India Soars to New Heights: Shubhanshu Shukla Becomes Second Indian in Space, Pilots Axiom Mission 4 to ISS
Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA – June 25, 2025 – Carrying the aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, a distinguished Indian Air Force fighter pilot, made history today by becoming the second Indian to journey into space. His momentous flight aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 spacecraft, with the Crew Dragon capsule, launched from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 2:31 AM EDT (12:01 PM IST). This mission, known as Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), marks India’s return to human spaceflight after a gap of over four decades, following Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma’s pioneering journey in 1984.
The launch, after facing several delays due to weather and technical issues, was executed flawlessly, propelling the four-member international crew towards the International Space Station (ISS). Shubhanshu Shukla, at 39 years old, holds the crucial role of Mission Pilot for Ax-4. He is joined by veteran American astronaut Peggy Whitson (Commander), Polish engineer Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, and Hungarian researcher Tibor Kapu (both Mission Specialists).
A Second ‘Gaganyatri’ After Four Decades
Shukla’s journey is particularly significant for India. As the second Indian to ever go to space, he bridges a 41-year gap since Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma’s historic eight-day mission aboard the Soviet Soyuz T-11 spacecraft to the Salyut-7 space station in 1984. More importantly, Shukla is the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS), a critical step that will provide invaluable experience for India’s own ambitious human spaceflight program, Gaganyaan.
Selected by ISRO as a prime astronaut for this historic flight, Shukla’s participation in Ax-4 is seen as a stepping stone towards Gaganyaan, which aims to send Indian astronauts to low Earth orbit by 2027. His experiences aboard the ISS, including conducting seven India-specific scientific experiments, will contribute directly to ISRO’s preparations for its indigenous crewed mission. These experiments cover diverse fields such as metabolic diseases, microgravity’s effects on muscle and plant growth, microbial behavior, and materials testing, all designed to inform long-duration missions and future space habitation.
Shubhanshu Shukla: From Fighter Pilot to Astronaut
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s career is a testament to rigorous training and dedication. Commissioned into the Indian Air Force fighter wing in June 2006, he is a decorated combat and test pilot with over 2,000 hours of flight experience across various frontline aircraft, including the Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, and MiG-29. His expertise in handling high-pressure situations and intricate flight systems made him an ideal candidate for astronaut selection.
Shukla was chosen as one of the four astronauts for India’s Gaganyaan mission in 2019. This involved extensive training, including a year-long program at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre in Star City, Russia (2020-2021), followed by mission-specific training at ISRO’s Astronaut Training Facility in Bengaluru. His role as mission pilot on Ax-4 includes monitoring critical flight systems, executing manual docking procedures if necessary, and ensuring crew safety throughout the mission.
Before his historic lift-off, Shukla shared his enthusiasm, stating, “I want each one of you to be part of this journey, let us embark on India’s human space programme together.” He also expressed hope that his mission would inspire a new generation, much like Rakesh Sharma’s flight did decades ago.
A Mission Beyond the Stars:
The Ax-4 mission itself is a private astronaut mission operated by Axiom Space in collaboration with NASA and SpaceX. The crew is expected to dock with the ISS on Thursday. During their approximately 14-day stay aboard the orbiting laboratory, the four astronauts will conduct a wide array of scientific research and technology demonstrations, representing 31 countries, including the seven Indian experiments spearheaded by Shukla.
The successful launch of Ax-4 with Shubhanshu Shukla aboard is not just a personal triumph but a moment of immense national pride for India. It underscores the nation’s growing capabilities in space exploration and its increasing engagement in global space partnerships. As India sets its sights on future ambitious endeavors like the Gaganyaan program and establishing a “Bharat Antariksh Station” by 2035, Shubhanshu Shukla’s journey marks a crucial and inspiring step towards a future where India’s presence among the stars is not just a dream, but a growing reality.