After multiple delays, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket with the Crew Dragon capsule finally lifted off early Wednesday. The mission, called Axiom-4 (Ax-4), launched from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 2:31 am (6:31 am GMT).

One of the four astronauts onboard is Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla from India. He is flying to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of an American commercial space mission, carrying the hopes and dreams of 1.4 billion Indians.

Shukla is the mission pilot and is now the second Indian astronaut to go to space, coming more than 40 years after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma’s historic spaceflight in 1984. The 39-year-old Indian Air Force fighter pilot was selected by ISRO to represent India on this important mission. This journey marks a major moment in India’s space history and showcases global collaboration in space exploration.

All about the mission

The Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) is a historic space mission that marks a major step forward for India, Poland, and Hungary. It is the first time these three countries are sending astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) and only the second time in over 40 years that each of them is launching a government-supported human spaceflight.

The crew includes Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla from India, who becomes the second Indian astronaut to go to space after Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 mission. Sławosz Uznański, an ESA astronaut from Poland, is also the second Polish national in space, following the country’s 1978 mission. Tibor Kapu is the second Hungarian astronaut since 1980. Leading the team is Peggy Whitson, a veteran American astronaut and record-holder for the longest time spent in space by any U.S. astronaut. She serves as the mission commander.

The Ax-4 mission is operated by Axiom Space in partnership with NASA, ISRO, and ESA. It is also the second commercial mission involving government-sponsored astronauts to the ISS. The mission stands out for its strong focus on science, with the crew scheduled to carry out around 60 scientific experiments and activities. These experiments involve 31 countries, including the U.S., India, Poland, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, UAE, Nigeria, and more.

The research will explore various fields such as human health in space, biology, life sciences, material science, and Earth observation. Many of these experiments are being led by scientists from the astronauts’ home countries. The mission aims to showcase the power of international collaboration, while also helping countries like India, Poland, and Hungary grow their presence in space research and innovation. The Ax-4 mission shows how commercial space missions are creating new opportunities for nations to send astronauts, conduct important research, and strengthen their national space programs.