Indian Air Force pilot Shubhanshu Shukla is on track to become the second Indian ever to venture into space as Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) now aims for a launch no earlier than June 22, 2025. The revised date follows recent maintenance activities aboard the International Space Station (ISS), particularly in the aft section of the Russian Zvezda service module, prompting NASA to continue safety evaluations before proceeding with launch preparations.
Initially set for May 29, the mission has seen multiple postponements, moving through potential dates in early and mid-June. Delays were attributed to technical issues — including a fuel leak in SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and a separate leak in the Russian segment of the ISS.
Nicknamed “Shux,” Shukla’s upcoming journey marks a monumental moment for India. He will follow in the footsteps of Rakesh Sharma, the nation’s first astronaut, who flew aboard the Soviet Soyuz spacecraft in 1984. This will be India’s first human spaceflight involvement in over four decades.
Commanding the Ax-4 mission is former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, now Axiom Space’s Director of Human Spaceflight. Shukla will serve as the mission’s pilot, joined by Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary, both flying as mission specialists representing the European Space Agency (ESA) and their respective nations.
The Ax-4 mission is historic not only for India but also for Poland and Hungary, marking a return to crewed space missions for all three nations after over 40 years. Notably, this mission will be the first time these countries participate in a joint mission aboard the ISS, signifying a new chapter in global cooperation in space exploration.
The commercial spaceflight mission is a joint endeavor between NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX, further cementing the collaborative international push toward expanding human presence in space.
As the world watches, Shubhanshu Shukla’s launch will symbolize a resurgence in India’s space ambitions and a powerful tribute to the country’s legacy in human space exploration.
