Shubhanshu's Space Mission: NASA Shares Crucial Update

Indian space enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the upcoming space journey of Shubhanshu Shukla, and NASA has now released an important update regarding the mission. As announced by ISRO, the launch is scheduled for June 22, and NASA has confirmed the exact launch time — 1:12 PM (local time) from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

This mission will send four astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary to the International Space Station (ISS). Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will serve as the pilot of the mission.

The spaceflight is part of the Ax-4 (Axiom Mission 4), a human spaceflight initiative by Axiom Space, a U.S.-based private space company. The astronauts will be launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, and Shukla is set to make history as the first Indian astronaut to reach the ISS via a private space mission.

India’s only other space traveler, Rakesh Sharma, flew to space in 1984 with support from the Soviet Union. After nearly four decades, Shubhanshu will become the next Indian to embark on a space mission, this time in collaboration with NASA. He will conduct scientific research aboard the ISS, as part of his pilot responsibilities. Shukla has already shared that he is eagerly looking forward to participating in the mission.

Multiple Delays

The Ax-4 mission has faced several delays due to technical issues. Originally scheduled for May 29, the launch was first pushed to June 8, then postponed again to June 10, and then to June 11. The delays were attributed to a liquid oxygen leakage discovered during routine checks of the Falcon 9 rocket. SpaceX stated that more time was needed to complete repairs, leading to further postponements.

Although ISRO recently announced June 19 as the revised launch date, it was once again rescheduled. On Wednesday, ISRO confirmed via social media (X) that the mission would now launch on June 22.

Axiom Space has stated that all necessary precautions are being taken to ensure the mission’s success. Due to recent leakage issues at the ISS, some additional maintenance work had to be carried out, which also contributed to the launch delay. The mission's schedule was re-evaluated based on these factors, leading to the new launch date.

If successful, this mission will mark a historic milestone for India in the realm of private human space travel.