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

The Axiom-4 mission is set to launch on June 25 carrying Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla. The mission aims to conduct about 60 scientific studies for 31 countries. It represents a historic return to human spaceflight for India and two other nations. The crew includes notable astronauts from different countries.

The Axiom-4 mission aims to facilitate an array of scientific studies representing 31 nations, including India, the United States, Poland, and Hungary. This initiative, after several delays, is slated for launch on Wednesday, June 25, at 2:31 AM EDT (which is approximately 12:00 noon IST). Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla of India will be part of this mission, making it particularly significant for India’s space endeavors.

If the launch proceeds as planned this time, it will take place from Launch Complex 39A located at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The crew will travel aboard SpaceX’s well-known Falcon 9 rocket, a reliable vehicle for such missions. As of now, SpaceX has reported via social media that the systems are functioning well and about 90% of the weather conditions are favorable for the liftoff.

The Axiom-4 mission represents a notable return to human spaceflight for India, Poland, and Hungary. It marks the first government-sponsored flight for these nations in over four decades. For Axiom, this will be the second human spaceflight mission in history for each country involved, and importantly, it brings all three together aboard the ISS for the first time ever.

This mission will be taking an impressive 60 scientific studies and experiments into space, with contributions from various countries including Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Nigeria, and several European nations. This diversity highlights the global interest and collaboration in the field of space research.

The crew for the Axiom-4 mission consists of four astronauts. Alongside Shubhanshu Shukla serving as a pilot, the team includes Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut and current director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, who will command the mission. Additionally, mission specialists are Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski from the European Space Agency in Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary.

In summary, the Axiom-4 mission is on track to launch soon, marking a significant milestone for India, Poland, and Hungary in space exploration. As these countries prepare to engage in scientific research on the ISS, the global collaboration represented in this mission underscores the importance of international partnerships in advancing space science. The participation of astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla further illustrates India’s growing commitment to human spaceflight.

Original Source: www.hindustantimes.com