Dragon Returns With Sunita Williams; It Will Next Fly Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to Space

After successfully bringing astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore back to Earth, the same SpaceX Dragon spacecraft is set for another historic mission. All eyes are now on the upcoming Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), which will carry Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station (ISS).

Shubhanshu Shukla is set to make history as the first Indian astronaut to travel to the ISS aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. The mission will launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Axiom Mission 4

Axiom Mission 4 is a collaboration between the private Indian space agency, ISRO, and NASA, making it the world’s first commercial space station mission. The launch is scheduled for no later than spring 2025. The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, which recently brought back Williams and Wilmore, will once again lift off from Florida to carry out this mission.

The Ax-4 mission will last approximately two weeks and will include astronauts from diverse fields and backgrounds. The crew will be led by former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson as commander. Alongside her, European Space Agency astronauts Sawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary will also be part of the mission.

Earlier, NASA’s ISS Program Manager, Dana Weigel, emphasized the significance of private astronaut missions, stating that they help pave the way for the future of low-Earth orbit exploration and expand access to the unique microgravity environment.

Also Read: Who is Shubhanshu Shukla: IAF Pilot, First Indian Astronaut to Travel to ISS on Nasa's Axiom Mission
 

The mission aims to advance scientific research, outreach initiatives, and commercial activities in space. Shukla previously expressed that this mission would play a crucial role in India’s Gaganyaan program, which aims to send Indian astronauts to space aboard an indigenous spacecraft.

ISRO will closely monitor the mission, as its findings will be instrumental in shaping the success of the Gaganyaan Mission.