The launch of Axiom Space’s upcoming mission to the International Space Station (ISS), featuring Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, has been postponed to June 10. The mission, originally scheduled for June 8, will now lift off aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
Shukla, serving as the pilot of the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission, is set to become the second Indian citizen to travel to space—marking a major milestone four decades after Rakesh Sharma’s historic flight aboard Russia’s Soyuz T-11 in 1984.
Joining Shukla on the Ax-4 crew are Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. The international team will undertake a 14-day mission focused on conducting advanced scientific research and technology demonstrations aboard the orbiting laboratory.
India-Centric Space Experiments
A major highlight of the mission is a set of exclusive food and nutrition-related experiments designed under a collaborative effort between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), with backing from NASA. These studies aim to explore sustainable food systems for space, including experiments on sprouting fenugreek (methi) and green gram (moong) in microgravity conditions.
According to Union Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh, the research led by Shukla is expected to play a crucial role in shaping India’s future human spaceflight programs, including the upcoming Gaganyaan mission.
Shukla will also investigate the effects of microgravity on skeletal muscle function and test potential therapeutic measures to mitigate muscle deterioration in space. In addition, the pilot-astronaut will evaluate the impact of continuous electronic display exposure on cognitive and physiological health—an essential factor for ensuring crew well-being on longer missions.
Axiom-4 Mission Scope
The Ax-4 astronauts are set to carry out around 60 experiments representing the scientific interests of 31 countries. The mission represents a growing trend of international collaboration in space, with Axiom Space enabling astronauts from a wide range of backgrounds to contribute to global research objectives aboard the ISS.
About Shubhanshu Shukla
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla brings over 2,000 hours of flying experience to the mission. A distinguished fighter pilot and test pilot in the Indian Air Force (IAF), he has flown several aircraft types, including the Sukhoi-30MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Dornier, Hawk, and An-32.
After completing his schooling, Shukla joined the prestigious National Defence Academy and was commissioned into the IAF in June 2006. He steadily rose through the ranks, eventually attaining the post of Group Captain.
His participation in the Ax-4 mission signals a new era for India’s human spaceflight ambitions, underlining the country’s growing role in global space exploration.
