Group Captain Shubhanshu “Shux” Shukla, India’s second astronaut after Rakesh Sharma, is set to pilot the Axiom‑4 private mission aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon and Falcon 9. The launch from Kennedy Space Center is scheduled today at 12:01 pm IST, with docking at the ISS expected tomorrow at 4:30 pm IST . Over 14 days in microgravity, Shukla will conduct seven Indian science experiments—ranging from seed germination to muscle regeneration—while commanding 60 studies across international teams . The mission bolsters India’s Gaganyaan ambitions and enhances its spaceflight credentials . Veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson leads the crew, with SpaceX reporting favorable 90% weather conditions.  

SpaceX has confirmed that all systems are nominal and the weather forecast gives a 90% chance of favorable conditions for the Axiom‑4 mission lift-off scheduled for Wednesday, 25 June 2025 (12:01 PM IST / 2:31 AM EDT) from Kennedy Space Center’s LC‑39A . The crew includes India’s Shubhanshu Shukla, former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, Poland’s Sławosz Uznański‑Wiśniewski, and Hungary’s Tibor Kapu aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Dragon capsule C213 . After delays due to weather, ISS module leaks, and LOx issues, the mission now targets docking on 26 June (~4:30 PM IST) for approximately two weeks of research and STEM demonstrations. (PC: PTI)

Indian fighter pilot Shubhanshu Shukla is set to become the first Indian to visit the International Space Station (ISS) as part of Axiom Mission 4. Scheduled to launch tomorrow, June 25, at 12:01 p.m. IST from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, the mission is a joint effort by NASA, SpaceX, and ISRO. Shukla will fly alongside veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson and crew members from Hungary and Poland. This mission marks a historic moment for India’s space programme—its first human presence at the ISS since Rakesh Sharma’s orbital mission in 1984. Docking is expected on June 26 at 4:30 p.m. IST. (PC: X)

Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is set to make history as part of the multinational Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station, now scheduled to launch on June 25 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre. The mission marks a significant moment for India, Hungary, and Poland as all three countries send astronauts to the ISS aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. Shukla will join veteran US astronaut Peggy Whitson and mission specialists from Poland and Hungary. Originally planned for May, the launch faced repeated delays due to fuel system leaks and aging infrastructure on the ISS. Docking is expected on June 26. (PC: AP)

Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is set to make history as part of the multinational Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station, now scheduled to launch on June 25 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre. The mission marks a significant moment for India, Hungary, and Poland as all three countries send astronauts to the ISS aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. Shukla will join veteran US astronaut Peggy Whitson and mission specialists from Poland and Hungary. Originally planned for May, the launch faced repeated delays due to fuel system leaks and aging infrastructure on the ISS. Docking is expected on June 26. (PC: AP)

After several delays, Axiom Mission 4 is ready to launch on June 25. Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and his crew will fly to the International Space Station (ISS). The mission will lift off at 2:31 am EDT from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. They will travel aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule on a Falcon 9 rocket. The launch was earlier delayed due to bad weather, rocket issues, and repairs on the ISS. NASA and its partners are now ready for the mission. The crew is expected to reach the ISS by 7 am on June 26, if all goes well. (PC: NASA)

ISRO has clarified that only its chairman and support crew have returned to India, while primary astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and backup Gp Capt P. Balakrishnan Nair remain in quarantine in Florida, awaiting a new launch date . NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX indefinitely postponed the Ax‑4 mission—initially set for June 22—following safety concerns after repair work on the aging Zvezda module of the ISS . The crew, also including astronauts from Poland and Hungary, is fully prepared for a 14-day flight once the ISS is certified safe. ISRO emphasized that the mission is on hold, not cancelled. (PC: India Today)  

NASA has postponed the Axiom‑4 mission's launch—now featuring Indian pilot Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla—for the sixth time, originally slated for June 22, 2025. The hold-up stems from continued safety evaluations on the aging ISS, particularly following recent repairs in the Zvezda module, and ongoing checks of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket after previous technical issues . The mission, a collaboration among Axiom Space, NASA, SpaceX, ISRO, and ESA, also carries astronauts from Poland and Hungary, with veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson commanding . A new launch date will be announced soon, as NASA prioritizes crew and ISS system safety above all. (PC: X)

During a pre-flight static-fire test at SpaceX’s Starbase in southern Texas late Wednesday (11 p.m. local), the Starship 36 prototype suffered a "major anomaly," erupting in a dramatic fireball . The blast was powerful enough to shake nearby homes, yet a established safety perimeter ensured no injuries or threats to surrounding communities . Videos captured the explosion, with flames and smoke continuing for hours . Identified as a COPV failure, the incident delays the planned tenth launch test while investigators assess the root cause .Despite setbacks, SpaceX remains committed to its learn‑fast ethos and ambitious missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. (PC: Reuters)

NASA and Axiom Space, in coordination with ISRO and SpaceX, have confirmed the Axiom‑4 crewed mission to the ISS will launch on June 22, 2025 at 1:12 pm IST, after prior delays caused by technical glitches, weather issues, LOx leaks, and ISS repair work . The four‑member crew includes Indian pilot Shubhanshu Shukla, SpaceX commander Peggy Whitson, and ESA specialists from Poland and Hungary. Originally scheduled for May and later June 19, the launch was postponed to allow extra time for safety evaluations aboard the ISS and Falcon 9 readiness. This marks a major milestone in international human spaceflight collaboration and India’s return to crewed missions after 41 years. (PC: News 18)