Axiom-4 Mission Carrying Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to Launch Today

The Axiom 4 mission, set to launch today, aims to conduct around 60 scientific studies representing 31 countries, including India. Delayed several times, it will now launch astronauts, including Indian Shubhanshu Shukla, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Florida. This mission marks a significant return to human spaceflight for India, Poland, and Hungary after decades.

The Axiom 4 mission is primed to launch today, carrying Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station (ISS). Initially set for a different date, the launch has faced several delays but is now expected to lift off at 2:31 a.m. EDT (around 12:00 noon IST) on Wednesday, June 25, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

This mission marks a significant milestone as it features a plethora of scientific endeavors—an estimated 60 studies from a total of 31 countries, which include India, the United States, Poland, and Hungary. SpaceX will facilitate the launch using its Falcon 9 rocket. A recent update from SpaceX indicates that conditions are looking favorable for today’s launch, with a 90% likelihood of good weather.

What makes the Axiom-4 mission particularly notable is that it represents a revival of human spaceflight for India, Poland, and Hungary, each with their first government-sponsored missions in over four decades. Importantly, this mission stands as the second human spaceflight in history for these nations, marking a collaborative first time that all will operate on the ISS.

The crew consists of four skilled astronauts: Shubhanshu Shukla will take the role of pilot for the mission, while Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut and now Axiom’s human spaceflight director, will command the journey. Joining them are Polish astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski from the European Space Agency, and Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu, both designated as mission specialists. Together, they will work on executing the scientific studies intended for this historic mission.

The Axiom-4 mission promises to be a landmark event, not only for the crew involved but also for the nations represented on board. With the successful launch, it symbolizes the rekindling of human spaceflight aspirations for India, Poland, and Hungary, alongside fostering international collaboration in scientific research aboard the ISS. As everything stands prepared for liftoff, it is clear that this mission is set to pave the way for future explorations and partnerships in space.

Original Source: www.hindustantimes.com