Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 04:34am on 25 Jun 2025,Wednesday Science
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.
