Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is all set to embark on his first space journey, as the Ax-4 (Aziom Mission 4) crew enters the final phase of preparations for their upcoming mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The launch is scheduled for Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at 5:54 PM IST.
As part of the final pre-launch exercises, the Ax-4 crew conducted a full dress rehearsal that replicated the entire launch day sequence. Clad in the SpaceX flight suit, the astronauts rehearsed everything—from leaving the assembly building to boarding the Dragon spacecraft and simulating the final countdown procedures.
The Ax-4 crew and SpaceX teams completed a full rehearsal of launch day activities ahead of liftoff on Tuesday pic.twitter.com/MEhuTdeuDf
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) June 8, 2025
Veteran NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson is leading the Ax-4 mission, which includes crew members from the United States, India, Poland, and Hungary. The team will lift off aboard the Dragon spacecraft, which will be launched atop a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
Clad in the SpaceX flight suit, the astronauts rehearsed everything—from leaving the assembly building to boarding the Dragon spacecraft. (Photo: @SpaceX/X)
This marks the first flight for the Dragon spacecraft supporting the Ax-4 mission, while the Falcon 9’s first stage booster will be making its second trip, having previously been used for a Starlink mission. Following stage separation, the booster is expected to return and land at Landing Zone 1 (LZ-1).
The Axiom Mission 4
Once on the International Space Station, the Ax-4 crew will spend 14 days conducting more than 60 scientific experiments and technology demonstrations. Their work will focus on human research, Earth observation, and a range of life, biological, and material sciences.
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Sharing his excitement ahead of the launch, Shubhanshu Shukla—nicknamed “Shux”—described his training and preparation as an “amazing journey.” In a video message released by Axiom Space, the Lucknow-born astronaut said, “These are the moments that really tell you that you are getting to be a part of something that is much larger than yourself. I can only say how extremely fortunate I am to be a part of this.”
Shukla will become the second Indian to travel to space, following in the footsteps of Rakesh Sharma, who flew aboard a Soviet Soyuz spacecraft in 1984 for an eight-day mission in orbit.
