25 June 2025, 06:13 AM IST NaN min Share Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will be the second Indian in space, launching aboard SpaceX`s Falcon 9 rocket. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, Shubhanshu Shukla New Delhi: Indian Air Force officer Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is set to launch into space on Wednesday aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket as part of the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4). The liftoff is scheduled for 12:01 pm IST from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with docking at the International Space Station (ISS) expected on June 26 at approximately 4:30 pm IST. About Falcon 9 Block 5: At the heart of today’s launch is the Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket, SpaceX’s highly reliable, medium-lift launch vehicle designed to carry astronauts and cargo into orbit. Built by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, the Falcon 9 is partially reusable, with its first stage designed to return to Earth and land vertically for refurbishment and reuse. This innovation lowers the cost and increases the frequency of space access. First launched on May 11, 2018, the Block 5 variant debuted by placing Bangladesh’s Bangabandhu-1 satellite into orbit. Since then, it has completed 16 crewed missions with a flawless 100% safety record and has become the first commercial spacecraft system to be certified by NASA for regular human spaceflight since the Space Shuttle era began in 1981. Equipped with nine Merlin engines, the Falcon 9 features advanced safety systems, including triple-redundant flight computers and the capability to complete a mission even if one engine fails. The rocket has now launched 438 times, with 437 successful missions—an extraordinary 99.77% success rate, making it one of the most reliable vehicles in spaceflight history. Capable of delivering up to 22,800 kg to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and 8,300 kg to Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO), the Falcon 9 uses a combination of liquid oxygen and refined kerosene (RP-1) for propulsion. Its reusable features, titanium grid fins, retractable landing legs, and thermal protection systems have revolutionised modern rocketry. India’s space legacy continues This mission marks a major milestone for India, as Shukla becomes only the second Indian to venture into space, following in the footsteps of Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma. Sharma flew aboard the Soviet Soyuz T-11 spacecraft on April 3, 1984, spending seven days aboard the Salyut 7 space station as part of the Interkosmos programme. During his mission, Sharma famously described India as “Saare Jahan Se Achha” when then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi asked how the country looked from space. Share