Shubhanshu Shukla is 2nd Indian in space

Successful launch takes Shukla & three others to International Space Station

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, a pilot of the Indian Air Force who was trained as an astronaut by the Indian Space Research Organisation has become the second Indian to journey into space, 40 years after his predecessor Wing Commandar Rakesh Sharma went to after a gap of 40 years, launching on the Axiom-4 mission aboard a SpaceX rocket to the International Space Station.

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla made history on Wednesday, by becoming the second Indian to travel to space, over 40 years after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma’s pioneering journey aboard a Soviet mission in 1984.

Shukla, mission pilot for the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) crew, blasted off from National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, United States, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, marking milestone in India’s space ambitions.

The launch, which took place at 12:01 IST from Launch Complex 39A, was met with cheers and applause across India. The event was watched live by officials, scientists and the astronaut’s family.

Moments after achieving Earth’s orbit, Shukla addressed the nation:

“We are orbiting the Earth. This is the start of India’s human space programme. Jai Hind, Jai Bharat.”

Shukla’s journey to the International Space Station (ISS) is part of a multinational mission operated by US-based Axiom Space, in partnership with NASA, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and European Space Agency (ESA). ISRO reportedly paid INR 5 billion to secure Shukla’s seat and comprehensive training for the mission.

The 39-year-old Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot was meticulously selected as primary astronaut for this flight and had been in quarantine for over a month to ensure optimal health ahead of the rigorous spaceflight.

Joining Shukla on the Ax-4 mission are Commander Peggy Whitson of US, Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary. The crew, representing a renewed international collaboration in space exploration, is set to spend up to 14 days aboard the ISS, conducting 60 scientific experiments, including seven proposed by Indian researchers. The mission also marks the return of Poland and Hungary to space after more than four decades.

Reportedly, the launch, originally scheduled for June 11, was delayed due to technical issues, including a liquid oxygen leak. However, the successful liftoff and smooth activation of the mission’s second stage were confirmed by NASA, with the main engine cut-off achieved as planned. The Crew Dragon capsule is expected to dock with the ISS after a 28-hour journey, with Shukla becoming the first Indian to visit the orbiting international laboratory.

As the nation watched, Shukla’s parents, Asha and Shambhu Dayal Shukla, were visibly emotional.

Shukla’s mission heralds a new era for India’s space programme and paves the way for the country’s upcoming Gaganyaan mission, which aims to send Indian astronauts to space on an indigenous spacecraft.