In a landmark development for India’s burgeoning space aspirations, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is set to become the first astronaut from his country to live aboard the International Space Station. The mission, known as Axiom Mission 4 (Ax‑4), is scheduled to launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 with a Crew Dragon spacecraft in June. Scheduled to spend approximately two weeks in orbit, Shukla will conduct a series of cutting-edge scientific experiments, cementing India’s presence in international human spaceflight.
At 39, Shukla brings extensive experience as a fighter pilot and test pilot in the Indian Air Force. A native of Lucknow, his passion for aviation was ignited in the wake of the Kargil War, motivating him to quietly take the National Defence Academy entrance exam even during his sister’s wedding—a testament to his unwavering dedication. Since his commissioning in 2006, he has logged over 2,000 flight hours across a wide array of aircraft, including the Su‑30 MKI, MiG‑29, Jaguar, and Dornier. After completing rigorous training at Russia’s Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre and ISRO’s Bengaluru facility, he earned a Master’s in Aerospace Engineering from IISc Bengaluru—essential groundwork for this mission.
Shukla’s flight is a private yet government-backed venture pioneered through a collaboration among ISRO, NASA, SpaceX, and Houston‑based Axiom Space. His role on Ax‑4 as pilot places him under the command of former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, alongside mission specialists Sławosz Uznański‑Wiśniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary. This mission marks a historic moment not only for India but also for Poland and Hungary, each sending human space explorers to the ISS after decades.
Originally set for late May, the launch has encountered several delays. Initial scheduling placed liftoff between June 8 and 10, shifting to June 11 due to unfavourable weather. More recently, SpaceX engineers identified a liquid oxygen leak in the Falcon 9’s propulsion system during pre-flight testing, prompting a hold as the teams address the issue to ensure crew safety. ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan emphasized that the launch will only proceed once all technical checks are successfully completed.
Once docked, the four‑member crew will embark on roughly 60 experiments, highlighting a major Indo‑US research partnership. Seven of these studies were designed by Indian scientists and focus on areas such as muscle regeneration, plant biology, microalgal nutrition, microbial survival in space, tardigrade resilience, human technology interface, and cyanobacterial growth—all within microgravity environments.
The mission represents a significant $60 million investment by India and is widely viewed as a strategic stepping stone toward the country’s Gaganyaan programme, scheduled for 2027, and even a future lunar mission by the 2040s. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has positioned Shukla’s flight as a “journey of 1.4 billion people”, one meant to spark young Indians’ curiosity and bolster national confidence in space exploration.
As he enters pre-launch quarantine—a protocol initiated on June 8 at Axiom Space’s headquarters—Shukla received a ceremonial send‑off, epitomizing international cooperation and celebration of space science.
In sum, Shubhanshu Shukla’s upcoming mission aboard the ISS signifies more than a personal achievement—it marks India’s renewed presence in human spaceflight, a milestone for international collaboration in low Earth orbit, and a vital practice run for future missions orchestrated by ISRO on home ground. As he prepares to lift off, Shukla carries the hopes of a nation poised on the cusp of a new era of space exploration.
