Back in 1984, on a cold Kazakh morning, an Indian Air Force officer sat inside a Soviet spacecraft, moments away from history. As the engines of Soyuz T-11 ignited, Squadron Leader Rakesh Sharma felt the spacecraft shake beneath him. Within minutes, he was off the ground—breaking through Earth’s atmosphere to become the first Indian in space.
Now, more than forty years later, that sense of cosmic wonder has returned. India turned a new page in its space journey as Shubhanshu Shukla launched into orbit—becoming only the second Indian to do so, and the very first to set course for the International Space Station (ISS).
Born in 1985, just a year after Rakesh Sharma’s trailblazing mission, Shukla grew up not merely beneath the stars—but with his sights set firmly on reaching them.
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force, now an astronaut, launched aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, heading to the International Space Station as part of Axiom Space’s Ax-4 mission.
A PICTURE-PERFECT LAUNCH
Shubhanshu Shukla lifted off into space with three fellow astronauts from Hungary, Poland, and the United States, beginning a landmark mission to live and conduct research aboard the International Space Station.
The mission began with a thunderous roar as Falcon 9’s Merlin engines came to life, launching the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft toward Low Earth Orbit (LEO). In a display of power and precision, the rocket’s reusable first stage completed a flawless return and landing, while Dragon continued its journey into space.
MARRED BY DELAYS
The long-anticipated launch was originally slated for May 29 but encountered repeated setbacks due to technical glitches, unfavorable weather conditions affecting the Falcon 9 and Dragon spacecraft, and issues aboard the International Space Station.
After seven postponements, the mission finally lifted off on Wednesday, following intense efforts by SpaceX, Axiom, NASA, and ISRO to resolve the issues and restock biological test samples. Meanwhile, the four astronauts remained in quarantine for nearly a month.
“Setbacks and delays are a normal part of spaceflight. Our Ax-4 crew remains upbeat and looking forward to a safe and successful flight to the Space Station,” Mission Commander Peggy Whitson said.
NEXT UP: DOCKING
The Dragon spacecraft, carrying the Ax-4 crew, is now orbiting Earth on a pre-programmed trajectory to rendezvous with the International Space Station, located approximately 400 kilometres above the planet’s surface.
As mission pilot, Shubhanshu Shukla will closely monitor the spacecraft’s path, orbital dynamics, and the ISS’s position during approach. A seasoned test pilot of aircraft such as the MiG-21, MiG-29, Dornier, AN-32, and Sukhoi-30 MKI, Shukla takes on a critical supervisory role aboard Dragon.
Though the Dragon capsule is engineered for fully autonomous flight and docking, the mission pilot acts as a skilled overseer—ready to take manual control only if needed.
WHO IS FLYING TO SPACE WITH SHUBHANSHU SHUKLA?
Nicknamed “Shux” by his crewmates, the Indian astronaut is joined by a diverse and experienced team aboard this historic flight.
Leading the crew is Dr. Peggy Whitson, an iconic American astronaut with a record-breaking 675 days in space. As the most experienced U.S. astronaut to date, Whitson commands the Ax-4 mission, bringing with her deep expertise, scientific insight, and steady leadership. Her presence sets a gold standard for the mission, ensuring safety and success at every stage.
Joining them are two mission specialists: Sawosz Uznanski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary.
Uznaski, a physicist and engineer with a background at CERN, represents the European Space Agency and brings deep scientific knowledge to the AX-4 mission. As Poland’s second astronaut, his focus will be on microgravity experiments and advancing ESA’s research goals.
Tibor Kapu, Hungary’s second astronaut and a key figure in the nation’s HUNOR space program, brings expertise in polymer technology and radiation shielding.
SCIENCE AHEAD
Aboard the International Space Station, astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will conduct seven cutting-edge experiments designed by Indian scientists, exploring biology, food, medicine, and mental health in microgravity.
These include growing Indian superfoods like moong and methi in zero gravity and studying how microbes behave in space. He’ll also participate in research on muscle loss, mental health impacts from screen exposure, and the ageing of human cells in orbit.
Additionally, scientists will test the viability of growing edible algae as a nutritious space food. Together, these experiments aim to unlock crucial knowledge for long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars. He will also speak to Indian students from space.
WHY AX-4 MISSION IS IMPORTANT FOR INDIA
The Ax-4 Mission gives an Indian astronaut a first-hand experience of what it takes to go into space, live in zero gravity and then return. The wholesome experience will boost India’s own emerging spaceflight program – Gaganyaan.
Interestingly, astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is also one of the four candidates selected to be part of the ambitious mission to go into space from India on Gaganyaan.
The scientific experiments that he will conduct have also been chosen carefully to enhance the preparedness for the Gaganyaan Mission.
The operational experience gained — from pre-launch quarantine and international collaboration to microgravity experiments, ingress and egress procedures, medical diagnostics, health readiness protocols, and collaborative training — will be invaluable for the success of Gaganyaan.
It will also play a crucial role in strengthening India’s space research ecosystem and preparing future astronauts for complex space missions.
As Shubhanshu Shukla embarks on his 14-day odyssey around Earth, it’s not just his family holding their breath, nor just the streets of Lucknow bursting with pride — it’s an entire nation watching with awe.
At that instant, as he ascends into the cosmos, he carries more than a mission—he bears the hopes, dreams, and silent prayers of 1.4 billion Indians.
One of our own reaches for the heavens, and with him, a nation dares to believe that nothing lies beyond its reach.