Space Station readies to welcome Indian astronaut coming with Ax-4 crew
As Axiom Space prepares to launch Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla on his historic voyage to space with the Ax-4 crew, the International Space Station is gearing up for their arrival.
The Ax-4 mission will launch from the Kennedy Space Centre aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft piloted by Shukla on June 8, 2025 to the flying laboratory.
Ahead of the arrival, the Expedition 73 astronauts, currently aboard the ISS, are preparing for the Ax-4 quartet's arrival. Astronaut Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers conducted a review of procedures they will use from inside the space station when the Ax-4 crew aboard the Dragon approaches the space station to begin a two-week space research mission. Shubhanshu Shukla will launch with the Ax-4 mission to space. (Photo: Axiom Space)
Axiom Mission-4 (Ax-4) is preparing for its launch to the orbital outpost this month carrying experienced astronaut Peggy Whitson as commander and three first-time space flyers including Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla from India and Mission Specialists Sawosz Uzananski-Wisniewksi from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary.
The four astronauts will spend 14 days in orbit performing 60 experiments, including seven dedicated experiments from India, to be conducted by Shubhanshu Shukla.
These experiments aim to enhance India's understanding of life in microgravity as it prepares to launch astronauts independently with the Gaganyaan Mission.
All four astronauts are currently in a protocol quarantine, designed to ensure that astronauts remain in peak health and are free from infections that could jeopardise the mission.
The closed environment of the ISS makes any illness a serious risk—not just to the crew launching, but also to those already aboard the station.
The quarantine period typically lasts about 14 days prior to launch. During this time, astronauts and a small support team are isolated in a controlled facility, often located near the launch site.
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Hindustan Times
32 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Moong Dal Halwa to Aamras, know what Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is carrying for Axiom Space's Ax-4 mission
India is poised to make a historic return to space as Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, an Indian Air Force pilot and astronaut, will take off as a part of Axiom Space's Ax-4 mission. He, along with three other astronauts, will leave from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida (USA) on June 10 (IST 5.52pm) to the International Space Station (ISS) that they will dock in 28 hours (on June 11). Back in the 39-year-old's hometown, Lucknow (UP), his family is praying for a successful mission, as it will make him the second Indian astronaut to pilot a spaceflight since Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma's 1984 mission. 'He has been quarantined for a fortnight now, but once a day, he joins us for a group call, as his wife, Dr Kamna Shubha Shukla, and five-year-old son, are with him in Florida. We are all so excited, but also very nervous,' says Shubhanshu's sister Suchi Shukla, a science teacher in Lucknow. Suchi adds, 'He is very hopeful and wants this mission to motivate the upcoming generations. I have shifted into my parents' home for a few days and our eldest sister is also coming down from Noida so that all of us can cheer for him together.' Shubhanshu is carrying a few Indian delicacies with him. 'He is carrying moong dal halwa, gajar ka halwa, aamras and rice. He is excited to share the delicacies with the other astronauts too. Since Indian food is high on spices, he wasn't getting the permission to carry them. But finally, they did allow a few varieties. He is a fitness-freak and highly into yoga so I am sure he will balance it,' says Suchi. Shubhanshu's father, Shambhu Dayal Shukla, a retired government employee, tells us that a 'Satyanarayan Swami katha and a hawan' are being organised to pray for a successful mission. 'The entire family is praying for him and we are all very confident and positive. Ab darr nahin lag raha hai. We are happy that his name will go in history books,' he says. Shubhanshu's mum, Astha Shukla, adds, 'Woh khud bahut excited hai ki woh Bharat ke liye kuch naya karne jaa raha hai. Bas jaldi se mission khatam kar ke wapas aa jaaye.' While he is not allowed to disclose the personal belongings he's carrying, Shubhanshu's sister feels her brother is 'carrying our photos'. She adds, 'He cannot disclose due to protocol. Once you take anything to space, it becomes a certified object that has travelled to space. So, he will bring those back and it will be memorabilia for us. We will only get to know what those things are once he's back.' City Montessori School in Lucknow, Shubhanshu's alma mater, is celebrating the feat by organising a YyomNite carnival at its Kanpur Road branch. 'All the students and staff are electrified that our alumnus Shubhanshu is undertaking this extraordinary journey, carrying the hopes of 1.4 billion Indians with him. The research he does there will push the boundaries of scientific knowledge and will be used for the advancement and prosperity of humankind,' says school manager Prof Geeta Gandhi Kingdon. They will live stream the event and the carnival will have exploration areas, space photoshoots, activity camp and mission control centre. His family members will also join the event.
NDTV
3 hours ago
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"Absolutely, I'm A Test Pilot": Rakesh Sharma On Flying To Space Again
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Rakesh Sharma, First Indian To Fly To Space, Speaks To NDTV: Top Quotes
New Delhi: Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian to fly to space, speaks to NDTV about the upcoming Axiom-4 space mission and other topics. Here are some top quotes: It gives us a sneak peek at what the International Space Station is going to be. It gives us a flavour of flying a private resource which can take us to space. So it's going to be very interesting at many levels. He's going to get a chance to do some experiments and also to live on the space station. It's a longish flight, 14 days, I think. And so he's going to get a sense and I think those inputs which he observes in the International Space Station can be used for our own Bharti Antariksh Station. Well, I tell Subhanshu all the very best, happy landings and look forward to whatever you're going to see. You come back a changed person is what I'm going to tell him. This is not the last flight India is going to do. So I'm not in a hurry. What Subhanshu is doing is important. And some very interesting experiments, which are going to be required for our long-term vision, which the Prime Minister has said. So I think whatever inputs he gets, whatever chances he gets, it will be well utilised, and the results are going to be used definitely. Over the years, when you go over that experience, it brings in new insights as to what's happening to planet Earth. It gives you a sense of where you should be going, where space exploration should be going. Gaganyaan is progressing well-step by step, slowly but steadily. That's the way to go because we are opening the envelope, and that's how testing is done. Of course, I would love to fly in an Indian suit. I would love to, except that I think I was born a bit too early, and it's not going to happen in my time frame. But yes, to answer your question, I would have. A message for Indians ahead of Group Captain Subhanshu Shukla's mission: I would say give him space when he comes back. Let him savor this experience which he's going to get and all the best for him and for everybody else. You're in for a great time because when I flew, there was only Doordarshan and now there are going to be so many TV channels. So be ready. It is going to be a lot more explanatory, the vision, the mission itself. So you're going to know a fair amount of what he's going to be doing while he's doing it and while preparing for it as well.
