Shubhanshu Shukla Heads To Space As Falcon 9 With Axiom-4 Crew Lifts Off

Indian science and technology minister Jitendra Singh congratulated Shukla soon after lift-off.

"Indeed a proud moment for India!" he wrote on X.

India's space agency, ISRO, sees this flight as a key stepping stone toward its own maiden crewed mission, planned for 2027 under the Gaganyaan program, meaning "sky craft" in Hindi.

India, Poland and Hungary are footing the bill for their astronauts. Hungary announced in 2022 it was paying $100 million for its seat, according to spacenews.com. India and Poland have not disclosed how much they're spending.

Watch: India's Shubhanshu Shukla sets off on a historic space odyssey on board Axiom-4 mission to International Space Station.

"As Group Captain Subhanshu Shukla creates a new milestone in space for India, the whole nation is excited and proud of an Indian’s journey into the stars. He and his fellow astronauts of Axiom Mission 4 from the US, Poland and Hungary prove the world is indeed one family – ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’. My best wishes for the success of this mission, which reflects the enduring partnership between NASA and ISRO. The wide ranging experiments to be performed by the crew will lead to new frontiers of scientific studies and space exploration," President Droupadi Murmu said in a post on X.

Eight minutes after the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket blasted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, carrying a four-member Crew Dragon capsule to the International Space Station - it returned safely to Earth.

Axiom 4 Mission pilot, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla says, "Namaskar, my dear countrymen! What a ride! We are back in the space once again after 41 years. It's an amazing ride. We are revolving around the Earth at a speed of 7.5 kilometres per second. The Tiranga embossed on my shoulders tells me that I am with all of you. This journey of mine is not a beginning to the International Space Station (ISS) but to India's Human Space Programme. I want all of you to be part of this journey. Your chest, too, should swell with pride...Together, let's initiate India's Human Space Programme. Jai Hind! Jai Bharat!"

These were the first words from orbit spoken by Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, shortly after the Axiom-4 mission successfully entered Earth orbit.

Tears in her eyes, prayers on her lips, a distraught Asha Shukla stared unblinkingly at a large screen as the Axiom-4 spacecraft headed to the International Space Station with her son, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla (39)

"I want each one of you to be part of this journey, let us embark on India's human space programme together," said Shubhanshu Shukla from Dragon spacecraft.

Bengaluru, Karnataka: On Axiom-4 mission launch, Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium Director Dr B R Guruprasad says, "...It is very significant and a matter of pride, happiness, and excitement for all the 140 crore Indians because Subhanshu is the pilot in this mission. The mission's commander is Peggy Whitson, a woman with extensive experience at NASA, now serving as the human spaceflight director at AXIOM-4, a private company. The other two crew members, Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary, are both mission specialists, meaning they perform experiments. Although the Crew Dragon spacecraft is automated, the pilot and commander have many responsibilities..."

Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla listened to Yun Hi Chala Chal, composed by AR Rehman before his spacecraft lifted off from Kennedy Space Centre. 

Axiom 4's autonomously operated Crew Dragon was expected to reach the ISS after a flight of about 28 hours, then dock with the outpost as the two vehicles soar together in orbit some 250 miles (400 km) above Earth.

A US commercial mission carrying astronauts from India, Poland and Hungary lifted off to the International Space Station Wednesday, taking people from these countries to space for the first time in decades.

The Axiom Mission 4, or Ax-4, launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 2:31 am (0631 GMT), with a brand-new SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule riding atop a Falcon 9 rocket.

With less than 60 seconds remaining before a possible abort, a critical technical issue was resolved this morning, paving the way for the launch of Axiom Mission 4 from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.

Shubhanshu Shukla Heads To Space As Falcon 9 With Axiom-4 Crew Lifts Off

Watch: Lift Off for Ax4. The Ax4 crew is on its way to the Space Station.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 with the Crew Dragon capsule and four astronauts lifted off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, carrying the dreams of 1.4 billion Indians to send a second 'Gaganyatri' to the space after a gap of over 40 years.

