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Key Points

NASA has postponed the Axiom-4 mission to June 22 for further ISS operational assessments. The crew, including ISRO's Shubhanshu Shukla, remains in quarantine in Florida ahead of the historic launch. This mission marks India's return to human spaceflight after 1984, alongside Poland and Hungary's first government-sponsored astronauts. The team will fly aboard SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft from Kennedy Space Center.

Key Points: Axiom-4 Mission with ISRO's Shubhanshu Shukla Rescheduled to June 22

  • Axiom-4 launch delayed to June 22 for ISS operational checks
  • ISRO's Shubhanshu Shukla marks India's return to space after 40 years
  • Crew includes first astronauts from Poland and Hungary
  • Mission lifts off via SpaceX Dragon from Kennedy Space Center
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Axiom-4 mission rescheduled launch to June 22

NASA delays Axiom-4 launch to June 22 as ISRO astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla prepares for India's historic return to space after 1984.

"The #Ax4 crew remains in quarantine in Florida to maintain all medical and safety protocols. The crew is in good health and high spirits and looks forward to launch! – Axiom Space"

New Delhi, June 18

The launch of Axiom Mission 4, the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, has been rescheduled to no earlier than Sunday, June 22. The change in the targeted launch date allows NASA to continue evaluating space station operations after recent repair work in the aft segment of the Station's Zvezda service module.

In a post on X, Axiom Space informed that the Ax-4 crew, comprising Peggy Whitson, former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, as commander, ISRO astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla as pilot, and mission specialists are ESA (European Space Agency) project Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary, remains in quarantine in Florida, to maintain all medical and safety protocols.

"The #Ax4 crew remains in quarantine in Florida to maintain all medical and safety protocols. The crew is in good health and high spirits and looks forward to launch!" Axiom posted.

https://x.com/Axiom_Space/status/1935167090723279231

The Ax-4 mission will lift off aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft on Falcon 9 from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.

Despite the delay, the Axiom-4 mission remains significant. The Ax-4 crew includes members from India, Poland, and Hungary, marking each nation's first mission to the space station in history and the second government-sponsored human spaceflight mission in over 40 years, according to Axiom Space. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will be India's second national astronaut to go to space since 1984.

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is part of Axiom Space's fourth private astronaut mission (Ax-4), marking a historic moment for India's space collaboration with NASA.

According to Axiom Space, the Ax-4 mission will "realise the return" to human spaceflight for India, Poland, and Hungary, marking each nation's first government-sponsored flight in more than 40 years.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rahul K.
So proud to see an Indian astronaut going to space after so many years! 🚀 This shows how far our space program has come. Wishing Group Captain Shukla and the entire crew a safe journey. Jai Hind!
P
Priya M.
While this is exciting, I hope ISRO focuses equally on solving problems here on Earth too. We have so many challenges in healthcare and education that need funding. Space missions are important but so is ground reality.
A
Arjun S.
This international collaboration is fantastic! India working with NASA, ESA and private space companies shows we're becoming a major player in space exploration. More such partnerships please!
S
Sneha R.
The delay is understandable - safety should always come first in space missions. Better to wait a few days than risk anything. Excited to watch the launch on Sunday! 🌌
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Vikram J.
Hope this mission inspires more Indian students to take up careers in space science and technology. We need more homegrown talent like Group Captain Shukla representing India on global platforms.
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Neha P.
Interesting to see private companies like Axiom leading space missions now. The future of space exploration is changing fast. Wonder when India will have its own private space companies at this level?

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