Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Makes History Aboard International Space Station
India celebrates a landmark moment in space exploration, 41 years after its first human spaceflight.
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla became the first Indian astronaut to arrive at the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday, marking a historic milestone for India’s space program. The Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission, which launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, docked with the ISS after a 28-hour journey, signifying India’s return to human spaceflight since Rakesh Sharma’s groundbreaking mission in 1984.
The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, carrying Shukla and his crew, completed a seamless docking at the ISS’s Harmony module. Shukla, serving as the mission pilot, was accompanied by mission commander Peggy Whitson from the United States, and mission specialists Sawosz Uznanski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary. This mission also marked the first time astronauts from Poland and Hungary have visited the ISS.
Orbiting 418 kilometers above Earth at a speed exceeding 17,000 kilometers per hour, the Ax-4 crew conducted health checks and adjusted to the microgravity environment. In a heartfelt message from space, Shukla greeted his nation with “Namaskar from space,” expressing pride in representing 1.4 billion Indians.
“Floating in this vast emptiness is surreal and humbling,” Shukla shared. “I’m deeply grateful to everyone who made this possible. This moment belongs to all of us in India.” Reflecting on his first spaceflight, he added, “I’m still adapting to zero gravity—it’s like learning to move all over again. I’ve been sleeping a lot, and it’s a bit of a learning curve, but it’s been an incredible experience. Mistakes are part of the fun, especially watching others figure it out too!”
The Ax-4 crew will spend about two weeks aboard the ISS, working alongside the Expedition 73 team on over 60 scientific experiments and educational initiatives—the most extensive research agenda of any Axiom mission yet. Their projects will focus on cancer research, DNA repair, and advanced manufacturing, underscoring the importance of global collaboration in space exploration.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Shukla and the Ax-4 team, calling the mission a proud moment for India’s growing presence in space.
As Shukla begins his work aboard the ISS, his journey inspires future generations and highlights the power of international partnerships in advancing scientific discovery.