India sends its first astronaut into space in 41 years

Jubilant Indians have been celebrating the successful launch of the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission which has taken off with a multi-country crew, including an Indian astronaut, the BBC reports.

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who’s piloting the mission, has become only the second Indian to travel to space.

In just over 26 hours – when the spacecraft docks at the International Space Station (ISS) – Group Captain Shukla will become the first ever Indian to visit Nasa’s orbiting laboratory.

His trip comes 41 years after cosmonaut Rakesh Sharma became the first Indian to fly to space aboard a Russian Soyuz in 1984.

NEW DELHI: India celebrated on Wednesday the launch of the Axiom-4 mission, which has taken off to the International Space Station with a crew including the first Indian astronaut in 41 years.

Launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday morning, the 14-day mission is a collaboration between American startup Axiom Space, NASA, and Elon Musk’s SpaceX, whose Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon capsule carried the four-member team into orbit.

A private spaceflight, it is led by Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut, with Shubhanshu Shukla, an Indian Air Force pilot responsible for flying the spacecraft through launch, orbital insertion, docking with the ISS, undocking, re-entry, and landing.

Another two members of the crew are Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski — a European Space Agency astronaut and the second Polish national in orbit, who will conduct science experiments in microgravity — and Tibor Kapu, a Hungarian mechanical engineer who will perform experiments in space health.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to social media to wish “all the success” to Shukla and the other astronauts on the Axiom-4 mission.

“The Indian Astronaut, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is on the way to become the first Indian to go to (the) International Space Station,” Modi said. “He carries with him the wishes, hopes and aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians.”

Shukla is the second Indian national in space, after Rakesh Sharma, who flew aboard the Soviet spacecraft Soyuz T-11 in 1984 and spent seven days and 21 hours aboard the Salyut 7 space station.

“We are proud and happy to see Shubhanshu Shukla become the second Indian to travel to space, this time as part of the Axiom-4 Mission. This journey is a testament to the growing global footprint of India in space exploration and is a stepping stone to what we want to achieve with Gaganyaan, our own indigenous human spaceflight program,” Lt. Gen. AK Bhatt (retd.), director general of the Indian Space Association, told reporters.

India’s own first human spaceflight aboard the Gaganyaan spacecraft is planned for 2027. So far, only three countries — Russia, the US and China — have sent humans into space on their own spacecraft.

“India is now in the final stages of preparation for the Gaganyaan mission, with firms like Larsen and Toubro, Tata and Ananth Technologies playing a critical role alongside our vibrant startups,” Bhatt said.

“If all goes as planned, we are just one or two years away from realizing the dream of sending Indian astronauts to space on an entirely indigenous platform. The success of missions like Axiom-4 inspires our ecosystem and strengthens our resolve to make India a leading force in the new era of space exploration.”

Shukla, 39, was chosen to take part in the Axiom-4 mission by the Indian Space Research Organization, which is responsible for the country’s space research and exploration activities and is the agency preparing the Gaganyaan mission.

Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh told Indian news agency ANI that the offer for an Indian astronaut to take part in Axiom-4 was presented during Modi’s visit to the US in 2023.

“We had four Air Force officers who were already undergoing training for Gaganyaan — Shubhanshu being the youngest of the four. So, the choice had to zero down on one of them. Finally, Shubhanshu’s name was picked up and (the) standby was Nair (Gp. Capt. Prasanth Nair),” Singh said.

“The Americans were equally keen to have an Indian onboard. In other words, it means that they, today more than ever before, realize the importance of India’s potential, India’s talent and India’s capacity to contribute.”

For the past few years, India has been establishing its position in the global space industry.

In January 2025, it became the fourth country to perform space docking, connecting two spacecraft in orbit. Codenamed Space Docking Experiment, or SpaDeX, the mission involved deploying two small spacecraft, each weighing about 220 kg, into an orbit approximately 470 km above Earth.

In August 2023, ISRO’s Chandrayaan-3 moon rover made history by landing on the lunar surface, making India the first country to land near the lunar south pole and the fourth to land on the moon, after the US, the Soviet Union, and China.

