Historic milestone achieved as Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla becomes first Indian astronaut in over four decades to journey to space aboard commercial mission.
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla made history as he launched aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station as part of the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4). The mission departed from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida at 2:31 am Eastern Time, marking India’s return to human spaceflight after 41 years. The accomplished Indian Air Force test pilot from Lucknow addressed his countrymen from inside the spacecraft, creating a moment of national pride.
The international four-member crew includes mission commander Peggy Whitson and specialists from Poland and Hungary, with Shukla serving as mission pilot. This represents India’s first participation in a commercial space mission to the ISS, where Shukla will conduct experiments developed by ISRO and Indian research institutions. The Dragon spacecraft is scheduled to dock with the space station on Thursday at 4:30 PM IST.
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This mission highlights India’s growing role in global space exploration while the country develops its independent Gaganyaan program. The Ax-4 mission provides immediate opportunities for Indian scientific research in microgravity conditions, serving as a bridge between India’s space achievements and future human exploration plans.