Marking a major milestone in India’s space journey, astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is poised to become the first Indian to reach the International Space Station (ISS), as part of the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), launching today from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
“India is returning to space, Jai Hind,” Shukla declared on X (formerly Twitter) ahead of the historic flight. He will serve as the mission’s pilot, becoming the second Indian in space after Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 mission.
The Ax-4 mission, a collaboration between Axiom Space, NASA, and SpaceX, is scheduled to lift off at 2:31 a.m. EDT (12:01 p.m. IST) from Launch Complex 39A aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, carrying four astronauts aboard the Dragon spacecraft. Docking with the ISS is expected around 7:00 a.m. EDT (4:30 p.m. IST) on Thursday, June 26.
Shukla will be joined by mission commander and veteran NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Slawomir Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland, and Hungarian spaceflight participant Tibor Kapu. The mission symbolizes a significant return to human spaceflight for India, Hungary, and Poland.
The crew’s readiness was confirmed by SpaceX, which posted, “Dragon’s hatch is closed, all communication and suit checks are complete, the seats are rotated, and the Ax-4 crew is ready for launch!” Weather conditions are also favorable, with a 90% chance of liftoff proceeding as scheduled.
Before launch, Shukla shared a heartfelt message for his wife on Instagram: “Special thanks to Kamna for being the wonderful partner that you are. Without you none of this was possible, but more importantly, none of this would matter.” He also posted a photo of them sharing a goodbye through a glass wall.
The Axiom-4 mission had faced multiple delays due to adverse weather and technical issues, including detected leaks in the Falcon 9 rocket. Following thorough checks and successful resolution, the mission was cleared for launch.
This is the fourth private astronaut mission to the ISS under Axiom Space’s program and a testament to the growing global participation in commercial space exploration. For India, it not only marks a return to manned spaceflight but also signals a growing role in international space science.
Once aboard the ISS, Shukla will lead pioneering research focused on space nutrition. He will study the effects of microgravity and space radiation on edible microalgae, a nutrient-dense food source being explored for future long-duration space missions.
With the successful launch of Ax-4, India reasserts its presence in human spaceflight, aligning with global space ambitions and scientific collaboration.
