In a proud and emotional milestone for India, Group Captain Shubhamshu Shukla has becomethe first Indian astronaut to reach the International Space Station (ISS). A member of the IndianAir Force, Shukla flew as the pilot of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), joining a multinational crew ledby former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson. Also part of this historic mission were SlawoszUznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary.
Launched on June 25, 2025, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy SpaceCenter, the team traveled aboard the Dragon spacecraft “Grace” and docked with the ISS a daylater. For 18 days, they lived and worked in orbit, conducting over 60 experiments, includingseven from India focusing on human health, muscle loss in space, microbial changes, and foodcrop resilience.
On July 14, as their journey drew to a close, the crew bid farewell to the ISS and began theirreturn. After 22.5 hours, the capsule splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean on July 15, wherethe U.S. Navy was ready to welcome them home. In total, they circled the Earth 288 times,covering over 7.6 million miles.
For India, this mission is more than just a record—it’s a glimpse into the future. ShubhamshuShukla’s success is not only a symbol of national pride but also a key stepping stone for ISRO’sGaganyaan human spaceflight program. His journey marks the beginning of a new era of Indianparticipation in global space exploration—this time, with a seat in the cockpit.
