Axiom Mission 4: Shukla crew rockets to ISS

Florida

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla made history today as he became the second Indian to travel to space, lifting off aboard the Axiom-4 mission bound for the International Space Station (ISS). This milestone comes 41 years after Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 space journey.

The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft launched successfully from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center at 12:01 PM IST. The crew includes Commander Peggy Whitson (USA), Mission Specialists Tibor Kapu (Hungary) and Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski (Poland), alongside Shukla, who serves as pilot.

Shukla, also a part of ISRO’s Gaganyaan program, will conduct seven scientific experiments during the 15-day mission, including research on microalgae, myogenesis, and plant growth in space. His first words in orbit were patriotic: “Namaskar, my dear countrymen… the tricolour tells me I am with you all.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the launch as a “historic moment”, while President Droupadi Murmu called it a symbol of India’s rising global stature in space. Union Minister Jitendra Singh emphasized India's new role as an equal partner in international space collaborations.

The Indian Air Force, celebrating Shukla’s achievement, said, “From conquering the skies to touching the stars – this is a déjà vu moment for India.”

Axiom-4 aims to reach the ISS by June 26 at 7 AM IST, where the crew will conduct 60 experiments representing 31 countries. Shukla’s mission has ignited excitement across India, marking a new chapter in the nation’s space journey.