The much-anticipated Axiom-4 mission, which has been postponed due to bad weather, is now expected to take off for the International Space Station (ISS) on June 11 or 12 from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida as there is a 45 per cent chance of rainfall and strong winds at the launch centre.

The mission will send Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station (ISS). This is the third time that the mission has been postponed. Meanwhile, SpaceX said high winds in the ascent corridor is why the launch would be no earlier than Wednesday.

The mission, a collaborative effort involving Axiom Space, NASA, SpaceX and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), marks India’s return to human spaceflight more than four decades after Rakesh Sharma’s historic 1984 journey.

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, a decorated Indian Air Force pilot and Isro astronaut, will serve as the mission’s pilot, joining mission commander Peggy Whitson (former NASA astronaut) and specialists from Hungary and Poland.

Captain Shukla’s family, including his wife and four-year-old son, are present in Florida awaiting the launch.

The Indian Air Force has wished Group Captain Shukla and other members of Axiom-4 mission ahead of its launch.

“As Group Captain Shubahanshu Shukla prepares to embark on Axiom-4 space mission tomorrow, Chief of the Air Staff and all Air Warriors of IAF wish him and the entire crew of Axiom-4 all the best for a safe and successful trip to the International Space Station. This will add a new chapter to the Indian Space Odyssey. Touch the sky with glory!” wrote IAF on its official X handle.

The Ax-4 mission, once underway, will see the astronauts spend up to 14 days aboard the ISS, conducting a suite of scientific experiments, many of which are led by Indian researchers. These experiments will focus on advancing understanding in microgravity, life sciences, and material sciences, and will involve collaboration with scientists from over 30 countries.