Axiom-4 Mission, To Be Piloted By India’s Gp Capt Shubhanshu Shukla, Delayed— Here’s Why

The launch of the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission, which includes Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, has been postponed to Wednesday, June 11, due to unfavourable weather conditions. The mission, originally scheduled for June 10, is now expected to lift off at 5:30 PM IST (8:00 AM EDT) aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.

Shukla is poised to make history as the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS) and only the second Indian to travel to space, four decades after Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 mission aboard the Soviet Soyuz spacecraft.

Ax-4, which marks India’s growing collaboration with NASA and the commercial space sector, is also expected to provide valuable experience for India’s first manned mission to space, Gaganyaan.

Why was the Axiom-4 launch delayed?

According to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the launch was pushed back due to weather-related concerns. “Due to weather conditions, the launch of Axiom-4 mission for sending Indian Gaganyatri to International Space Station is postponed from 10th June 2025 to 11th June 2025,” ISRO posted on social media platform X.

Despite the delay, the Ax-4 crew—consisting of astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary—has completed all launch day rehearsals. This mission marks the first time all three participating nations will send astronauts to the ISS.

Who is Shubhanshu Shukla and what makes this mission historic?

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, a pilot in the Indian Air Force, will be the mission pilot on Ax-4. He will become India’s first astronaut to reach the ISS and its second spacefarer overall, following Sharma’s flight in 1984. The Ax-4 mission represents India’s second government-sponsored human spaceflight in more than 40 years.

Joining him on the 14-day mission aboard the ISS are:

• Commander Peggy Whitson (USA), a veteran NASA astronaut;
• Tibor Kapu (Hungary);
• Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski (Poland).

During their stay, the crew will conduct scientific research, interact with students, and are expected to participate in a live video exchange with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

What kind of experiments will Shukla perform at the ISS?

Shukla will lead a series of seven India-developed experiments, designed by ISRO in collaboration with the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), with support from NASA. These include:

• Space nutrition and food science experiments to help develop self-sustaining life support systems for long-duration missions.
• Studies on microbial stability and bio-nutrient systems under microgravity conditions.
• Five joint research experiments under NASA’s human research programme focused on astronaut health and performance.