Shubhanshu Shukla heads to space. Check Axiom-4 docking time in India
SpaceX, in partnership with Axiom Space and NASA, successfully launched the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) to the International Space Station (ISS) on June 25, 2025, marking a historic milestone in commercial spaceflight and international cooperation.The mission lifted off at 2:31 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, using a Falcon 9 rocket to propel a brand-new Dragon spacecraft named 'Grace' into orbit.advertisementDOCKING TIME IN INDIAThe Ax-4 Dragon capsule is scheduled to dock at approximately 7:00 a.m. EDT (4:30 p.m. IST) on June 26, 2025, after a roughly 28-hour journey through space.
During their two-week stay aboard, the Ax-4 crew will conduct over 60 scientific experiments and educational outreach activities, making this the most science-intensive private mission organised by Axiom Space so far.Their research is designed to leverage the unique microgravity environment of the orbital laboratory and will contribute to advancements in science, technology, and international STEM education. The docking event will be streamed live.This launch is particularly notable as it carries astronauts from India, Hungary, and Poland, a significant achievement and a testament to the expanding global reach of human space exploration.Commanded by veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson, who already holds the U.S. record for most cumulative days in space, the Ax-4 crew also includes Shubhanshu Shukla from India, Sawosz Uznaski-Winiewski from Poland, and Tibor Kapu from Hungary.advertisementThe mission had faced several delays due to technical and safety concerns, including unfavorable weather, a leak in the Falcon 9 rocket, and, most recently, a pressure anomaly in the Russian-built Zvezda service module.After thorough evaluations and safety checks by NASA and Roscosmos, the launch was cleared to proceed, highlighting the importance of international collaboration in ensuring crew safety and mission success.- EndsMust Watch
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NDTV
23 minutes ago
- NDTV
Shubhanshu Shukla's Axiom 4 Mission Creates History For 3 Countries
New Delhi: The Axiom 4 launch, a commercial human spaceflight mission involving Axiom Space, NASA, and SpaceX, has scripted history in more ways than one. Not only has it been a historic moment for India, Poland, and Hungary, which have sent astronauts to space for the first time in nearly half a century, it has had symbolic significance for Europe and Asia. At the time of this report, the four astronauts onboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule are orbiting Earth, notching up speed to be in-sync with the International Space Station - their destination for the next 15 days. As they whirl around the 'Pale Blue Dot' close to 16 times per day, India's Shubhanshu Shukla, Poland's Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski, and Hungary's Tibor Kapu see a world that is vastly different from when the last explorers from their countries ventured into Space. The last time India, Poland, or Hungary sent people to space, their current crop of astronauts had not yet been born - and back then they were called cosmonauts, as they all flew on Soviet missions, with the Iron Curtain still intact, diving Europe in two. Back in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the world was still in the midst of the Cold War. The last Indian to look down at planet Earth from the dark, enveloping space surrounding it, was Rakesh Sharma, an Indian Air Force pilot who traveled to the Salyut 7 space station in 1984 as part of a Soviet-led initiative to help friendly nations access Space. Similarly, the last Polish person in Space was Miroslaw Hermaszewski, who traveled to the Salyut 6 space station aboard the Soyuz 30 capsule in 1978. While the last Hungarian national in Space was Bertalan Farkasm who also went to the Salyut 6 space station, aboard the Soyuz 36 in 1980. But this mission, especially for India, is no longer a one-off. India's space agency, ISRO, sees the Axiom 4 mission as a key stepping stone toward its own maiden crewed mission, planned for 2027 under the Gaganyaan programme, meaning "sky craft". India also plans to set up its own space station over the next decade. In his first words after the lift-off, Shubhanshu Shukla said, "What a fantastic ride" in Hindi."This isn't just the start of my journey to the International Space Station - it is the beginning of India's human space programme." Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the successful launch on X, saying, "He carries with him the wishes, hopes and aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians. Wish him and other astronauts all the success!" For SpaceX too, The Axiom 4 mission was historic in a way, as the mission marks the debut of the fifth and final Crew Dragon vehicle, which was named 'Grace' after it reached orbit joining Endeavour, Resilience, Endurance, and Freedom in the active fleet. SpaceX ultimately plans to phase out its current vehicles in the 2030s in favour of 'Starship', its giant next-generation rocket currently in development. The astronauts are scheduled to dock with the International Space Station on Thursday, at approximately 1100 hrs GMT (1630 hrs IST). It will remain docked for two weeks before bring the astronauts back to planet Earth. Praising it, mission commander Peggy Whitson, who is leading the crew, said, "It reflects the elegance with which we move through space against the backdrop of Earth." She added that "It speaks to the refinement of our mission, the harmony of science and spirit and the unmerited favor we carry with humility." SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket, which placed the Crew Dragon capsule in low Earth orbit, returned to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida 8 minutes later. The lift-off happened at 2:31 am local time (0631 hrs GMT, 1201 hrs IST).
