Proud Moment: Axiom Mission 4 Carrying Shubhanshu Shukla, 3 Others in Orbit

Nellore: After several delays, the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission, featuring Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, was successfully launched on Wednesday. The crew lifted off aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft at 2.31 am ET (12.01 pm IST) from Launch Complex 39A at Nasa’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The spacecraft, which is in earth’s orbit, is scheduled to dock with the International Space Station (ISS) around 4.30 pm IST on Thursday. It will connect to the space-facing port of the Harmony module.

Group Captain Shukla is the pilot of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, a commercial mission by Axiom Space, to space for research. He will be the first Indian in the ISS and the second, after Rakesh Sharma, to fly into space after 41 years.

Apart from Shukla, the Ax-4 crew includes Commander Peggy Whitson from the United States, mission specialist Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland, and mission specialist Tibor Kapu from Hungary.

The crew is scheduled to remain at the space station for about two weeks, conducting microgravity research, educational outreach, and commercial activities before returning to Earth, in a splashdown off the coast of California.

Once in orbit, Shukla relayed an emotional message saying all Indians can join his journey to space, about which he will keep informing from time to time. “Namaskar mere pyare deshwasiyon. What a ride!!! Kamaal ki ride thi (It was a great ride),” Shukla said soon after the Dragon spacecraft was placed in orbit around the Earth at an altitude of 200 km.

“…We have reached space after 41 years. It was a great ride. We are orbiting earth at a speed of 7.5 km per second. I have the Indian tricolour embossed on my shoulders, which tells me that I am with all of you. It is not just the start of my journey to the ISS but also of India's human spaceflight. I want each one of you to be part of this journey. Let us embark on India's human space programme together. You should also feel proud. You should also show the same excitement. Join me at the beginning of this journey of the space programme of India,” Shukla said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined the nation in congratulating Shukla on the takeoff as his parents watched the scenes on television in Lucknow, with tears rolling down their cheeks.

“We welcome the successful launch of the space mission carrying astronauts from India, Hungary, Poland and the US. The Indian astronaut, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, is on the way to become the first Indian to go to the International Space Station. He carries with him the wishes, hopes and aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians. Wish him and other astronauts all the success!” Modi wrote on X after the takeoff. The Union Cabinet also passed a resolution congratulating Shukla.

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and congratulated Shubhansu Shukla and wished him the mission a safe and successful voyage.

Ax-4 serves as a stepping stone toward Axiom Space’s broader vision — the construction of Axiom Station, the world’s first commercial space station. By enabling research, validating operational procedures, and strengthening international collaboration in low-Earth orbit, Ax-4 is laying the foundation for a future where commercial platforms sustain long-term human presence in space.

Once the spaceship achieved nominal orbital insertion, its commander, Peggy Whitson, declared the name of the spacecraft as “Grace”, to which SpaceX told the crew: “Good things come to those who wait. Godspeed to the maiden crew of Grace.”

“Congratulations to Axiom Space and SpaceX on a successful launch,” said Nasa acting administrator Janet Petro. “…US industry is enabling astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary to return to space for the first time in over forty years. It’s a powerful example of American leadership bringing nations together in pursuit of science, discovery, and opportunity,” she added.

A live webcast of the spacecraft’s docking with the ISS will begin approximately two hours before the event, at 5 am ET (4.30 pm IST) on Thursday, June 26. Space enthusiasts can follow the event at axiom.space/live, spacex.com/launches, and on NASA+.

The broadcast will include coverage of the spacecraft’s approach, docking, and crew arrival on the station, where NASA’s Expedition Crew will welcome them during a formal ceremony. The mission will then begin in earnest, with the crew engaging in microgravity research, technology demonstrations, and international outreach activities aboard the orbiting laboratory.

In Lucknow, Shukla’s family and friends watched with pride and awe as his spaceship lifted off. "It's a great moment not just for us but for our country. What can we say at this moment, I am struggling for words now. My blessings are always there with my son,” said his father, Shambhu Shukla, while his mother Asha struggled for words. "I am eagerly looking forward to his return after a successful mission,” she sai,d knowing fully that till her son returns, she has to keep her fingers crossed. At the same time, she also knows the good wishes of the entire nation are with Shukla, fondly called “Shux” by his friends and colleagues.