Axiom-4 with Shubhanshu Shukla lifts off from NASA launchpad | WATCH

Florida: The Axiom-4 mission, carrying Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, veteran NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, ESA project astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland, and Tibor Kapu of Hungary, successfully lifted off at 12:01 pm IST from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, USA.

SpaceX confirmed the successful launch of the Axiom-4 mission with a brief announcement on X. SpaceX said, “Liftoff of Ax-4!”

Confirming that the Axiom-4 mission is officially set for liftoff, SpaceX said, “Ax-4 is go for launch!”

SpaceX confirmed a crucial milestone in the Axiom-4 mission moments after launch—Dragon has cleanly separated from the Falcon 9 rocket's second stage.

SpaceX said, “Dragon has separated from Falcon 9’s second stage”.

Sharing an update on Falcon 9’s first stage booster, SpaceX said, “Falcon 9’s first stage booster has landed at Landing Zone 1”.

SpaceX confirmed that the Dragon’s hatch has been secured. “Dragon’s hatch is closed, all communication and suit checks are complete, the seats are rotated, and the Ax-4 crew is ready for launch!” the post read.

Viewers can watch the Falcon 9 rocket launch, the Dragon capsule, and the Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station live online.

The Axiom-4 mission is targeting a launch window of 2:31 a.m. EDT or 12 noon IST on Wednesday from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida in the US.

The crew, piloted by Shukla will travel to the orbiting laboratory on a new SpaceX Dragon spacecraft after launching on the company's Falcon 9 rocket. The targeted docking time is approximately 7 am EDT on Thursday or 4 pm IST.

For Group Captain Shukla this will be an opportunity to emulate fellow Indian Air Force Officer Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma who flew aboard Soyuz T-11 on 3 April 1984 as part of the Soviet Interkosmos programme. Sharma spent seven days in space on board the Salyut 7 space station.

The four-member crew which has been in quarantine in Florida will be commanded by Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut and now Axiom Space's Director of Human Spaceflight. The mission specialists are ESA project astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary.

The Ax-4 mission is also conducting major research. The research complement includes around 60 scientific studies and activities representing 31 countries, including the U.S., India, Poland, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Nigeria, UAE, and nations across Europe.

In addition to dozens of experiments, the astronauts are flying food that celebrates their heritage: Indian curry and rice with mango nectar; spicy Hungarian paprika paste; and freeze-fried Polish pierogies.

The Axiom astronauts faced more launch delays once arriving in Florida. SpaceX had to fix an oxygen leak in its rocket, then NASA put the crew’s visit on indefinite hold while monitoring repairs to longtime air leaks on the Russian side of the space station.

(with inputs from agencies)