UPDATED: Jun 25, 2025 10:12 IST In Short WATCH AX-4 MISSION LAUNCH INDIA'S SHUBHANSHU SHUKLA TO SPACE LIVE The Ax-4 crew will board a brand-new SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, marking its maiden voyage. The mission is led by Commander Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut and current director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space. Joining her as pilot is Shubhanshu Shukla of India, who is also part of India’s Gaganyaan program and will be responsible for supervising launch and docking operations. The two mission specialists are Slawosz Uznanski of Poland, representing the European Space Agency, and Tibor Kapu of Hungary. For India, Poland, and Hungary, Ax-4 is a historic milestone. While these nations have previously launched astronauts, this mission marks the first time their citizens will live and work aboard the ISS, underscoring a new era of global participation in space exploration. Axiom Space, the Houston-based company organising the mission, continues to play a pivotal role in expanding access to low-Earth orbit for countries and organizations worldwide. advertisement The Ax-4 crew is expected to dock with the ISS on Wednesday, June 11, at approximately 10:00 pm IST, following a journey of about 28 hours. During their two-week stay, the astronauts will conduct more than 60 scientific experiments and demonstrations, focusing on human health, Earth observation, and life sciences.#AxiomMission4 | What can you watch out tomorrow? What will the launch actually look like? @Akshita_N breaks it down for you. Countdown on for Capt Shukla's space debut. India Today's @imsktripathi shares more details. #Super6 pic.twitter.com/JhipB0l7QS— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) June 24, 2025 This research represents collaborations from 31 countries, making it one of the most internationally diverse commercial space missions to date. SpaceX’s Ax-4 mission will be broadcast live, allowing viewers worldwide to witness the historic journey and the ongoing expansion of humanity’s presence in space. The mission is a testament to the growing synergy between government space agencies and private industry in advancing space exploration and scientific discovery. - Ends