In a landmark moment for India’s space ambitions, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force lifted off aboard the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission to the International Space Station (ISS) on June 25, becoming the first Indian in over four decades to venture into space.
The mission launched at 12:01 PM IST from NASA’s historic Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center, using a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and a new Dragon spacecraft. Shukla, serving as the mission’s pilot, is joined by Commander Peggy Whitson (USA), and mission specialists Slawosz Uznański-Wiśniewski (Poland) and Tibor Kapu (Hungary).
The 14-day mission, dubbed Mission Akash Ganga, marks a significant milestone in India’s collaboration with international space agencies and private spaceflight ventures. It also fulfills a bilateral commitment made between India and the United States to send an Indian astronaut to the ISS.
Shukla, a decorated test pilot from Lucknow, expressed his pride and sense of purpose ahead of the launch: “These moments remind you that you are part of something much larger than yourself. My endeavour is to inspire a generation back home”.
The Ax-4 crew will conduct over 60 microgravity experiments, outreach activities, and collaborative operations with the ISS crew. The mission is also a stepping stone for Axiom Space’s broader goal of building the world’s first commercial space station, as the ISS nears retirement.
The launch, which faced multiple delays due to weather and technical issues, was met with widespread celebration across India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu extended their congratulations, with the Union Cabinet passing a resolution lauding the historic achievement.
Shukla’s journey is seen as a precursor to India’s upcoming Gaganyaan mission and the planned Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2035, signaling a new era in the nation’s human spaceflight program.
