Nasa reveals when India's Shubhanshu Shukla will dock Dragon to Space Station
India's Shubhanshu Shukla is all set to launch on a historic mission to the International Space Station as the pilot of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.Set to lift off on June 10, 2025, Shukla, India's second astronaut set to go to space, will launch with the Ax-4 mission on a 14-day round trip to space. He will be conducting seven different experiments for India as part of the ambitious private mission.advertisementThe Dragon spacecraft will launch aboard the Falcon-9 rocket at 5:52 pm IST to rendezvous with the Space Station flying over 400 kilometres above the surface of Earth. WHEN WILL DOCKING HAPPEN?
The Dragon spacecraft will take over 24 hours to align with the Space Station before it autonomously begins the critical docking procedure.Nasa has said that the docking will happen at 10:00 pm on Wednesday, June 11."Our mission responsibility is for integrated operations, which begins during the spacecraft's approach to the space station, continues during the crew's approximately two-week stay aboard the orbiting laboratory while conducting science, education, and commercial activities, and concludes once the spacecraft exits the station," Nasa said.The private mission carries the first astronauts from India, Poland and Hungary to stay aboard the space station.
The four astronauts are currently in quarantine ahead of the launch. (Photo: Axiom)
advertisement"As part of a collaboration between NASA and ISRO, Axiom Mission 4 delivers on a commitment highlighted by President Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to send the first ISRO astronaut to the station. The space agencies are participating in five joint science investigations and two in-orbit science, technology, engineering, and mathematics demonstrations," Nasa added.The four astronauts are currently in quarantine ahead of the launch. "I carry not just technical equipment but the hopes and dreams of 1.7 billion Indians. I will be conducting seven scientific experiments that could contribute significantly to our understanding of microgravity and pave the way for future space research. In many ways, I see myself as a bridge between Earth and space," Shukla said in a briefing, ahead of launch. Must Watch
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