IN PHOTOS: IAF officer Shukla pilots Axiom-4, making history for India in space

Updated On: 25 June, 2025 10:33 AM IST | Anushree Gaikwad

The Axiom-4 mission is targeting a launch window of 2:31 a.m. EDT or 12 noon IST on Wednesday from Launch Complex 39A at NASA`s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida in the US. (Pics/ Agencies)

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The Axiom-4 mission is targeting a launch window of 2:31 a.m. EDT or 12 noon IST on Wednesday from Launch Complex 39A at NASA`s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida in the US. (Pics/ Agencies)

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The targeted docking time is approximately 7 am EDT on Thursday or 4 pm IST

<p>The four-member crew, which has been in quarantine in Florida, will be commanded by Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut and now Axiom Space`s Director of Human Spaceflight. The mission specialists are ESA project astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary</p>

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The four-member crew, which has been in quarantine in Florida, will be commanded by Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut and now Axiom Space`s Director of Human Spaceflight. The mission specialists are ESA project astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary

<p>The Ax-4 mission will "realise the return" to human spaceflight for India, Poland, and Hungary, with each nation`s first government-sponsored flight in more than 40 years</p>

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The Ax-4 mission will "realise the return" to human spaceflight for India, Poland, and Hungary, with each nation`s first government-sponsored flight in more than 40 years

<p>While Ax-4 marks these countries` second human spaceflight mission in history, it will be the first time all three nations will execute a mission on board the International Space Station</p>

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While Ax-4 marks these countries` second human spaceflight mission in history, it will be the first time all three nations will execute a mission on board the International Space Station

<p>For Group Captain Shukla, this will be an opportunity to emulate fellow Indian Air Force Officer Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, who flew aboard Soyuz T-11 on 3 April 1984 as part of the Soviet Interkosmos programme</p>

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For Group Captain Shukla, this will be an opportunity to emulate fellow Indian Air Force Officer Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, who flew aboard Soyuz T-11 on 3 April 1984 as part of the Soviet Interkosmos programme

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IN PHOTOS: IAF officer Shukla pilots Axiom-4, making history for India in space

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Breaking barriers and building pyramids — Women power in action!