Ax-4 mission marks historic spaceflight for India, Poland, and Hungary
Washington D.C. [US], June 9 (ANI): The Ax-4 crew and SpaceX teams have successfully completed a full rehearsal of launch day activities ahead of their scheduled liftoff on Tuesday, June 10, SpaceX said in a post on their official X (formerly Twitter) handle.
'The Ax-4 crew and SpaceX teams completed a full rehearsal of launch day activities ahead of liftoff on Tuesday,' SpaceX stated.
The Ax-4 mission, launched by Axiom Space, features an international crew from the United States, India, Poland, and Hungary.
Representing India is Ax-4 mission pilot Shubhanshu Shukla, announced by Axiom Space on their X handle, alongside acknowledgment from ISRO.
The mission is targeted for launch at 8:22 a.m. ET on Tuesday, June 10, from NASA's Kennedy Space Center aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.
The International Space Station also acknowledged the upcoming mission on their official X handle.
According to Axiom Space, the Ax-4 mission will 'realize the return' to human spaceflight for India, Poland, and Hungary, marking each nation's first government-sponsored flight in more than 40 years. While this is the second human spaceflight mission in history for these countries, it will be the first time all three will execute a mission aboard the International Space Station. This historic mission highlights how Axiom Space is redefining access to low-Earth orbit and elevating national space programs globally.
The Ax-4 crew includes members from India, Poland, and Hungary, marking each nation's first mission to the space station in history and the second government-sponsored human spaceflight mission in over 40 years, according to Axiom Space.
Shubhanshu Shukla will be India's second national astronaut to go to space since 1984.
https://x.com/Axiom_Space/status/1931652525058343226
Slawosz Uznanski, European Space Agency (ESA) project astronaut, will be the second Polish astronaut since 1978.
Tibor Kapu will be the second national Hungarian astronaut since 1980.
Peggy Whitson will command her second commercial human spaceflight mission, adding to her standing record for the longest cumulative time in space by an American astronaut.
Ax-4 will be the second commercial spaceflight mission made up of government and ESA-sponsored national astronauts. The Ax-4 mission stands as a beacon of opportunity for India, Poland, and Hungary, each poised to leverage this mission to advance their national space programs.
The Ax-4 research complement includes around 60 scientific studies and activities representing 31 countries, including the U.S., India, Poland, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Nigeria, UAE, and nations across Europe. This will be the most research and science-related activities conducted on an Axiom Space mission aboard the International Space Station to date, underscoring the mission's global significance and collaborative nature to advance microgravity research in low-Earth orbit (LEO), per Axiom Space.
The mission emphasizes scientific portfolios led by the U.S., India, Poland (in partnership with ESA), and Hungary. It aims to boost participation in these countries by involving diverse stakeholders, showcasing the value of microgravity research, and fostering international collaboration.
The studies will enhance global knowledge in human research, Earth observation, and life, biological, and material sciences, demonstrating the space research capabilities of the crew's home nations. (ANI)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla's wife talks about school days, family ahead of ISS journey
Shubhanshu Shukla is all set to lift off to space as the Group Captain of the Axiom-4 ( Ax-4 ) mission on Tuesday for a two-week stay on the ISS. The feat will not only be a milestone for India, but will be a new chapter in the life of Shukla, according to his wife. In an exclusive interview to ToI days ahead of the launch from Nasa 's Kennedy Space Centre, Kamna shared what the journey has meant to her as a partner, as a parent, and as someone who's known 'Shux' since childhood. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Treatment That Might Help You Against Knee Pain Knee pain | search ads Find Now Undo She recalled that the dream of Shukla going to space began in early 2020. 'One of the criteria for Gaganyaan aspirants was that they had to be test pilots. It's such a small community that we were elated, because whoever it may be, he would be known to us. That small idea has become an incredible reality now.' Shukla is a man of routine and resolve when at home. She shared the kind of man that he is. 'He loves his workouts, non-fiction books, to goof around with his six-year-old son. But when you talk about his fearlessness, he's taken immense risks. He left his life as a fighter pilot and stepped into the uncharted world of spaceflight. From making decisions in microseconds to doing delicate experiments in micrograms—it's a complete shift,' she said. Live Events However, her favourite version of 'Shax' is more about spirit and less about space. 'There's a never-say-never attitude in him that's very special. You'll often find him quoting Dory from Finding Nemo—just keep swimming. There may be a fire anywhere, but he focuses on solutions. That's his forte.' Kamna said that the members of the AX-crew were now more than colleagues 'They call themselves friends for life. Their experience in microgravity will bind them forever. I'm so glad Shux found these friends—and all of them adore our son Sid.' The story of the couple began in school, where the two were together since Class 3. She said that the two have been best friends. "I've known him as Gunjan, as Shubhanshu—the shy guy in our classroom—who's now inspiring so many people.' However, marriage to a man on such a path meant that there has been distance and missed milestones. Kamna said that Shux missing their son, Sid's early childhood is painful for him. She has learnt to cope with these thing by embracing excitement over anxiety, she said. She said Sid is still too young to fully grasp what's unfolding. 'It's all just exciting for him. He thinks everyone's father is an astronaut. When we visited Nasa, he was thrilled to see rockets and suits. 'I'd tell him his father was the chosen one. Lucky to represent his beautiful country and its 1.4 billion people. Fortune favours the brave, and Shux is the bravest person I know. He left his love for flying to enter an unknown territory. He reaches for the stars—and yet, he remains grounded.' For Kamna, the launch is like every other take-off in a fighter pilot's life. 'I never attended his take-offs. Out of sight, out of mind—that's how I cope. I haven't thought about the launch day. We go with the flow. We're filled with gratitude. We'll take it as it comes.'
