India Astronaut Shukla Aboard ISS as Axiom Space Mission Makes History
| 2025-06-27
Ax-4's multi-country crew, led by former Nasa veteran Peggy Whitson, includes India's Shubhanshu Shukla, Poland's Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski and Hungarian Tibor Kapu
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla becomes the first Indian on the ISS during Axiom Space’s historic mission with SpaceX and NASA, highlighting India’s expanding role in human spaceflight.
Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has become the first Indian astronaut to join the International Space Station (ISS), after the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft docked successfully in a mission led by Axiom Space. The achievement, witnessed by senior officials from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), marks India’s most significant human spaceflight milestone since Rakesh Sharma travelled to space in 1984.
The Axiom Mission 4 spacecraft arrived at the ISS on 26 June at 16:15 Indian Standard Time, completing an automated approach to the station’s Harmony module. According to ISRO, a delegation led by V Narayanan, Secretary of the Department of Space and ISRO Chairman, observed the docking live from NASA’s Mission Control Centre in Houston, United States.
A Multinational Crew and a Commercial Venture
The crew of four includes former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson as mission commander, Polish astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski, Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu, and Group Captain Shukla. Their spacecraft launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on 25 June.
The mission has been described as a landmark example of commercial spaceflight, combining public and private collaboration. Former ISRO scientist Mylswamy Annadurai called the effort “predominantly a commercial venture” that could help define the future of orbital research.
“This is predominantly a commercial venture. It opens up ways for using space as a vantage point for future exploration,” he said. “The success of this mission will enable India’s ambitions of having its own space station.”
Scientific Programme in Microgravity
During the 14-day stay aboard the ISS, Group Captain Shukla is scheduled to conduct 30 scientific experiments across biology, materials research, fluid dynamics, and medicine. These experiments aim to advance knowledge that could support longer-term human survival in space environments.
Shukla has described the mission as a collective achievement representing the hopes of more than 1.4 billion Indians. “The tiny Indian flag I am carrying stands for every Indian,” he said in comments shared before launch.
A Historic Moment for India’s Space Programme
Shukla’s mission follows India’s successful Chandrayaan-3 lunar landing, which made headlines in 2023 for achieving a touchdown near the Moon’s south pole. That feat solidified India’s reputation for cost-effective and technically sophisticated missions.
The Axiom 4 mission is widely seen as another step towards India’s longer-term goals, which include launching its own space station and participating in human missions to the Moon.
NASA flight engineers Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers monitored the Dragon spacecraft’s arrival and docking procedures. The crew were formally welcomed aboard the station shortly after arrival.
Context: India’s Journey to Human Spaceflight
India’s engagement with human spaceflight began during the Cold War when Rakesh Sharma flew on a Soviet mission in 1984. Unlike that politically symbolic flight, Shukla’s journey has been defined by scientific cooperation and commercial partnership.
The mission was made possible through agreements between Indian and US administrations, including discussions dating back to the tenure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former US President Donald Trump.
Experts note that this shift from geopolitical competition to multinational research reflects a transformation in how nations approach space exploration. Where astronauts and cosmonauts once embodied ideological rivalry, today’s missions increasingly emphasise shared scientific benefit.
India’s plans now include further human spaceflight missions under the Gaganyaan programme and potentially future participation in lunar exploration.
With this mission, India joins a small group of nations whose astronauts have lived and worked on the ISS, underscoring its evolving role as a spacefaring power.
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