Axiom Mission 4

Current Context: The launch of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), which includes Indian Air Force officer Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, has been postponed due to technical issues.

About axiom mission 4 (Ax-4)

• Organised By: Axiom Space (USA), in collaboration with NASA and SpaceX.
• Launch Vehicle: SpaceX’s Falcon 9 with Dragon spacecraft.
• Launch Site: Kennedy Space Center, USA.
• Mission Type: Private human spaceflight to the International Space Station (ISS).
• Duration: Around 14 days (tentative).
• Objective:
  • Conduct scientific experiments.
  • Promote international collaboration.
  • Support space outreach activities.

Ax-4 Crew Members:

• Peggy Whitson (Commander, USA)
• Shubhanshu Shukla (Pilot, India – First Indian to visit ISS)
• Slawosz Uznanski (Poland)
• Tibor Kapu (Hungary)

Reason for Delay:

• First due to bad weather, then a technical issue (liquid oxygen leak in Falcon 9 rocket).
• New launch date not announced yet.
• Significance for India: Shubhanshu Shukla will be the second Indian in space after Rakesh Sharma (1984).