Axiom-4 Dragon docks with the ISS; Ax-4 crew enters station
On 26 June 2025 (IST), the SpaceX Dragon carrying Axiom Mission 4, with India's Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, docked with the International Space Station.
Summary
The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft carrying the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) crew, including Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, docked with the International Space Station on 26 June 2025, at the space-facing port of the Harmony module. NASA said the hatch opened at 8:14 a.m. EDT and Commander Peggy Whitson entered first, followed by Shukla. With the seven Expedition 73 crew, eleven people were then aboard the station. Dr. Jitendra Singh lauded the docking in New Delhi. He said the first Indian experiment studies edible microalgae (ICGEB and BRIC-NIPGR, New Delhi). The second, by UAS Dharwad and IIT Dharwad, studies sprouting of moong and methi seeds in space.
Key facts
- Docking port
- Space-facing port, Harmony module (NASA)
- Hatch opening
- 8:14 a.m. EDT, 26 June (NASA)
- First to enter
- Commander Peggy Whitson, then Shubhanshu Shukla
- Aboard after docking
- 11 (4 Ax-4 + 7 Expedition 73)
- Microalgae experiment
- ICGEB and BRIC-NIPGR, New Delhi
- Sprouting seeds experiment
- UAS Dharwad and IIT Dharwad (moong, methi)
Practice MCQs 4 questions
To which module of the International Space Station did the Axiom Mission 4 Dragon dock on 26 June 2025?
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Correct answer: B — Harmony module (space-facing port)
NASA: the spacecraft docked to the space-facing port of the space station's Harmony module.
After the hatch opened on 26 June 2025, who was the first Axiom-4 crew member to enter the International Space Station?
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Correct answer: A — Commander Peggy Whitson
NASA: Ax-4 Commander Peggy Whitson was the first to enter the station after the hatch opened, followed by Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla.
Which institutions conduct the Axiom-4 experiment studying the germination of sprouting moong and methi seeds in space, as described by Dr. Jitendra Singh?
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Correct answer: C — UAS Dharwad and IIT Dharwad
PIB: the second experiment, by UAS Dharwad and IIT Dharwad, investigates the germination and nutritional properties of sprouting moong and methi seeds. ICGEB and BRIC-NIPGR lead the microalgae experiment.
Consider the following statements about the Axiom-4 arrival at the ISS: 1. The Dragon docked to the space-facing port of the Harmony module. 2. After the arrival, eleven people were aboard the station, including seven Expedition 73 crew members. 3. The mission had launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — 1 and 2 only
NASA: statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong: Ax-4 launched from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Florida.