The Axiom Mission 4 crew began their official mission on the International Space Centre (ISS) aftter a succesfully and smooth docking process by 4.01pm IST, ahead of its scheduled time of 4.30pm IST. The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, christened ‘Grace’ by the Ax-4 crew, used its automated system for the docking process.
This was a mighty feat of engineering, given that the ISS travels at a speed of 28,000kmph (it completes an orbit around the Earth every 90 minutes). While the docking was autonomous, Shukla was trained to perform manual docking, if required.
The much-delayed Axiom-4 mission successfully launched from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida shortly after 12.01pm IST towards ISS on June 25 2025.
Docking confirmed! pic.twitter.com/EK8Acky3V1
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) June 26, 2025
Led by former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson of the US and piloted by India’s own ISRO astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, the Axiom-4 mission became the country’s second-ever manned mission to space.
Joining Whitson and Shukla on their journey to the ISS are European Space Agency astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland and HUNOR astronaut Tibor Kapu of Hungary.
This mission is the fourth private astronaut mission to the ISS.
MORE | ‘We are finally back in space’: Shubhanshu Shukla creates history with Axiom-4 mission
“It is like a paradigm shift in how we used to think about space,” Shukla had said in a video released by SpaceX just hours before the launch.
Dragon has separated from Falcon 9’s second stage pic.twitter.com/YXIvBoSOn0
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) June 25, 2025
Yet, roughly ten minutes after the successful launch, you could hear the awe in the pilot’s voice when he exclaimed: “What a ride! We are finally back in space after years!”
He then addressed India in Hindi, saying that each and everyone in his country was with him as he carried the Indian flag on his shoulders.
“This is not just the beginning of my journey to the International Space Station; it is a brand new chapter in India’s manned space programme,” he said.
-
5 months agoWatch as the Axiom Mission 4 crew is welcomed to the International Space Station
-
5 months agoAxiom 4 Mission crew reaches International Space Station
SpaceX Dragon spacecraft ‘Grace’ successfully docks into the ISS.
-
5 months ago
Axiom Mission 4 Dragon approaches the International Space Station, just minutes away from docking
-
5 months ago
View from the Axiom Mission 4 Dragon spacecraft of the International Space Station ahead of approach
-
5 months ago
Dragon approaches waypoint 2 without hold since all is going as planned. It was initially planned to take a brief pause but that is not needed now, confirms Ax-4 crew.
-
5 months ago
International Space Station (ISS) confirms it is READY for docking.
-
5 months ago
Axiom Mission 4: Watch the docking process LIVE...
-
5 months ago
“Wow, what a ride it was. Frankly, when I was sitting in the capsule Grace, yesterday on the launchpad, the only thought in my mind was let’s just go. After 30 days of quarantine, it was a feeling that I just wanted to go. Excitement and all was very far away. There was just this feeling that let us just leave,” says Indian Astronaut Shubanshu Shukla.
The new Dragon spacecraft of SpaceX has been christened ‘Grace’ by the astronauts.
Ax-4 crew wave during a live event from the Dragon spacecraft ‘Grace’
-
5 months ago
The Axiom Mission 4 crew is set todsock to the International Space Station by 4.30 pm IST to begin their 14 day mission
-
5 months ago
Shortly after 3 pm IST, SpaceX released the photo of the Falcon 9 rocket that successfully launched the Axiom Mission 4 and returned to Earth
-
5 months ago
Around 3 pm IST, the SpaceX Falcon 9 returns to Earth
-
5 months ago
Here is a better photo released by SpaceX from the Axiom Mission 4 launch
-
5 months ago
From the SpaceX launch
-
5 months ago
Dragon successfully separated from the second stage as the four astronauts now travel toward the International Space Station.
As it approaches the ISS, Dragon executes a series of burns that position it progressively closer to the station before it performs final docking manoeuvres, followed by pressurisation of the vestibule, hatch opening, and crew ingress.
-
5 months agoWatch the video of the successful launch of Axiom-4 mission
-
5 months ago'It is exciting to be back': Shukla speaks to India in Hindi, referring to country's second-ever manned space mission
Shukla: I have the Tricolour (Indian flag) with me, as a symbol of everyone in the country joining me on this mission... Jai Hind!
-
5 months ago
Stage 1 booster landed back on Earth successfully
-
5 months ago
First stage main engine cutoff (MECO) complete. Second stage engine (SES-1) takes over.
-
5 months ago
Mission Control: 'Mission is supersonic'
-
5 months agoAxiom-4 mission LAUNCH successful!
-
5 months ago
Final confirmations are a GO... all on schedule.
-
5 months ago
'Engine chill' announcement done from Mission Control. Astronauts, including Shukla, wave to the onboard camera.
-
5 months ago
The four astronauts boarded the new Dragon spacecraft—on its maiden voyage—on top of the SpaceX Falcon-9 spacecraft.
-
5 months ago
Watch the LIVE video of the Axiom-4 mission launch from SpaceX
-
5 months ago
ISRO astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla
India’s own ISRO astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, pilot of the Axiom-4 mission, waves ahead of the launch | AFP
[This was a LIVE story and was updated in real-time]