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Knowledge Nugget: Axiom-4 mission — What you must know for UPSC Exam
Take a look at the essential events, concepts, terms, quotes, or phenomena every day and brush up your knowledge. Here's your knowledge nugget for today on Axiom-4 mission. (Relevance: The Axiom-4 mission is an important topic for UPSC CSE. In this year's prelims, a question was asked on Axiom and the Gaganyaan mission (do check them in the post-read questions). Therefore, it is crucial to be aware of these missions.) The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), as part of its collaborative efforts with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), is set to launch Axiom Mission 4 on Tuesday (June 10). The mission was earlier expected to be launched on Sunday, June 8. This will be the fourth private astronaut flight from Axiom Space and the first to carry an Indian astronaut, Shubhanshu Shukla, to the International Space Station (ISS). In this context, it becomes essential to know about the Axiom-4 mission and how it is significant for India. 1. The Axiom 4 mission is being operated by private US space company Axiom Space, in partnership with NASA and SpaceX. The mission will lift off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and is targeted for launch at 8:22 am EDT (5:52 pm IST), Tuesday, June 10. 2. The Ax-4 crew and SpaceX teams, on Monday, successfully completed a full rehearsal of launch day activities ahead of its launch. The targeted docking time is approximately 12:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 11, according to NASA. Notably, the mission will carry the first astronauts from Hungary and Poland to the space station. 3. The Ax-4 mission features an international crew from the United States, India. Poland and Hungary. Former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, Peggy Whitson, will command the commercial mission, and ISRO astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will serve as pilot. The private mission also carries ESA (European Space Agency) project astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary. 4. The crew will travel to the ISS on a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and is scheduled to spend up to 14 days aboard the orbiting laboratory. The crew's approximately two-week stay includes conducting a mission comprising of science, education, and commercial activities. 5. Among the studies and experiments that will be conducted under the Axiom-4 mission is one aimed at enabling diabetic people to travel into space. As of now, insulin-dependent diabetic patients are not selected to become astronauts. That is because the space environment, particularly microgravity conditions, makes it difficult to control and maintain blood sugar levels. But scientists around the world have been working for the last several years to make this possible. A diabetes-related research project on the Axiom-4 mission marks an important step in that effort. 6. One of the experiments relates to the study of the growth rate, cellular responses, and biochemical activity of cyanobacteria — a group of bacteria that are known to produce energy through photosynthesis just like plants. There is growing interest in studying this microorganism as it may offer the key to deep space exploration and long term presence of humans on the moon or other planets: a self-sustaining system for oxygen production without need for resupply from earth. A Zero-G indicator is a small item, often a plushie, that provides astronauts a visual cue that they have entered a state of weightlessness. The zero-G indicator for the Axiom-4 mission is a swan plushie named 'Joy'. The swan plushie was selected, as it represents virtues such as wisdom, loyalty, resilience, and the beauty of nature in India, Hungary and Poland. 1. The Indian participation in Axiom-4 mission is a result of an agreement between ISRO and NASA. The mission has scheduled several experiments the results of which would help Indian Space Research Organisation execute its own manned spaceflight, Gaganyaan, two years later, ISRO chairman V Narayanan said. 2. ISRO has designed about 10 experiments for this mission. These include investigations into the effects of microgravity on muscle dysfunctions, and the physical and cognitive impacts of utilising computer screens in space. Another experiment would study the impact of spaceflight on the growth of six varieties of crop seeds. 3. ISRO is also sending a few tardigrades to the ISS. These microscopic, water-dwelling organisms, also called water bears or moss piglets, are known to survive in extremely harsh environments. They are often studied in space to gain a better understanding of how life can survive in extraterrestrial conditions. 4. These are the experiments that ISRO would have carried out on Gaganyaan if the mission had gone ahead of Axiom-4. Now it has the opportunity to conduct follow-up and more advanced experiments on its own missions. 5. Furthermore, four decades after Rakesh Sharma became the first Indian to travel to space, Shubhanshu Shukla, a 39-year-old Indian Air Force officer who is in the final leg of his pre-launch quarantine at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, will be the second Indian to travel to space and first Indian to step on to the ISS. Shukla can pass on invaluable experience and feedback to his colleagues when they travel to space as part of Gaganyaan. 1. Announced in 2018, Gaganyaan is one of India's most ambitious space programmes. It is India's maiden human spaceflight mission that was originally scheduled for 2022 but is now expected to happen in early 2027. A successful execution of this mission would put India in the company of the US, Russia and China. 