June 26, 2025, marks a historic day for India’s space ambitions as Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force and ISRO becomes the first Indian to travel to the International Space Station (ISS). The event is being hailed as a major milestone for India’s growing role in global space exploration and collaboration.
Axiom-4 Takes Flight After Delays
After weeks of delays due to weather and launch window constraints, the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission lifted off successfully on June 25 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Onboard the Dragon spacecraft, the four-person crew is headed toward the ISS for a 14-day research and operations mission.
The Crew:
- Commander: Peggy Whitson (USA) – veteran astronaut with 665+ days in space
- Pilot: Shubhanshu Shukla (India) – Group Captain, IAF; ISRO astronaut
- Mission Specialist: Sławosz Uznaski-Winiewski (Poland)
- Mission Specialist: Tibor Kapu (Hungary)
The Axiom-4 mission, a private venture in partnership with NASA and SpaceX, is the fourth commercial astronaut mission to the ISS, showcasing the growing democratization of space access.
According to NASA, SpaceX, and Axiom Space, the Dragon capsule is expected to dock autonomously to the Harmony module’s space-facing port of the ISS at approximately:
- 7:00 AM EST / 4:30 PM IST – June 26
As pilot, Shukla (‘Shux’) plays a critical real-time role:
“Shukla will monitor spacecraft telemetry, docking trajectory, and ISS relative motion,” NASA said. “His duties will include oversight of Dragon’s autonomous systems and readiness to initiate manual intervention if required.”
India’s First ISS Astronaut: Who is Shubhanshu Shukla?
Background:
- Indian Air Force: Group Captain
- ISRO: Selected as one of India’s four Gaganyaan astronauts
- Training: Trained in Russia and at NASA’s Johnson Space Center for human spaceflight protocols, EVA preparedness, and ISS systems
- First Indian on the ISS
- First Indian to fly aboard SpaceX Dragon
- First ISRO astronaut in a US-based commercial crew mission
“This is not just a personal achievement, but a step forward for India’s spaceflight capability,” said ISRO Chairman S. Somanath.
The Ax-4 mission includes over 60 microgravity experiments, ranging from biological, material science, fluid dynamics, to space tech demonstrations.
Out of these, Shukla is scheduled to lead 7 experiments, including:
- Biomedical fluid behavior in microgravity
- Protein crystallization for pharma use
- Earth imaging and AI-assisted remote sensing validation
- STEM demonstrations for Indian classrooms
NASA further confirmed that ISRO and NASA are jointly collaborating on 5 experiments, marking one of the most integrated Indo-US space science ventures to date.
Shukla’s presence aboard Ax-4 will help de-risk elements of ISRO’s own human spaceflight program, Gaganyaan, slated for crewed launch by 2026.
- His experience in space station living, microgravity research, and emergency protocols will feed into ISRO’s mission readiness.
- It’s also seen as India’s first step toward developing indigenous space station capabilities by the 2030s.
This mission reflects a growing Indo-US space partnership, particularly:
- Deepening NASA-ISRO collaboration on human spaceflight
- Demonstrating India’s readiness to integrate into commercial spaceflight networks
- Potential for future Indian astronauts aboard Artemis Lunar Gateway missions
The docking will be streamed live via:
- NASA TV
- SpaceX Live
- Axiom Space official channel
Live coverage starts at 3:30 PM IST on June 26.
With Shubhanshu ‘Shux’ Shukla in orbit, India enters a new chapter in space exploration—not just as a launching nation but as a permanent stakeholder in off-world human activity. The Axiom-4 mission is not just about reaching the ISS—it’s about redefining India’s space legacy.
“This mission is a bridge—between continents, between agencies, and between past dreams and future realities.”
