Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) is setting a historic milestone in space travel for nations like India, Poland, and Hungary. The mission will pilot by Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla. Scheduled for launch from the Kennedy Space Center in the United States on June 8, 2025.
What is the Ax-4 Mission?
Ax-4 is the fourth space mission by Axiom Space, partnering with NASA and SpaceX. The mission will visit the International Space Station (ISS), where the crew will spend 14 days conducting scientific experiments, technical demonstrations, and public engagement programs. This mission is particularly significant for India, Poland, and Hungary, as they revisit space travel after 40 years.
Who is Going on the Ax-4 Mission?
Source: aajtak
Peggy Whitson (USA):
The mission's commander, Peggy is a former NASA astronaut and holds the record for the most time spent in space by an American astronaut with 675 days. This will be her second private space mission.
Shubhanshu Shukla (India):
Piloting the mission, Shubhanshu is a Group Captain in the Indian Air Force and one of the four astronauts chosen for ISRO's Gaganyaan Mission. Born in Lucknow in 1985, he has over 2,000 flight hours on aircraft like the Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, and Hawk. He will be the first Indian to visit the ISS and the second Indian to travel in space after Rakesh Sharma in 1984.
Slawos Uznański-Wiśniewski (Poland):
A mission specialist and European Space Agency (ESA) project astronaut, Slawos will be the second Polish in space since 1978. He is a scientist and engineer selected from 22,500 candidates.
Tibor Kapu (Hungary):
Also a mission specialist, Tibor is a representative of the Hungarian Space Office. He will be the second Hungarian in space since 1980, chosen from 247 candidates.
Backup Astronauts:
India's Group Captain Prashant Balakrishnan Nair is the backup pilot, while Gyula Serenyi serves as Hungary's backup astronaut.
What is the Mission's Purpose?
Source: aajtak
Ax-4 Mission has three key objectives...
Scientific Experiments...
The crew will conduct over 60 scientific experiments, including 7 from India, focusing on microgravity research. These experiments include studying brain effects from computer screens, growth of microalgae and cyanobacteria, muscle weakening phenomena, and the germination of seeds like fenugreek and mung beans in microgravity. Thirty-one countries, including the US, Poland, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Nigeria, and the UAE, will partake in these experiments.
Technical Demonstrations...
Testing new devices and technologies, such as wearable devices and iPhone software, which will prove beneficial for future space missions.
Awareness and Education...
The crew will connect with children and teachers from the ISS via radio. Students from Brazil and Nigeria have designed experiments, such as studying ball collisions and pendulums in space.
Mission Highlights
Source: aajtak
Launch Date: June 8, 2025, at 6:41 PM IST
Launch Location: NASA Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Spacecraft: SpaceX Dragon launched by Falcon 9 rocket
Duration: 14 days on the ISS
Cost: India invested approximately 54.8 million USD in this mission
Significance: Provides experience for India's Gaganyaan Mission, slated for 2026, as India's first indigenous human space mission.
The Story of Shubhanshu Shukla
Source: aajtak
Born on October 10, 1985, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, Shubhanshu Shukla's aspiration to join the armed forces was sparked by the 1999 Kargil War. He pursued his education at the National Defence Academy (NDA) and joined the Indian Air Force in 2006. A seasoned test pilot, ISRO selected him for the Gaganyaan Mission in 2019. He trained at Russia's Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center and continued his advanced training in Bengaluru. In March 2024, he achieved the rank of Group Captain.
Why is it Special for India?
A chance to create history: Shubhanshu will be the first Indian to travel to space since 1984.
Preparation for Gaganyaan: This mission will provide invaluable experience for India's first indigenous human space mission, Gaganyaan.
Scientific Progress: India's involvement includes 7 experiments promoting microgravity research.
Global Cooperation: Showcases growing collaboration with NASA, ESA, and SpaceX.
Inspiration: Shubhanshu hopes his mission will inspire the next generation in India to pursue space research.
Challenges and Delays
The mission was initially set for May 29, 2025, but was postponed due to technical issues to June 8, 2025. ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan assures the reliability of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft, suggesting the delay is of little concern. Axiom Mission 4 is a significant leap in India's space exploration journey, not only showcasing scientific capabilities but laying pathways for future endeavors like Gaganyaan.
