be launched from LC-39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center to the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.
| Detail | Information |
| Mission Name | Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) |
| Launch Date | June 22 |
| Launch Time (ET) | To be Declared |
| Launch Site | LC-39A, NASA Kennedy Space Center |
| Spacecraft | SpaceX Dragon |
| Launch Provider | SpaceX |
| Destination | International Space Station (ISS) |
| Duration in Space | Approximately 14 days |
| Purpose | Scientific research and international collaboration |
| Crew Members | Peggy Whitson (USA), Shubham Shukla (India), Tibor Kapu (Hungary), Slawosz Wuznanski-Wisniewski (Poland) |
| Special Support | ESA Scientist (Europe) - Research Support Team |
Meet the Axiom 4 Crew
With crew members from India, Poland, and Hungary, the Axiom 4 mission is the second government-sponsored human spaceflight mission in more almost 40 years and each nation's first-ever trip to the space station. Peggy Whitson, Shubhanshu Shukla, Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, and Tibor Kapu are on the crew.
- Subhanshu Shukla: One of the four astronauts selected for the Indian Space Research Organization's (ISRO) historic Gaganyaan mission, India's first human space flight, is Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, a pilot in the Indian Air Force (IAF).
- Peggy Whitson: One of the United States' most seasoned astronauts, Peggy Whitson, will lead her second commercial human spaceflight mission.
- Slawosz Uznański-Wiśniewski: Polish scientist and engineer Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski will be participating in Axiom 4 as a mission specialist.
- Tibor Kapu, a Hungarian mechanical engineer, is an Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) mission specialist.
Who Will Be Part of the Ax-4 Mission:
| Name | Country | Role |
| Peggy Whitson | USA | Mission Commander |
| Shubham Shukla | India | Pilot |
| Tibor Kapu | Hungary | Mission Specialist |
| Slawosz Wuznanski-Wisniewski | Poland | Mission Specialist |
| ESA Scientist | Europe | Research Support Team |
Goal of Ax-4 Mission
The main goal of the Ax-4 mission is scientific research and preparation for future space missions. During this mission, research will be done on human health, life conditions in space, and how they affect people on Earth. The team will also collect important data needed for long-term human missions in space in the future.
Who is Shubhanshu Shukla?
Shubhanshu Shukla was born on October 10, 1985, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, and finished his further education at the City Montessori School in Lucknow. He is married to a dentist from Jankipuram, Lucknow, with whom he has a four-year-old boy.
Following his education, Shubhanshu Shukla enrolled in the National Defence Academy and, on June 17, 2006, received his commission in the fighter stream of the IAF. Prior to being elevated to Group Captain, he served as an IAF Wing Commander.
He has 2,000 hours of flying experience and is currently a fighter combat test pilot in the IAF, having flown the Sukhoi-30MKI, Mig-21, Mig-29, An-32, Dornier, Hawk, and Jaguar.
