Track Shubhanshu Shukla's Journey To Space Station With One Click
The Axiom-4 mission, aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket, carrying Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and three other astronauts, finally lifted off on Wednesday after facing multiple delays and postponements.
The mission was launched at 2:31 am EDT (12:01 pm IST) from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida to commence its 28-and-a-half-hour journey to the International Space Station (ISS).
The Axiom-4 mission will last 14 days, during which the crew will conduct more than 60 experiments related to microgravity research. The ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) sees the Axiom-4 mission as an important step towards its first-ever human space mission, called Gaganyaan, expected to launch by 2027.
If you're a space enthusiast who wants to keep track of where Mr Shukla's spacecraft is, here's how you can do it.
The spacecraft is currently in orbit and has already spent over 21 hours and 46 minutes in space. It is travelling at a speed of 26,500 km/h at an altitude of 413 km above Earth. The crew is expected to reach the ISS at around 7 am EST (4:30 pm IST).
Viewers can track the mission live here.
The Axiom 4 mission, which involves Axiom Space, NASA, and SpaceX, is historic for India, Poland, and Hungary - the three countries that sent their astronauts to space in nearly 50 years.
Rakesh Sharma, an Indian Air Force pilot, was the last Indian to travel to the Salyut 7 space station in 1984 as part of a Soviet-led initiative to help friendly nations access Space.
For Poland, it was Miroslaw Hermaszewski, who travelled to the Salyut 6 space station aboard the Soyuz 30 capsule in 1978.
Bertalan Farkasm was the last Hungarian to go to space, aboard the Soyuz 36, in 1980.
Shubhanshu Shukla, moments after lift-off, 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," he added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
40 minutes ago
- News18
Shubhanshu Shukla Sends Message After Historic Axiom-4 Launch ‘Namaskar from Space!'
'Namaskar, I am thrilled to be here!' – With these heartfelt words, Shubhanshu Shukla made history as he became the second Indian ever to travel to space, joining the Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS).This video captures the moment Shukla shared his excitement and pride in representing India on a global platform. His message from orbit has struck a chord with millions, inspiring the next generation of Indian space as part of the Axiom Space program, Shukla is part of a growing trend of commercial space missions bringing international astronauts to the ISS. He follows in the footsteps of Rakesh Sharma, India's first space in for the full message, reactions from ISRO, and what this mission means for India's space diplomacy and private-sector space race. n18oc_indian18oc_worldNews18 Mobile App -
Economic Times
40 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Why do astronauts take soft toys to space? Shubhanshu Shukla carries swan 'Joy'. A look at their companions from past missions
As soft toy swan 'Joy' floated towards astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla during alive stream from space, it joined the long legacy of Zero-G soft toy indicators. From Olaf, to Red from Angry Birds and Buzz Lightyear from Toys. (Images: X/ ISRO Spaceflight, NASA) When Indian astronaut c greeted the world from space with a namaste and a floating soft toy swan named Joy , it was far more than just a cute interlude. 'It looks really cute, but we have a very important swan in Indian culture,' said Shukla in his live broadcast from the International Space Station as part of the Axiom Mission 4. 'The swan symbolises wisdom. It also has the ability to discern… what needs to be focused on and what does not,' he explained, making it clear that Joy was not merely an ornamental object but a deeply symbolic choice. Joy was officially serving as a Zero-G indicator, a now-iconic tradition aboard spaceflights to demonstrate when the spacecraft enters microgravity. These toys, typically suspended near the crew, begin to float as soon as zero gravity kicks in, offering a visual cue that the spacecraft has entered orbit. Launched aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, Shukla's mission is the fourth under private space company Axiom's banner. But while the mission represents a milestone for private spaceflight and international collaboration, it's the swan that has won hearts on Earth. Shukla's Joy joins a legacy of adorable, meaningful, and sometimes pop-culture-driven soft toys that have soared into the cosmos with astronauts. According to the Copernicus Science Centre, this tradition goes back as far as Yuri Gagarin's pioneering flight. The first human in space brought along a small doll, beginning a whimsical yet meaningful ritual that continues today. In 2012, the 'Angry Red Bird' plush from the mobile