'New chapter to Indian space odyssey': IAF wishes Axiom-4 captain Shubhanshu Shukla; Isro team on ground for launch
As Group Captain
is all set to embark on the Axiom-4 mission on Wednesday, the Indian Air Force wished him good luck and said that this will add a new chapter to the Indian Space Odyssey.
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The Axiom-4 mission, which will take four astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS), will start its journey on June 11. Earlier it was scheduled for Monday, but due to bad weather, mission was postponed for a day.
"As Group Captain Shubahanshu Shukla prepares to embark on Axiom-4 space mission tomorrow, Chief of the Air Staff and all Air Warriors of IAF wish him and the entire crew of Axiom-4 all the best for a safe and successful trip to the International Space Station.
This will add a new chapter to the Indian Space Odyssey," Indian air force said in a post on X.
Both the Falcon-9, the rocket and the Crew Dragon spacecraft have already reached Kennedy Space Centre's (KSC) Launch Complex-39A. Early on Sunday here, SpaceX had even completed the static firing of the Falcon-9. 'Teams are reviewing static fire test data ahead of Tuesday's launch of Ax-4 and keeping an eye on weather in the ascent corridor,' SpaceX had said, indicating that weather could be a factor.
Axiom Space had confirmed late on Sunday that the Ax-4 crew — veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson (US), Polish engineer Sławosz Uznański, Hungarian researcher Tibor Kapu, and Shukla — and SpaceX teams completed a full rehearsal of launch day activities ahead of liftoff.
Isro chairman V Narayanan, who has already reached the US to participate in the launch, also confirmed the delay. Isro has a team, mostly people from its Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC), including Gaganyaan flight surgeons as part of its delegation.Isro and Axiom Space sources confirmed that the delay is only owing to adverse weather conditions and that they were hopeful of the launch on June 11.
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