Axiom-4 Mission to Launch Today from Kennedy Space Center

New Delhi: The Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), a milestone private spaceflight to the International Space Station (ISS), is set to launch today, Wednesday, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Organised by Axiom Space in partnership with NASA and SpaceX, the mission features an internationally diverse crew and represents a significant step forward in global and commercial space exploration.

Liftoff is scheduled for 2:31 a.m. EDT (12:01 p.m. IST), with SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Dragon spacecraft and its four astronauts into orbit. Docking with the ISS is expected at approximately 7:00 a.m. EDT (4:30 p.m. IST) on Thursday, June 26.

“All systems are looking good for Wednesday’s launch of @Axiom_Space’s Ax-4 mission to the @Space_Station, and weather is 90?vorable for liftoff. Webcast starts at 12:30 a.m.,” SpaceX announced on X.

The Ax-4 crew includes Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, representing ISRO, who will serve as the mission’s pilot. He will fly alongside veteran NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, ESA astronaut S?awosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland, and Hungary’s Tibor Kapu. The mission marks a significant return to human spaceflight for India, Poland, and Hungary after extended gaps.

NASA confirmed the launch schedule on Tuesday via X, stating: “With @Axiom_Space and @SpaceX, we’re now targeting Wednesday, June 25, to launch #Ax4 to the @Space_Station. The four-member crew, including astronauts from @ESA and @ISRO, is scheduled to lift off at 2:31 a.m. ET (0631 UTC).”

The Ax-4 mission had faced multiple delays prior to this launch date. Initial setbacks were due to unfavorable weather, followed by technical issues such as fuel leaks detected in the Falcon 9 rocket. After resolving all concerns through detailed assessments, the launch was officially cleared.

This is Axiom Space’s fourth private astronaut mission to the ISS, underlining the growing global momentum behind commercial human spaceflight and international collaboration in space endeavors.

With inputs from IANS