India has marked a historic leap in space exploration with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force taking off into space aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft on a Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida — the very launchpad from which Neil Armstrong departed for the Moon on Apollo 11 in 1969.
Group Captain Shukla becomes the second Indian astronaut to travel into space, following Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, who made his voyage in 1984 as part of a Soviet mission. Ahead of the launch, Shukla was under quarantine for over a month to ensure he remained medically fit for the mission.
Axiom-4 Heads to ISS for 60 Scientific Experiments
Shukla is joined by a three-member international crew aboard the Axiom-4 mission, which includes mission commander Peggy Whitson from the U.S., specialist Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland, and specialist Tibor Kapu from Hungary. The four-member team is en route to the International Space Station (ISS).
During their fortnight-long mission, the crew will conduct 60 scientific experiments, including seven experiments proposed by Indian researchers. Group Captain Shukla is also expected to interact with a VIP from space during the mission.
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The launch of Axiom-4, which was delayed several times due to unfavourable weather and technical issues, finally occurred on June 25, marking the sixth date announced by NASA for the mission.
Before lift-off, Group Captain Shukla shared an emotional message: “I carry with me not just instruments and equipment, but the hopes and dreams of a billion hearts.”
In another message sent to his family just before the historic flight, he said: “Just wait for me, I’m coming.”
The spacecraft is expected to dock at the ISS around 4:30 pm tomorrow, following a 28-hour journey in orbit.
