Tue Jun 24 01:27:51 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is set to launch into space as part of the Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The mission, a collaboration between NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX, has faced multiple delays due to technical issues, including leaks in the Falcon 9 rocket and the Russian module of the ISS. The launch is now scheduled for June 25, 2025, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with docking at the ISS expected on June 26. The Axiom-4 mission marks a return to space for India, Hungary, and Poland, and is led by Commander Peggy Whitson.

**News Article:**

**Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to Launch Aboard Axiom-4 After Repeated Delays**

**New Delhi – June 24, 2025:** After a series of postponements due to technical complications, Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is finally slated to launch to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 mission on June 25, 2025. NASA announced the new launch target on Tuesday.

The Axiom-4 mission, a commercial venture led by Commander Peggy Whitson, also marks a return to space for Hungary and Poland. Shukla will serve as the mission pilot, with Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu and Poland’s Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski as mission specialists.

The launch, utilizing SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, is scheduled for 12:01 p.m. IST on Wednesday from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Docking at the ISS is anticipated at approximately 4:30 p.m. IST on Thursday, June 26.

Originally slated for May 29, the mission faced repeated setbacks, including the discovery of a liquid oxygen leak in the Falcon-9 rocket boosters and leaks in the aging Russian module of the ISS. Subsequent launch dates were also pushed back to allow NASA time to evaluate and address the issues on the ISS following repairs to the Russian module.

The Axiom-4 crew will journey to the orbiting laboratory aboard a new SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. The mission signifies a significant milestone for India’s space program and underscores the growing role of private companies in space exploration.

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