Historic Launch: India's First Astronaut in 41 Years Joins Axiom-4 Mission

Tue Oct 21 2025 03:25:59 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

India marks a monumental milestone with the launch of its first astronaut into space in over four decades, as Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla embarks on the Axiom-4 mission.

The successful liftoff of Axiom-4 from Kennedy Space Center brings excitement across India, as astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla heads to the International Space Station (ISS), marking the nation’s return to space travel after 41 years.

Jubilations erupted across India following the triumphant launch of the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission, which has sent a multinational crew, including India's Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, into space. Shukla, only the second Indian to journey beyond Earth, will make history as the first to dock at NASA’s International Space Station (ISS) in just over a day. This mission comes 41 years after Rakesh Sharma’s groundbreaking flight aboard a Russian Soyuz in 1984.

Axiom-4 lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 02:31 EDT on Wednesday, led by veteran former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson. Whitson has commanded the ISS twice and has logged over 675 days in space. Alongside Shukla, the diverse crew includes Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary, both making their respective spaceflight comebacks after decades.

The mission generated significant buzz in India, with the Indian space agency ISRO eager to leverage Shukla’s newfound experience as it prepares for its first human spaceflight in 2027 and plans for an Indian space station by 2035, along with aspirations to reach the Moon by 2040. ISRO invested 5 billion rupees (approximately $59 million) to secure Shukla’s seat and training for this pivotal mission.

The flight, conducted aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule propelled by a Falcon 9 rocket, garnered widespread attention, with the launch broadcasted live. In Shukla's hometown of Lucknow, crowds gathered to cheer as they watched the rocket ascend. Shukla, an experienced fighter pilot, expressed deep pride in representing India, stating, "I carry the hopes and dreams of a billion hearts."

During his two-week mission on the ISS, Shukla is expected to be active not only in piloting but also in conducting numerous scientific experiments—60 in total, with seven initiatives led by ISRO. Significant projects include tests on crop seeds and microalgae subjected to microgravity, which may influence future space agriculture and life support systems. Shukla's space journey promises to deepen scientific understanding of various biological processes in low-gravity environments and spur engagement with educational activities back on Earth, including potential interactions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.