On June 25, 2025, the Axiom‑4 mission rocketed off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, marking a historic moment for India. The crew, including India’s Shubhanshu Shukla—a Group Captain in the Indian Air Force—launched aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Dragon spacecraft toward the International Space Station (ISS). He is set to become the first Indian to visit the ISS and only the second Indian ever to travel into space, following Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma's journey in 1984.
Moments after liftoff at 12:01 PM IST, Shukla greeted India with a heartfelt “Namaskar from space!” speaking in Hindi aboard the Dragon capsule as it soared into orbit. “What a ride it was!” he exclaimed, recalling the launch. “When I was sitting in the capsule, the only thought was ‘let’s just go.’” He described the surreal sensation of emerging into the vacuum: “Suddenly, nothing—you were floating in the silence of vacuum”. He proudly added that the Indian tricolour on his flight suit carried with it the hopes of 1.4 billion people back home.
Shukla’s message was accompanied by stunning visuals transmitted from the spacecraft—floating footage and glimpses of Earth below. At one point, he noted the craft was flying over Europe, offering a breathtaking view. He addressed fellow Indians once more, reflecting on the legacy he was continuing: “After 41 years, we have returned to space,” he said, evoking a strong sense of national pride.
India’s leadership responded with congratulatory messages. Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that Shukla “carries with him the hopes, wishes and aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians”. Minister Rajnath Singh echoed the sentiment, describing the launch as a “significant milestone” for the nation’s space ambitions.
The mission is a four-member international endeavor, commanded by veteran NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, and including Poland’s Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski and Hungary’s Tibor Kapu. They will spend approximately 14 days aboard the ISS, during which they’ll conduct over 60 scientific experiments. These include biomedical and technological research, such as evaluating continuous glucose monitoring systems—critical data that could benefit individuals with diabetes in both ISS and terrestrial contexts.
Shukla will also carry out experiments developed by ISRO and Indian research bodies, investigating areas like microalgae growth, cognitive effects of screen use, muscle atrophy, and crop resilience under microgravity conditions.
The Dragon capsule, affectionately named “Grace,” is scheduled to dock with the ISS’s Harmony module’s zenith port by approximately 4:30 PM IST on June 26, following about a 28‑hour orbital rendezvous.
This mission has personal and national resonance. Shukla, hailing from Lucknow, was inspired by the Kargil War to pursue a military career. A graduate of the National Defence Academy, he joined the Indian Air Force in 2006, accruing around 2,000 flight hours across a variety of aircraft. He’s married, a father, and was selected as an astronaut within ISRO’s ambitious Gaganyaan human spaceflight program
