Axiom Mission 4 Highlights: Shubhanshu Shukla and crew lift off to ISS successfully

Shubhanshu Shukla's sister, Shuchi Mishra, told news agency ANI, "We hope everything will go well. We are relaxed and waiting for him to return home safely after 15 days. Our hopes are rising now, we want him to do more missions and make us proud."

Union minister Jitendra Singh said, "It is a quantum leap. After 40 years, an Indian astronaut has gone up, but there is a huge difference between the expedition that happened in 1984 where Rakesh Sharma went...The difference then and now is that at that time our space program was just in infancy."

"There was not much to offer and not much was expected of India; nor did we look for too much...But today, India is an equal partner. It is not only collaborating in the scientific experiments but rather playing a leading role...He has been assigned to perform the various experiments which have been broadly classified into 7 categories," he told news agency ANI.

Singh further said, "All these experiments are going to benefit the space exploration programs across the world, not only India. So, India has now taken a lead...This heralds India's ascent to Viksit Bharat."

After the launch of Axiom 4 mission, Union minister Dr Jitendra Singh said that, "India is no longer a follower but an equal partner in all our collaborations. Shubhanshu Shukla is possibly the most crucial member of this mission as he performs seven crucial experiments designed by Indian institutes. These will be of vital importance to all agencies across the world."

President of India Droupadi Murmu congratulated Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla for marking a historic moment in India’s space journey after his launch with the Axiom Mission 4.

“As Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla creates a new milestone in space for India, the whole nation is excited and proud of an Indian’s journey into the stars. He and his fellow astronauts of Axiom Mission 4 from the US, Poland and Hungary prove the world is indeed one family – ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’. My best wishes for the success of this mission, which reflects the enduring partnership between NASA and ISRO. The wide ranging experiments to be performed by the crew will lead to new frontiers of scientific studies and space exploration,” she wrote on X. 

Axiom 4 mission live updates: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated the crew of the Axiom-4 mission for their successful launch. 

“We welcome the successful launch of the Space Mission carrying astronauts from India, Hungary, Poland and the US. The Indian Astronaut, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is on the way to become the first Indian to go to International Space Station. He carries with him the wishes, hopes and aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians. Wish him and other astronauts all the success!” wrote Modi on X. 

Axiom-4 mission live updates: Born on January 13, 1949, in Punjab’s Patiala, Rakesh Sharma, created history by becoming the first Indian to go to space. 

Sharma and two Soviet Union astronauts went to space on April 2, 1984, onboard a Soyuz T-11 rocket. The eight-day mission to the Salyut 7 space station was a joint effort of ISRO and the Soviet Intercosmos.

Axiom-4 mission live updates: Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has scripted history as he pilots the SpaceX Dragon aircraft launched for the much-anticipated Axiom 4 mission to go to the International Space Station.

Shukla is the first astronaut to travel to the International Space Station in the last forty years, only after revered Indian astronaut Rakesh Sharma. Sharma spent eight days in orbit as part of the then Soviet Union's Salyut-7 space station in 1984.

Union minister for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh has stated that Shukla's journey to the International Space Station is a "vindication of the founding fathers of the Indian space programme."

"It is indeed the vindication of the founding fathers of India's space program, Vikram Sarabhai and Satish Dhawan. It is so that this vindication of our founding fathers had to happen under the leadership of PM Modi. India is no longer a follower but an equal partner in all our collaborations. Shubhanshu Shukla is possibly the most crucial member of this mission as he performs seven crucial experiments designed by Indian institutes. These will be of vital importance to all agencies across the world," he told reporters.

Axiom-4 mission live updates: After the successful launch of the Axiom-4 mission, the Indian Air Force has congratualted Shubhanshu Shukla for creating history. 

“From conquering the skies to touching the stars- a journey powered by the indomitable spirit of the IAF Air Warrior. Group Captain Shubahanshu Shukla sets forth on a landmark Space Mission, carrying the pride of the nation beyond Earth. This is a dèjà-vu moment for India, 41 years after the mission of Sqn Ldr Rakesh Sharma, who first carried our Tricolour beyond Earth. Being more than a mission, it is a reaffirmation of India’s ever-expanding horizon,” said the IAF

Axiom-4 mission live updates: Here's what Shubhanshu Shukla said as the Dragon spacecraft began its journey towards the ISS - 

Namaskar, my dear countrymen; we have reached space after 41 years. It was a great ride We are orbiting earth at a speed of 7.5 km per second, I have Indian tricolour on my shoulders. Tricolour tells me I am with you all, it is not just the start of my journey to ISS but also of India's human spaceflight.  I want each one of you to be part of this journey, let us embark on India's human space programme together.

Axiom-4 mission LIVE updates: The lift off of the Axiom-4 crew is successful as all four stages of lift off have been completed. 

Axiom-4 mission live updates: We have lift off! The Ax-4 crew, including India's Shubhanshu Sharma, is now headed towards the International Space Station.

Axiom-4 mission live updates: After six delays and postponements, the Axiom-4 crew has launched and is now headed to the International Space Station.

Axiom-4 mission live updates: The startup for the Dragon spacecraft has begun as Axiom-4 prepares for launch

We are T-5 minutes for the launch of the Axiom-4 mission. The strongback retract process has begun, preparing the spacecraft for lift off

The Axiom-4 crew is all set for take off. With NASA targeting launch for 2:31 am EDT, the crew is expected to take off in the next 10 minutes.

Axiom-4 mission live updates: Shubhanshu Shukla will be the first astronaut to travel to the International Space Station, a journey that comes 41 years after Rakesh Sharma’s eight days in orbit as part of the then Soviet Union's Salyut-7 space station in 1984.

Axiom-4 mission live updates: Shubhanshu Shukla and the Ax-4 crew has been cleared for launch. A series of final checks are underway as launch time nears.

Axiom-4 mission live updates: As per NASA, the launch is scheduled for 2:31 am and docking at the International Space Station is expected to be completed on Thursday, June 26 at 7 AM

Axiom-4 mission live updates: The glitch regarding the wind upload data has been resolved, clearing the Ax-4 crew for launch. At T-35 minutes, NASA and SpaceX are targeting a launch time of 2:31 am EDT.

Axiom-4 mission live updates: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who will pilot the Ax-4 mission that will be launched on Wednesday, said that it would be a huge success for him even if his story can change one life.

Shukla hopes that his historic Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) to the International Space Station (ISS) will inspire an entire generation of young people, just like the first Indian to go into space, Rakesh Sharma, did back in the day.

Axiom-4 mission live updates: The Axiom-4 mission has an international crew from the United States, India. Poland and Hungary.

Former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, Peggy Whitson, will command the commercial mission. ISRO astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is the designated pilot for the mission. 

ESA (European Space Agency) project astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary are also on board as mission speciialists.

Axiom-4 mission live updates: The chief engineer has reported no technical issues at this time, adding that weather conditions are favorable for launch. 

The only pending concern is the wind file upload, which remains critical for the lift-off

Axiom-4 mission live updates: Several watch parties have been organised across India and Poland as we wait for the Axiom-4 crew to lift off.