2. As stated on the ISRO website, the short-term goal is to demonstrate human spaceflight to Low Earth Orbit, while the long-term goal is to lay the foundation for a 'sustained Indian human space exploration programme'. Success in its ultimate objective — proving that India is capable of indigenously developing this complex technology — would be a huge boost for ISRO. 3. Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, Group Captain Ajit Krishnan, Group Captain Angad Pratap, and Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla are India's astronauts-designate for Gaganyaan. 4. ISRO will use its LVM3 rocket for all of Gaganyaan missions. LVM3, earlier called GSLV-MkIII, is the Indian space agency's most powerful launch vehicle that has flown seven times without failure. The rocket consists of liquid stage, solid stage, and cryogenic stage. (1) Consider the following space missions: I. Axiom-4 II. SpaDeX III. Gaganyaan How many of the space missions given above encourage and support micro-gravity research? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None (2) With reference to the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), consider the following statements: 1. It is the second government-sponsored human spaceflight mission in over 40 years. 2. The mission will carry an all-Indian crew on its journey. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 (Sources: NASA to launch Axiom Mission 4, Why a seat for Shukla on Axiom-4 is a big moment for India's space programme) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – Indian Express UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for May 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at Roshni Yadav is a Deputy Copy Editor with The Indian Express. She is an alumna of the University of Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru University, where she pursued her graduation and post-graduation in Political Science. She has over five years of work experience in ed-tech and media. At The Indian Express, she writes for the UPSC section. Her interests lie in national and international affairs, governance, economy, and social issues. You can contact her via email: ... Read More
Economic Times
2 hours ago
- Economic Times
Ax-4 mission marks historic spaceflight for India, Poland, and Hungary
The Ax-4 crew and SpaceX teams have successfully completed a full rehearsal of launch day activities ahead of their scheduled liftoff on Tuesday, June 10, SpaceX said in a post on their official X (formerly Twitter) handle."The Ax-4 crew and SpaceX teams completed a full rehearsal of launch day activities ahead of liftoff on Tuesday," SpaceX stated. The Ax-4 mission, launched by Axiom Space, features an international crew from the United States, India, Poland, and Hungary. Representing India is Ax-4 mission pilot Shubhanshu Shukla, announced by Axiom Space on their X handle, alongside acknowledgment from ISRO. The mission is targeted for launch at 8:22 a.m. ET on Tuesday, June 10, from NASA's Kennedy Space Center aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. The International Space Station also acknowledged the upcoming mission on their official X to Axiom Space, the Ax-4 mission will "realize the return" to human spaceflight for India, Poland, and Hungary, marking each nation's first government-sponsored flight in more than 40 years. While this is the second human spaceflight mission in history for these countries, it will be the first time all three will execute a mission aboard the International Space Station. This historic mission highlights how Axiom Space is redefining access to low-Earth orbit and elevating national space programs Ax-4 crew includes members from India, Poland, and Hungary, marking each nation's first mission to the space station in history and the second government-sponsored human spaceflight mission in over 40 years, according to Axiom Shukla will be India's second national astronaut to go to space since 1984. Slawosz Uznanski, European Space Agency (ESA) project astronaut, will be the second Polish astronaut since 1978. Tibor Kapu will be the second national Hungarian astronaut since Whitson will command her second commercial human spaceflight mission, adding to her standing record for the longest cumulative time in space by an American will be the second commercial spaceflight mission made up of government and ESA-sponsored national astronauts. The Ax-4 mission stands as a beacon of opportunity for India, Poland, and Hungary, each poised to leverage this mission to advance their national space Ax-4 research complement includes around 60 scientific studies and activities representing 31 countries, including the U.S., India, Poland, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Nigeria, UAE, and nations across Europe. This will be the most research and science-related activities conducted on an Axiom Space mission aboard the International Space Station to date, underscoring the mission's global significance and collaborative nature to advance microgravity research in low-Earth orbit (LEO), per Axiom mission emphasizes scientific portfolios led by the U.S., India, Poland (in partnership with ESA), and Hungary. It aims to boost participation in these countries by involving diverse stakeholders, showcasing the value of microgravity research, and fostering international studies will enhance global knowledge in human research, Earth observation, and life, biological, and material sciences, demonstrating the space research capabilities of the crew's home nations.