game Angry Birds was part of a mission to explain physics in space. Olaf from Frozen made it aboard the Soyuz TMA-15M in 2014, courtesy of cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov fulfilling a promise to his daughter. Buzz Lightyear, the Toy Story astronaut action figure, travelled aboard Space Shuttle Discovery and remained on the ISS for 15 months. And in recent years, SpaceX has taken the tradition mainstream with Zero-G indicators like a plush Baby Yoda, a penguin named GuinGuin , and a sparkly dinosaur called Tremor . — airandspace (@airandspace) These aren't just passengers for show. As NASA's 2004 'Toys in Space' initiative highlighted, these objects serve as engaging tools to demonstrate how motion, gravity, and physics work differently in microgravity. Japanese astronaut Satoshi Furukawa even built a LEGO model of the ISS while aboard it, bringing childhood pastimes into orbit for educational and scientific purposes. Shukla's choice of a swan connects these floating companions to cultural identity and heritage. While Olaf or Baby Yoda draw on global media icons, Joy represents something uniquely Indian—a cultural motif steeped in ancient philosophy and national symbolism. 'We all have some symbolism—in Poland, in Hungary, in India,' Shukla said in his broadcast. 'It looks like a coincidence but it's not. It has more meaning.' As astronauts continue to push the boundaries of exploration, their Zero-G companions reflect both scientific curiosity and emotional grounding. In Joy , Shubhanshu Shukla has carried not just a symbol of gravity lost, but of wisdom held close.
NDTV
43 minutes ago
- NDTV
" Tiranga Yaad Dila Raha Ki...": Shubhanshu Shukla's Hindi Message From Space
Washington: Hours before docking at the International Space Station (ISS), Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla sent an emotional message to his fellow Indians, urging them to be part of his space journey and take pride in India's achievements. In a message in Hindi--his mother tongue-- Shukla said his participation in SpaceX's Axiom 4 mission is a "solid and steady" step in the direction where India's human space programme is going with ISRO's Gaganyaan mission. An Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientist, Shukla, is part of a four-member commercial mission by Axiom Space. The Axiom Mission 4, or Ax-4, was launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on Wednesday. " Iss samay main space main bahoot hi zayada utsahit aur proud feel kar raha hun. Jab ham launch kar rahe the to Tiranga mere spacesuit ke shoulder pe tha, jo mujhe ye yaad dila raha tha ki main ye jouney akele nahi undertake kar raha balkil app sab mere saath hain (I am feeling very excited and round in the space right now. When we were being launched, the tricolour (Indian flag) on my spacesuit's shoulder was reminding me that I was not undertaking this journey alone, but you all are with me)," Shukla said from the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule--riding atop a Falcon 9 rocket. Shukla, along with his crew members--mission specialists Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary; and commander Peggy Whitson of the United States-- is set to dock at ISS at 4:30 pm on Thursday. " Ye ISS tak jane ke liye meri journey ki shuruaat hai. Abhi ham log kuch hi ghanto main International Space Station pe dock karenge aur fir ham wahanpe jake rahenge. Ye ek solid and stady step hai uss direction main jiss taraf ham ja rahe hain Gaganyaan jaise missions ko lele. (This is the beginning of my journey to ISS. We will dock at the International Space Station in a few hours and then stay there. This is a solid and steady step towards the direction we are joining with missions like Gaganyaan)," he said. The Indian astronaut urged Indians to be part of his journey and feel the pride that's in his heart. " Ye sab sirf hamare technical accomplishment ko nahi darshata hai, bakli ye hamare hopes and hamare ambitions and aspiration ko darshata hai ki ham kiss taraf jana chahate hain (this journey not just represents our technical accomplishment, but it's also a representation of India's ambitions and aspirations)," he said. He added that during his 14-day stay at ISS, he would not only fulfil his tasks there, but also document his journey in videos and photos to share it with the world. " Main chahata hun ki aap mere through ye journey experience karen aur iska hissa bane (I want you to experience this journey through me)," he said. With this flight, Shukla became only the second Indian citizen in space and the first to reach the International Space Station, orbiting Earth at 7.5 kilometres per second. The last Indian in space, Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, flew as part of a joint Indo-Soviet mission in April 1984. ISRO sees this flight as a key stepping stone toward its own maiden crewed mission, planned for 2027 under the Gaganyaan program, meaning "sky craft."
