Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla and Axiom Mission
🚀 Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla: India’s Journey to the Stars with Axiom Mission 4
On June 25, 2025, the world witnessed a historic moment when India returned to human spaceflight after over four decades. Leading this iconic moment was Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, an Indian Air Force test pilot who became the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS) and only the second Indian to fly into space after Rakesh Sharma.
Born in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, Shukla is a decorated pilot with over 2,000 flight hours on Su-30 MKIs, Jaguars, and MiG-29s. His academic credentials include the National Defence Academy and an M.Tech from IISc Bengaluru. Handpicked by ISRO in 2019, his years of dedication led him to the stars.
🌌 Axiom Mission 4 – A Global Flight
Launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, Axiom Mission 4 (Ax‑4) included astronauts from India, Poland, Hungary, and the U.S. Shukla served as pilot on the mission, operating Crew Dragon “Grace” and managing flight protocols and systems.
The Dragon spacecraft docked with the ISS 28 hours after launch. This made Shukla the first Indian astronaut to reach the ISS, a milestone that resonated with pride across the nation.
🧪 Scientific Mission & Indian Contributions
During the 14-day stay on the ISS, Shukla led several Indian experiments:
Growth of micro-algae in microgravity
Studying plant stem cells in orbit
Testing glucose monitoring devices for diabetic astronauts
Simulating muscle and bone loss impacts on future astronauts
These experiments, funded by ISRO and Indian universities, are designed to help future Gaganyaan astronauts and enhance India’s research presence in space.
🌍 Beyond Borders
Axiom Mission 4 was more than a private space mission — it symbolized global unity. Alongside Shukla were astronauts from Hungary and Poland, making it one of the most diverse spaceflights ever. Together, they performed over 60 experiments from 31 countries.