The Print
an hour ago
- The Print
Space travel alters world view, helps to understand value of planet Earth, says Rakesh Sharma
Sharma had spent eight days in orbit in the erstwhile Soviet Union's Salyut-7 space station in 1984. He shared his thoughts in a recorded podcast shared by the Ministry of Defence on a day India returned to space after 41 years, as Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla from India and three other astronauts set forth on a landmark space odyssey on Wednesday. New Delhi, Jun 25 (PTI) Astronaut Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian to journey into space in 1984, says space travel alters the mindset of humans and makes them see the world from a perspective that 'this planet belongs to everyone' and not a sole preserve of anyone. Shukla scripted history by embarking on space travel, along with three others from the US, Poland and Hungary, to the International Space Station as part of a commercial mission by Axiom Space. In the podcast released tonight, Sharma, who had famously said, 'Sare Jehan se Acha…' during his time in the orbit, said he was a test pilot in the Indian Air Force when the selection happened. He later retired as wing commander from the IAF. 'Because I was a test pilot when the selection happened.. that time, I was young, I was fit, and I had the qualification, so I was lucky enough to have been chosen. Then, after selection, we moved to Star City, just outside Moscow, for our training. The training went on for 18 months, which culminated into the Indo-Soviet spaceflight in 1984. It was an eight-day mission, and we carried out experiments which were designed by Indian scientists,' he said. Sharma recalled that the entire training, and communication with crew members and mission control while they were in orbit, was in Russian. 'We had to learn the language before we started training, and that was not easy because of paucity of time. So, we took about two months to learn the language,' he said. While the Indo-Soviet spaceflight took place in an analogue era when very few owned a television, the Axiom-4 mission lift-off was watched by people on TV screens and mobile phones live across the globe. After multiple delays, Elon Musk's SpaceX launch vehicle with Crew Dragon spacecraft atop a Falcon-9 rocket blasted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 12:01 pm (IST) carrying mission pilot Shukla, former NASA astronaut Commander Peggy Whitson and mission specialists Tibor Kapu of Hungary and Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland. 'Kamaal ki ride thi (It was an amazing ride),' Shukla said 10 minutes after the Dragon spacecraft was placed in orbit around the Earth at an altitude of 200 km as part of the Axiom Mission 4(Ax-4). In the podcast, Sharma, when asked how he felt watching the world and India from space, exclaimed, 'Oh dear! Beautiful.' 'In our country, we got everything: we got a long coastline, we got the ghats section, we got plains, we got tropical forests, we got mountains, Himalayas. It's a beautiful sight, different colours, different textures,' he said. Sharma said in space, days and nights are very unusual, as sunrises and sunsets happen at an interval of just 45 minutes. He said while space travel technology has changed, 'as humans we haven't changed much'. 'The mental impact will always be there because humans will be able to get a different perspective. It does kind of alter the world view… (shows) the vast place in universe,' the veteran astronaut said. It changes the mindset, he emphasised. The IAF, in a post on X, said Shukla has set forth on a landmark space mission, carrying the pride of the nation beyond Earth. It also said, 'This is a dèjà-vu moment for India, 41 years after the mission of Sqn Ldr Rakesh Sharma, who first carried our Tricolour beyond Earth. Being more than a mission – it is reaffirmation of India's ever-expanding horizon.' Asked about the future of Indian space travel, Sharma said, 'We will be going farther and farther from planet Earth.' 'We really need to preserve what we have, which means we need to end conflicts, we need to forget about our weapons….this planet belongs to everyone, it is not a sole preserve,' he underlined. On a more generic note, Sharma said space exploration will 'keep marching ahead'. 'I am hoping that India will be a modern leader in the years to come, and India will succeed in its (space) mission, which I am quite confident we will,' he said. Sharma said after his return from the mission, he went back to the Indian Air Force. 'And after few years, I moved to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited as their chief test pilot,' he said, and recalled his association with the evolution of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) 'Tejas'. PTI KND AMJ AMJ This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
