Shubhanshu Shukla Scripts History: India’s First Step Aboard the ISS

In a moment that will be remembered for generations, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla became the first Indian astronaut to travel to the International Space Station (ISS), marking India’s return to human spaceflight after more than four decades. The landmark event occurred on June 25, 2025, when SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, carrying Shukla and three other astronauts as part of Axiom Space’s fourth private mission, Ax-4.

🚀 The Ax-4 Mission: A Global Collaborative Leap

The Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) is a privately funded orbital mission led by Axiom Space in collaboration with NASA, SpaceX, and the respective space agencies of the participating nations. This multinational crew includes:

• Peggy Whitson (USA) – Mission Commander and veteran NASA astronaut

• Shubhanshu Shukla (India) – Mission Pilot

• Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski (Poland) – Mission Specialist

• Tibor Kapu (Hungary) – Payload Specialist

The mission is designed to last approximately 14 days, with around 12 days spent aboard the ISS. The crew is conducting over 60 scientific experiments across disciplines including human physiology, biotechnology, materials science, and agricultural biology.

Shukla is overseeing a range of India-centric experiments, including studies on microalgae behavior in microgravity, muscle degradation countermeasures, cognitive adaptability of astronauts, and tests involving climate-resilient crop strains. These payloads represent a cross-section of India’s strategic interest in space medicine, food security, and bioengineering.

👨‍🚀 Who Is Shubhanshu Shukla?

Shubhanshu Shukla, aged 39, hails from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. A decorated fighter pilot, he serves as a Group Captain in the Indian Air Force. Shukla’s academic and professional journey is a blend of rigorous military discipline and advanced scientific training.

📘 Education and Training:

• Graduated from the National Defence Academy (NDA) in 2005 with a degree in Computer Science

• Completed his M.Tech in Aerospace Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru

• Trained at Russia’s Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center and later at ISRO’s astronaut training facility in Bengaluru

Shukla has logged over 2,000 hours of flight time, operating high-performance aircraft such as the Su-30 MKI, MiG-29, MiG-21, and the Jaguar.

He was one of four astronauts officially presented to the nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February 2024 as part of the upcoming Gaganyaan mission—India’s maiden human spaceflight program. Though Gaganyaan’s full crewed mission is yet to launch, Shukla’s participation in Ax-4 is a major preparatory milestone.

🇮🇳 India’s Return to Space: Beyond Symbolism

India's last human presence in space dates back to 1984, when Rakesh Sharma flew aboard the Soviet Soyuz T-11 mission. Shukla’s journey is not only symbolic of India’s evolving space capabilities but also of its integration into the international space community.

This mission paves the way for greater cooperation in orbital science, private spaceflight, and technology transfer. It also gives ISRO and the Indian scientific community valuable insights into long-duration human spaceflight—critical for upcoming Gaganyaan crewed missions targeted for 2026 or 2027.

🛰 What Lies Ahead

The Ax-4 crew is expected to return to Earth by mid-July 2025, after successfully completing their research agenda aboard the ISS. Upon return, Shukla is expected to:

• Participate in national outreach campaigns

• Share scientific results and technical feedback with ISRO

• Continue training for future Indian-led missions

There is also speculation about an address to school and college students, encouraging youth participation in STEM and aerospace research.

✨ Closing Thoughts

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s spaceflight represents a paradigm shift for Indian space ambition—from domestic launches to full-fledged participation in international missions. More than just a flight to the stars, it is a message: India is ready to lead in the next era of space exploration.

Shukla himself, in a pre-launch briefing, said:

“If even one child from my country dreams a little bigger after watching this, my mission will have already succeeded.”

Indeed, the stars just got a little closer for 1.4 billion people.