On June 26, the crew of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) shared their first in-flight update from orbit, offering a glimpse into their journey aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft as they headed toward the International Space Station (ISS). The live event was announced by Axiom Space on X, with SpaceX confirming that the session would begin around 1:47 a.m. EDT.

During the live interaction, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force, serving as the mission pilot, described the launch as a magical experience. He shared how, after spending 30 days in quarantine, sitting in the capsule named 'Grace' brought a sense of anticipation and focus. When liftoff finally occurred, the sensation of being pushed into the seat, followed by an overwhelming silence as they entered orbit, was, in his words, "absolutely magical." Shukla expressed his gratitude to the mission team, emphasizing that this journey was not just his own, but a shared accomplishment of everyone involved. He also pointed to the swan mascot on board, explaining that it represented more than just a symbolic figure—it stood for wisdom, strength, and grace.

Recalling the moments leading up to the launch, Shukla noted the long three-hour wait inside the capsule. Despite the wait, he said that nothing could have prepared them for the actual launch, something they had trained for over many months. Fellow mission specialist Tibor Kapu spoke about the joy and excitement of the journey, mentioning that their mascot, named 'Joy', served as a reminder of how far humanity has progressed. Another crew member, Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski, highlighted the international makeup of the Ax-4 team, noting that the four astronauts represent multiple continents and countries, including India, the United States, and those in the European Union. He emphasized that when they look out of the spacecraft window, they feel as though they are representing a large portion of Earth’s population.

Veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson reflected on the mission so far, calling it a fantastic experience, and acknowledged the support and excitement coming from people back on Earth. The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft carrying the Ax-4 crew launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center at noon IST on Wednesday. It is expected to dock with the ISS's Harmony module at 4:30 p.m. IST. NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers are monitoring Dragon’s automated approach and docking sequence. Upon arrival, the crew will be welcomed by the seven astronauts aboard Expedition 73 and will go through a safety briefing.

This mission holds special significance for Group Captain Shukla, as it makes him only the second Indian to travel to space, following Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma’s historic journey in 1984 aboard the Soviet spacecraft Soyuz T-11. From orbit, Shukla delivered a heartfelt message to the people of India, expressing pride in carrying the national flag and emphasizing that this mission is the beginning of India’s broader Human Space Programme. He urged citizens to take pride and feel part of the mission, signing off with a rousing “Jai Hind, Jai Bharat!”

The Ax-4 mission is expected to last up to 14 days, during which the crew will carry out a variety of scientific experiments, public engagement activities, and commercial work. This mission is Axiom Space’s most research-intensive effort so far, featuring joint experiments by NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on topics such as muscle regeneration, the growth of edible microalgae, survival of aquatic microorganisms, and human interaction with digital screens in microgravity. Axiom's earlier private astronaut mission, Ax-1, took place in April 2022 and lasted for 17 days.