Following several delays, the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission was finally launched on Wednesday at 2.31am Eastern Time (12.01pm IST).
India’s Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and three of his crew members, Hungarian researcher Tibor Kapu, Polish engineer Sławosz Uznański, and veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson (US) as commander, took off into space.
“We are orbiting the Earth. This is the start of India’s human space program. Jai Hind, Jai Bharat,” Shubhanshu Shukla uttered these first words from space, shortly after the Axiom-4 mission successfully entered Earth orbit.
In his remarks from onboard the Dragon spacecraft, Shukla said, “Namaskar, my beloved compatriots! What a journey! After forty-one years, we are back in space. The ride is incredible. At a speed of 7.5 kilometres per second, we are orbiting the planet. I am with all of you, as indicated by the Tiranga that is engraved on my shoulders. My journey is not a prelude to India’s Human Space Program, but rather to the International Space Station (ISS). I want everyone to join me on this adventure. Your chest ought to rise with pride as well. Let’s start India’s Human Space Program together. Jai Hind! “Jai Bharat!” “From space,” remarked Group Captain Shukla.
This is the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station. The crew is travelling to the orbiting laboratory on a new SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. The targeted docking time is approximately 7 am Eastern Time (4 pm IST) on Thursday, June 26.
The Axiom-4 mission, run by Houston-based Axiom Space, is the first to transport an Indian astronaut in a commercial spacecraft and the fourth private astronaut mission to reach the ISS.
