Excited celebrations have erupted across India following the successful launch of the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission, which features a diverse international crew — including an Indian astronaut.
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, serving as the mission’s pilot, has now become only the second Indian to journey into space.
Once the spacecraft completes its scheduled docking with the International Space Station (ISS) — expected in just over 26 hours — Shukla will make history as the first Indian to board NASA’s orbiting laboratory.
His landmark mission comes 41 years after Rakesh Sharma became India’s first spacefarer, flying aboard a Soviet Soyuz spacecraft in 1984.
Commanded by former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson—a veteran with over 675 days in space, 10 spacewalks, and two terms as ISS commander—the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission successfully launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 02:31 EDT (06:31 GMT / 12:01 IST) on Wednesday.
Ax-4 is a commercial spaceflight operated by Axiom Space, a private aerospace company based in Houston. The mission is a collaborative effort between NASA, ISRO (India’s space agency), the European Space Agency (ESA), and SpaceX.
The four-person crew includes Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary, marking their countries’ return to space after more than 40 years. All crew members underwent several weeks of quarantine ahead of launch.
In India, the mission has sparked widespread public interest. ISRO has emphasized that the hands-on experience Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will gain aboard the International Space Station (ISS) will significantly contribute to India’s future spaceflight missions.
Shukla, aged 39, was one of four Indian Air Force officers selected in 2024 for India’s first-ever crewed space mission, scheduled for 2027. India also has bold long-term goals, including launching its own space station by 2035 and sending an astronaut to the Moon by 2040.
To secure Shukla’s place on the Ax-4 mission and fund his training, ISRO paid ₹5 billion ($59 million) to Axiom Space.
Moments after liftoff, Group Captain Shukla addressed the nation with pride:
“We’re back in space after 41 years—and what an incredible journey it’s been.
Right now, we’re orbiting Earth at 7.5 kilometers per second. The Indian flag rests proudly on my shoulder.
This isn’t just my journey to the ISS—it’s the beginning of India’s human spaceflight program.
I invite every Indian to join in this historic moment and take pride in our achievements.”
– Deeprows News
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