Stage 2 of Axiom Mission Has Been Activated, Says NASA. 

The Main Engine Cut Off of Axiom 4 mission successful, says NASA

Shubhanshu Shukla Heads To Space As Falcon 9 With Axiom-4 Crew Lifts Off

Shubhanshu Shukla Leaves For Space With Lift Off Of SpaceX Falcon 9 

With less than 2 minutes to go, the final countdown has begun for the launch of Shubhanshu Shukla's Axiom Mission 4 launch. 

With less than 10 minutes to go, the final countdown has begun for the launch of Shubhanshu Shukla’s Axiom Mission 4 launch. 

Over five years ago, Falcon 9 launched our first human spaceflight mission to orbit – NASA’s Demo-2 mission, which returned human spaceflight to the United States.

Since then, Dragon has safely flown 66 crewmembers from 17 countries, and today’s mission marks the first national mission to the International Space Station for India, Poland, and Hungary.

Dragon missions have enabled more than 1,000 science and research projects in low-Earth orbit and aboard the orbiting laboratory, including flying 60 scientific studies representing 31 countries for today’s Ax-4 mission.

Global Astronaut Community Send Their Good Wishes For Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla

After multiple delays, Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and three others are all set to travel to the International Space Station on Wednesday with SpaceX announcing that the weather was 90 per cent favourable for lift-off.

"All systems are looking good for Wednesday's launch of @Axiom_Space's Ax-4 mission to the @Space_Station and weather is 90% favorable for liftoff," SpaceX, which is providing transport for the space mission, said in a post on X.

NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX are now targeting 12.01 PM (IST), Wednesday, June 25, for launch of the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, Axiom Mission 4, NASA said.

Watch NDTV's special coverage on Axiom-4 mission launch as Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla takes off for the International Space Station (ISS) today.

The Axiom-4 mission, which marks the return to space for India, Hungary, and Poland, is scheduled for lift-off from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on June 25 onboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket at 12:01 pm IST on Wednesday.

The Axiom-4 commercial mission is led by Commander Peggy Whitson, with Shukla as mission pilot and Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu and Poland's Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski as mission specialists.

Axiom, with SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket, managed by Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will spend 14 to 21 days in space: Scientist RC Kapoor

Hours before his historic journey to space, Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, preparing to board a SpaceX spacecraft bound for the International Space Station (ISS), shared a message with his family: "Just wait for me, I'm coming."

Early in the morning today, his mother performed an Indian ritual. She "fed him" dahi cheeni, a mixture of yoghurt and sugar, virtually, via video call. It is a tradition observed by many Indian households before embarking upon anything important, believed to bring good luck. "We just told him to go and complete his mission, and then we will meet again," his mother told NDTV. 

"These are tears of joy. Maybe because he is going so far away," said his sister. "We don't have any scale for how excited we can be. We are happy and proud. But it's a kind of mix of emotions." 

"Before leaving for the mission, when he was getting ready, he spoke to us. He was smiling. He was happy. He was waiting for this moment for a long time," she added. 

Axiom-4 mission (also known as Ax-4), which is carrying four astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS), is finally taking off today (Wednesday).

While aboard the ISS, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is set to speak with a high-profile Indian VIP -- widely speculated in Indian media to be Prime Minister Narendra Modi -- in a soft-power moment aimed at stoking national pride.

A fighter pilot to the core, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla's favourite song is from actor Hrithik Roshan's 2024 film 'Fighter'.

Space Kidz India CEO & Founder Srimathi Kesan, on Axiom Mission 4 launch, says, “After a long wait, today is a big day for everybody. Space is borderless. With all the unrest going on around, (Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla's) Axiom 4 mission is all set to launch and bring the message of peace.” 

The Axiom Mission 4, carrying Indian Air Force's Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and three other astronauts to space, will lift off from Kennedy Space Centre in Florida after a series of delays due to weather and technical issues.

As India eagerly waits for its giant cosmic leap, the first visuals from inside the SpaceX spacecraft are flashing on TV screens. The visuals show Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, all geared up, along with three others, for the big launch

NASA’s mission coverage is as follows (all times Eastern and subject to change based on real-time operations):

Wednesday, June 25

12:30 a.m. – Axiom Space and SpaceX launch coverage begins.