A month later, it launched Aditya-L1 in 2023 — the country’s first solar observation mission, and the world’s second after the US Parker Solar Probe in 2021.

India marked a momentous return to human spaceflight on Wednesday as Shubhanshu Shukla became the first Indian astronaut to reach the International Space Station (ISS), 41 years after Rakesh Sharma’s historic mission.

Shukla is part of Axiom Space’s fourth private spaceflight mission, launched aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The Axiom-4 mission, which also includes veteran astronaut and mission commander Peggy Whitson, Poland’s Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski, and Hungary’s Tibor Kapu, lifted off at 12:01 pm IST to rousing applause across the globe. Among the most emotional scenes were those at City Montessori School in Lucknow, where Shukla’s proud parents and school community watched the live launch with teary eyes and hopeful hearts.

Roughly ten minutes post-launch, the Dragon capsule successfully entered orbit, circling the Earth at a speed of 7.5 kilometres per second and an altitude of 200 kilometres.

“It was a great ride,” Shukla remarked from space, shortly after the spacecraft was confirmed to be in stable orbit. Speaking in Hindi, he added, “Namaskar, my dear countrymen; we have reached space after 41 years.”

“This is not just my journey to the ISS, but the beginning of India’s human spaceflight journey,” Shukla said, donning a flight suit adorned with the Indian tricolour. “I hope every citizen joins in as we embark on this new chapter together.”

The mission’s spacecraft, namedGrace, is scheduled to dock with the ISS around 4:30 pm IST on Thursday after a 28-hour journey. Once aboard, the astronauts will spend 14 days conducting over 60 scientific experiments focused on human physiology, space technology, and Earth observation.

In a nod to cultural pride, the crew also brought along traditional foods from their home countries. Shukla will be sharing Indian curry and rice, paired with mango nectar, while his colleagues brought Hungarian paprika paste and Polish pierogies.

Speaking ahead of the mission, Shukla said he aimed to “ignite the curiosity of an entire generation” and inspire innovation back home. “While I may be one individual travelling to space, this journey belongs to all 1.4 billion Indians,” he said.

The flight has rekindled national pride and public interest in India’s space ambitions, with outreach events planned throughout Shukla’s time aboard the ISS. He is also expected to engage in a live interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the mission.

The Axiom-4 mission marks a symbolic and scientific milestone not only for India but also for Poland and Hungary, with each nation sending a representative to space after decades. It further strengthens international cooperation in space exploration and highlights the growing role of commercial spaceflight in enabling diverse participation in orbital missions.

As India looks forward to its indigenous Gaganyaan mission, Shukla’s voyage offers a powerful reminder of how far the country has come since Rakesh Sharma’s landmark journey in 1984 and of the cosmic possibilities that lie ahead.

> Science

Emotions took over IAF Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s parents as they watched him liftoff to space. Shukla launched to the International Space Station (ISS) at 12:01 pm IST atop the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket as pilot for Axiom Space’s Ax-4 mission with mission commander Peggy Whitson and mission specialists Tibor Kapu and Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski.

Over the next 26 hours, he will operate the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft until it docks with the ISS at 4:30 pm IST on June 26.

Watching him launch on this historic spaceflight is special not only for Shukla but the entire country. It marks India’s return to space 41 years after Wing Commander’s Soviet Union-led Soyuz T-11 mission. Shukla will also become the first-ever Indian astronaut to visit the space station.

ALSO SEE: Ax-4 Mission: Shubhanshu Shukla Becomes Second Indian Astronaut To Reach Space After 41 Years

#WATCH | Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh: Mother of IAF Group Captain & astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, Asha Shukla, gets emotional as she cheers for her son, who is part of the #AxiomMission4 pic.twitter.com/62Ki2J3hRU — ANI (@ANI) June 25, 2025

At a watch party event organised in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, Shukla’s parents saw history unfold with the rest of India. The historic moment even made his mother tear up while his father beamed with pride sitting next to her. The family members also embraced each other as the Falcon 9 rocket lifted off successfully.

#WATCH | Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh: Parents, relatives of IAF Group Captain & astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, celebrate as #Axiom4Mission lifts off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, US.

