Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, 3 others enter ISS as Axiom-4 Mission successfully docked

The Axiom-4 successfully docked at ISS just after 4 pm. It was launched from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday.

Shukla piloted a SpaceX Dragon aircraft which was launched for the space expedition.

He is accompanied by mission specialists Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski (Poland), Tibor Kapu (Hungary) and Commander Peggy Whitson (United States).

Earlier, Indian astronaut Rakesh Sharma spent eight days in orbit as a part of the Soviet mission to Space in 1984.

Shukla, who hails from the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, is a fighter pilot for 15 years.

"Namaskar from space! I am thrilled to be here with my fellow astronauts. What a ride it was," says Shukla after piloting the Axiom-4 Mission giving details about his journey into space.

The launch was called off several times in the past due to weather and technical glitches.

This launch opportunity comes after NASA and Roscosmos officials discussed the status of the recent repair work in the transfer tunnel at the aft (back) most segment of the orbital laboratory’s Zvezda service module.

The private astronauts plan to spend about two weeks aboard the orbiting laboratory, conducting a mission consisting of science, outreach, and commercial activities.

As part of a collaboration between NASA and ISRO, Axiom Mission 4 delivers on a commitment highlighted by President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to send the first ISRO astronaut to the station.

The space agencies are participating in five joint science investigations and two in-orbit STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) demonstrations.