1:40 a.m. – NASA joins the launch coverage on NASA+.

2:31 a.m. – Launch

NASA will end coverage following orbital insertion, which is approximately 15 minutes after launch. As it is a commercial launch, NASA will not provide a clean launch feed on its channels.

Thursday, June 26

5 a.m. – Arrival coverage begins on NASA+, Axiom Space, and SpaceX channels.

7 a.m. – Targeted docking to the space-facing port of the station’s Harmony module.

Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is set to lift off today aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket as part of the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4).

Watch Falcon 9 launch Dragon and Axiom Space's Ax-4 mission to the International Space Station.

As Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and three others are all set to travel to the International Space Station under Axiom-4 mission, his father Shambhu Dayal Shukla says, "We are very excited, proud, it is a big day for all of us. My son is bringing glory, we are known by his name. He had informed about the mission, he has embarked for the mission. It is like a festival for us."

India's Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is all set to script history, as Axiom-4 mission is all set to be launched from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida today. The Indian Air Force Group Captain is heading to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 Mission. 

Visuals from his residence in Lucknow, UP.

"All systems are looking good for Wednesday’s launch of  @Axiom_Space’s Ax-4 mission to the @Space_Station and weather is 90% favorable for liftoff. Webcast starts at 12:30 a.m. ET," SpaceX said in a post on X.

The mission comes after of an explosive online spat between US President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, the world's richest person and, until recently, Trump's ally and advisor. Trump threatened to yank SpaceX's federal contracts -- worth tens of billions of dollars -- prompting Musk to threaten an early retirement of Dragon, the only American spacecraft currently certified to carry astronauts to the ISS.

Musk walked back the threat a few hours later and in the days that followed, sought to distance himself further, writing on X that he had gone "too far."

Any rupture between SpaceX and the US government would be massively disruptive, given NASA and the Pentagon's reliance on Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy to send up crew, cargo, satellites and probes. But for now, analysts believe both sides are too entangled to risk a serious break.

The upcoming flight marks the debut of the fifth and final Crew Dragon vehicle, which will be named once it reaches orbit, joining Endeavour, Resilience, Endurance and Freedom in the active fleet.  SpaceX ultimately plans to phase out its current vehicles in the 2030s in favor of Starship, its giant next-generation rocket currently in development.

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is all set to become India's first visitor to the International Space Station as he takes baby steps for India's ambitious Rs 33,000 crore Gaganyaan programme.

Aboard the spacecraft will be pilot Shubhanshu Shukla of India; mission specialists Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary; and commander Peggy Whitson of the United States, a former NASA astronaut who now works for the company Axiom Space, which organizes private spaceflights, among other things.

The last time India, Poland or Hungary sent people to space, their current crop of astronauts had not yet been born -- and back then they were called cosmonauts, as they all flew on Soviet missions before the Iron Curtain fell.

Axiom Mission 4, or Ax-4, will launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 2:31 am (0631 GMT), with a brand-new SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule riding atop a Falcon 9 rocket. 

The vehicle is scheduled to dock with the orbital lab on Thursday at approximately 1100 GMT and remain there for up to 14 days.

Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla is set to become the first Indian in space since Rakesh Sharma, an Air Force pilot who traveled to the Salyut 7 space station in 1984 as part of a Soviet-led initiative to help allied countries access space.

India's space agency, ISRO, sees this flight as a key stepping stone toward its own maiden crewed mission, planned for 2027 under the Gaganyaan program, meaning "sky craft" in Hindi.

The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft flying on a Falcon-9 rocket will lift off from the Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida -- the spot from where Neil Armstrong had set off for the moon on Apollo 11 in 1969. 

Axiom Mission 4 to the International Space Station -- carrying India's Shubhanshu Shukla and three other astronauts -- will lift off at 12.01 pm on Wednesday. The launch was earlier scheduled for June 22, but had to be deferred.