NDA basks in glory of alumni as astronauts who inspire new space chapters
Pune: The National Defence Academy (NDA)'s legacy saw a new chapter with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla flying aboard the Axiom-4 mission on Wednesday, after the groundbreaking journey of Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma — the first Indian to travel to space on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft in 1984. NDA Commandant Vice-Admiral Gurucharan Singh described the moment as "To space with glory". He told TOI on Wednesday, "The NDA continues to groom future leaders of our Armed Forces and make India Saare Jahaan se Accha in its true sense. His (Shukla's) mission will certainly inspire our cadets, whom we groom and train to face tough challenges and new frontiers." He said, "The NDA, the cradle of leadership of the Indian Armed Forces, adds another feather to its glorious past and also brings glory to our nation's quest of conquering uncharted territory." You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune Former astronaut and NDA alumnus Air Commodore (retd) Ravish Malhotra, who was the standby astronaut for Sharma, told TOI from the UK, "It is a very proud moment for the country and for us all to witness a second Indian go into space. Group Captain Shukla is carrying with him the aspirations, blessings and good wishes of the entire nation." He said, "A new chapter is being carved in Indian space exploration and our endeavours to conquer space. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like A severe blood disorder has put her life at risk! Donate For Health Donate Now Undo It is after 40 years that India sent its second astronaut into space. I would like to congratulate the Isro team, who worked hard to train our four astronauts, including Shukla." Malhotra, who met Shukla in Bengaluru last year, said, "Shukla rightly pointed out that his mission is a precursor to our own Gaganyaan mission slated for 2027, and his experience will be very valuable for our human space programme. It is the first time that an Indian astronaut is going up to the ISS and will be conducting experiments. He will be a pioneer, leading the way for other Indians to follow his example and achievements. " NDA honours the bravery of their alumni by giving names to its blocks. One of them has been named Rakesh Sharma Block. It houses departments of computer science, economics, geography and political science. Group Captain Shukla is from the 108th course of the NDA. He is from the Hunter squadron, known for rigorous physical training. Shukla was commissioned on June 17, 2006, in the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force (IAF). He is a Fighter Combat Leader (FCL) and a test pilot with approximately 2,000 hours of flying experience. He flew a variety of aircraft, including Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier and An-32. His NDA coursemates describe him as a cool and passionate air warrior. Shukla's NDA coursemate and Commanding Officer of IAF's aerobatic Surya Kiran team, Group Captain Ajay Dasarathi, in a special video message said, "From the skies of India to the frontiers of space, the Surya Kiran team wishes you the best for the mission ahead. Your journey from the blue skies of India to the boundless expanse of space fills us with immense pride. " "Fly high and blaze the trail. Always an air warrior, now a space pioneer. You are an inspiration to every Indian. The entire Surya Kiran team is cheering for you, with hearts full of admiration and respect. May your mission be smooth, your vision be clear, and your return be safe and glorious. Touch the sky and beyond with glory," he added.