The mission is being piloted by India’s IAF Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla. pic.twitter.com/JmbodqjyEy — ANI (@ANI) June 25, 2025

Shukla was born on October 10, 1985 in Lucknow and has 15 years of experience as a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force (IAF). With an impressive flight experience of 2,000 hours across various aircraft, including the Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, and An-32, Shukla ascended to the rank of Group Captain in March 2024. Just a month before his promotion, he was announced as one of the four astronauts of Gaganyaan – India’s own human spaceflight program.

Apart from months-long training he underwent in the US for Ax-4, Shukla has been rigorously trained for a year at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Moscow.

ALSO SEE: Shubhanshu Shukla Addresses India In First Speech From Space; ‘We’ve Returned After 41 Years’

Shubhanshu ShuklaCredit: X/@IndianTechGuide

New Delhi- India’s Shubhanshu Shukla scripted history by embarking on a space odyssey along with three others to the International Space Station as part of a commercial mission by Axiom Space on Wednesday, 41 years after astronaut Rakesh Sharma’s spaceflight onboard a Russian spacecraft.

SpaceX’s Falcon-9 rocket blasted off from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida at 12:01 pm IST carrying the astronauts of the Axiom-4 mission towards the ISS amid cheers from watch parties organised across the world, including at Shukla’s City Montessori School in Lucknow where his parents witnessed the historic launch.

The astronauts began orbiting the Earth 10 minutes after the launch, prompting Shukla to announce India’s return to human spaceflight after 41 years.

“Kamaal ki ride thi (It was a great ride),” Shukla said soon after the Dragon spacecraft was placed in orbit around the Earth at an altitude of 200 km. The spacecraft is expected to dock at the ISS at 4:30 pm on Thursday, capping a 28-hour journey.

The Lucknow-born Shukla, former NASA astronaut Mission Commander Peggy Whitson, Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland, and Tibor Kapu of Hungary are part of the Axiom-4 mission that marks the return to space for the three nations.

Shukla became the first Indian astronaut to travel to the International Space Station, a journey that comes 41 years after Rakesh Sharma’s eight days in orbit as part of the then Soviet Union’s Salyut-7 space station in 1984.

“Namaskar, my dear countrymen; we have reached space after 41 years. It was a great ride,” Shukla said.

“We are orbiting Earth at a speed of 7.5 km per second, I have the Indian tricolour embossed on my shoulders that tells me that I am with all of you,” he said in Hindi.

“It is not just the start of my journey to the ISS but also of India’s human spaceflight. I want each one of you to be part of this journey, let us embark on India’s human space programme together,” Shukla said.

Once in orbit, the astronauts revealed the name they gave to their brand-new capsule – Grace.

“Good things come to those who wait. Godspeed to the maiden crew of Grace,” SpaceX told the crew.

The astronauts will spend 14 days at the International Space Station and conduct 60 experiments during their mission.

In addition to science experiments, the astronauts are flying food that celebrates their heritage: Indian curry and rice with mango nectar; spicy Hungarian paprika paste; and freeze-fried Polish pierogies.

Before the flight, Shukla said that he hopes “to ignite the curiosity of an entire generation in my country” and drive innovation.

“I truly believe that even though I, as an individual, am travelling to space, this is the journey of 1.4 billion people,” he said.

Shukla is expected to participate in several outreach events during his stay at the ISS and is also expected to interact with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Astronaut Shukla carries hopes, aspirations of 140 crore Indians: PM Modi

New Delhi, Jun 25 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday welcomed the successful launch of Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station and said astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla carries with him the wishes, hopes and aspirations of 140 crore Indians.

“We welcome the successful launch of the Space Mission carrying astronauts from India, Hungary, Poland and the US,” Modi said in a post on X.

He said Group Captain Shukla is on the way to become the first Indian to go to International Space Station.

“He carries with him the wishes, hopes and aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians. Wish him and other astronauts all the success,” Modi said.

The Axiom-4 mission, marking the return to space for India, Hungary and Poland, blasted off from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida at 12:01 pm on Wednesday.

The astronauts will spend 14 days at the International Space Station conducting over 60 science experiments.