The Axiom-4 mission, featuring Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, is scheduled to launch on Wednesday, June 25, at 12:01 PM (IST). After several postponements, the mission is finally ready for takeoff. SpaceX has confirmed via an X post that the weather conditions are favorable and that all systems are functioning well.

Shukla is thrilled to take the helm of the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) to the International Space Station (ISS). Born on October 10, 1985, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, he joined the Indian Air Force's fighter wing in June 2006. With over 2,000 hours of flight experience on various aircraft, including the Su-30 MKI and MiG-29, he brings a wealth of expertise to the mission.

In 2019, Shukla underwent a year of training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre in Moscow, Russia. On February 27, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced him as one of the astronauts preparing for India's first human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan.

In a video shared by the Ax-4 mission on YouTube, Shukla expressed his enthusiasm about the opportunity to travel to space. He mentioned, "I was extremely excited to be here. I was very, very happy, because this was a possibility for me to actually fly to space."

Shukla spoke highly of his fellow crew members, stating, "The team that I am flying with on this mission is fantastic. I feel that I have exceptional crewmates. These crew members will be my friends for life."

Reflecting on his journey, Shukla emphasized his desire to inspire the next generation in India. He hopes to ignite curiosity about science among children, stating, "Even if my story changes one life, it would be a huge success for me."

Peggy Whitson, the Ax-4 Mission Commander, praised Shukla's operational skills, saying, "Having him as my pilot in the Dragon capsule is great. He is incredibly smart when it comes to spacecraft technologies."