Marking a watershed moment in India’s space history, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force has become the second Indian ever to journey into space and the first to reach the International Space Station (ISS). This historic feat comes exactly 41 years after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma became the first Indian to enter space in 1984.
Shukla, 39, is piloting Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), a cutting-edge private spaceflight mission launched by SpaceX from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre at 2:31 AM ET (12:01 PM IST) on June 26. The mission lifted off aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with the Crew Dragon spacecraft now safely in orbit and scheduled to dock with the ISS by 7:00 AM ET (4:30 PM IST) on June 27.
“What a Ride!” — Shukla sends powerful message from Space
In his first address from space, an emotional and patriotic Shukla said: “Namaskar, my dear countrymen! What a ride! We are back in space once again after 41 years. It’s an amazing ride. We are revolving around the Earth at a speed of 7.5 kilometres per second. The Tiranga embossed on my shoulders tells me that I am with all of you.”
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He went on to say, “This journey is not just my trip to the ISS—it is the beginning of India’s Human Space Programme. Your chest, too, should swell with pride. Together, let’s initiate India’s journey into space. Jai Hind! Jai Bharat!” His words, resonating with national pride, have electrified India, igniting public excitement for the nation’s growing ambitions in human spaceflight.
Axiom Mission 4
The Ax-4 mission, organised by Axiom Space, is the fourth private astronaut mission to the ISS and the most science-intensive yet. The crew consists of four astronauts:
- Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla (India – ISRO) – Pilot
- Peggy Whitson (USA – Axiom) – Commander and former NASA astronaut
- Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski (Poland – ESA) – Mission Specialist
- Tibor Kapu (Hungary – HUNOR) – Mission Specialist
Together, they will conduct around 60 experiments spanning life sciences, Earth observation, space medicine, materials research, and more—representing scientific institutions across 31 countries, including India, Poland, Hungary, UAE, Nigeria, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and the U.S.
This will be the first time an Indian astronaut conducts research aboard the ISS, as Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 mission was with the Soviet Salyut 7 space station under the Interkosmos program.
Shukla’s participation in Ax-4 not only makes him the first Indian to visit the ISS but also signals India’s growing readiness for Gaganyaan—ISRO’s upcoming indigenous human spaceflight mission. His flight, though part of a U.S.-based commercial initiative, acts as a precursor and confidence-builder for India’s future spacefaring goals.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) collaborated with Axiom Space to train and equip Shukla, and is also working closely with NASA on multiple upcoming joint experiments and technology transfers, as part of a deepening Indo-U.S. space partnership.
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, MoS for Science and Technology, celebrated the launch on social media, stating:
“Congratulations Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla. You are the first Indian astronaut to embark on a mission to the International Space Station. Indeed a proud moment for India!”
The Ax-4 astronauts are donning Axiom’s new AxEMU spacesuits, tailored for high-mobility, lunar-compatible exploration. These advanced suits are designed to support a diverse range of astronauts, including those expected to work on NASA’s Artemis Moon missions, for which Axiom is a key partner.
Among the high-profile research Shukla and his team will carry out are:
- Muscle regeneration studies
- Growth of edible sprouts and microalgae
- Survival analysis of aquatic micro-organisms in microgravity
- Human-computer interaction tests with electronic displays in space
This marks the most extensive science payload yet for any Axiom mission.
Group Captain Shukla now walks in the footsteps of Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, who famously told then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi that “India looks best from space.” That 1984 mission aboard the Soyuz T-11 spacecraft made Sharma a household name. With Ax-4, Shukla becomes the new face of India’s astronautical legacy.
But this mission is more than symbolic—it is a strategic step toward India’s ambitions of building a sustained human presence in space, exploring lunar missions, and eventually participating in Mars-bound collaborations.
Once docked to the Harmony module on the ISS, the Ax-4 crew will spend up to 14 days aboard the orbiting lab. They will participate in educational outreach, industrial tech demonstrations, and microgravity science—showcasing India’s capabilities in human spaceflight and deepening international cooperation in space exploration.
With Gaganyaan scheduled for launch in the near future and India’s private space sector gaining momentum, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s journey could mark a turning point for Bharat’s entry into the elite club of spacefaring nations with human missions.
