Wed Jun 25 17:24:37 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text and a rewrite as a news article:

**Summary:**

The Axiom-4 mission, including Indian pilot Shubhanshu Shukla, successfully launched from Cape Canaveral and is en route to the International Space Station (ISS). The Dragon spacecraft, named “Grace,” will autonomously dock with the ISS after a 28.5-hour journey. The crew will have opportunities to rest, eat, and potentially communicate with ground control during the flight. Docking is anticipated around 4:30 PM IST on June 26th, after which the Ax-4 crew will join the existing ISS crew.

**News Article:**

**Indian Pilot Part of Axiom-4 Crew En Route to International Space Station**

**Bengaluru, June 25, 2025:** A new era of international collaboration in space exploration is underway as the Axiom-4 mission, featuring Indian pilot Shubhanshu Shukla, successfully launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on June 24th. The crew, comprised of Shukla, Mission Specialist Tibor Kapu of Hungary, Commander Peggy Whitson of the U.S., and Mission Specialist Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland, is currently aboard the Dragon spacecraft, “Grace,” making its 28.5-hour journey to the International Space Station (ISS).

According to Axiom officials, the launch and deployment were executed flawlessly. The Dragon spacecraft is now in its activation and rendezvous phase, conducting a series of burns to align itself for docking.

“The crew will soon change out of their space suits for comfort and enjoy their first meal onboard,” an Axiom official stated. “They will also have an eight-hour rest period. We are hoping for an opportunity to communicate briefly with the crew during the flight.”

The “Grace” spacecraft is expected to autonomously dock with the space-facing port of the Harmony module on the ISS. After docking, which involves extensive checks and pressurization, the Ax-4 crew will enter the ISS, where they will be greeted by crew members from NASA, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and Russia’s Roscosmos.

The targeted docking time is approximately 4:30 PM Indian Standard Time (7:00 AM Eastern Time) on Thursday, June 26th. This mission marks a significant milestone for India’s growing involvement in space exploration and highlights the continued international cooperation essential for advancing scientific discovery beyond Earth.

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