Rakesh Sharma's unique advice for Axiom-4 pilot
India's first astronaut, Rakesh Sharma, sent his best wishes to the Axiom-4 crew before their launch no earlier than June 10, 2025, on SpaceX's Dragon.
He encouraged them to "spend as much time as possible looking out of the window," reminding everyone how special it is to see Earth from space.
A look at the crew and mission
Axiom-4 is headed for the International Space Station with commander Peggy Whitson, Indian Air Force pilot and mission pilot Shubhanshu Shukla, and specialists from Poland and Hungary.
They'll spend about two weeks in orbit, running 60 experiments across 31 countries—the biggest research push yet for an Axiom mission.
What will the team study?
The team will study everything from muscle regeneration to microalgae growth and astronaut health in microgravity.
There's also a project on insulin-dependent diabetes with help from the UAE.
Plus, they'll be testing out new AxEMU spacesuits designed for future lunar missions—all part of Axiom Space's bigger goal: building the world's first commercial space station.