India’s Shubhanshu Shukla Makes History as First Indian on International Space Station
By Wafric - Inventions
Wafric News – June 25, 2025
India has reached a new milestone in its space journey as Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla became the first Indian to set foot on the International Space Station (ISS) — a historic achievement that places him among a select group of global space pioneers.
The Indian Air Force pilot and astronaut is part of the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission — a private, multinational crewed flight led by space veteran Peggy Whitson and launched by Axiom Space in partnership with NASA, ISRO, ESA, and SpaceX.
Ax-4 successfully lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida early Wednesday and docked with the ISS on Thursday. Shukla and his crewmates — Poland’s Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski and Hungary’s Tibor Kapu — will spend two weeks aboard the ISS, conducting over 60 scientific experiments, including seven from India’s space agency, ISRO.
With this mission, Shukla becomes only the second Indian in space, following Rakesh Sharma's flight aboard a Soviet Soyuz spacecraft in 1984 — exactly 41 years ago.
Ax-4's multi-country crew, led by former Nasa veteran Peggy Whitson, includes India's Shubhanshu Shukla, Poland's Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski and Hungarian Tibor Kapu
‘What a Ride!’ — Shukla’s First Words From Orbit
In a live video link-up from the ISS, Shukla shared his first impressions of space:
“What a ride! It’s been amazing floating up here — like learning to walk all over again,” he said with a smile. “I wasn’t feeling great during the launch, but they say I’ve been sleeping a lot — which is apparently a good sign,” he joked.
The astronaut, who was selected through a collaboration between ISRO and Axiom Space, emphasized how surreal the experience is, learning to control his body in zero gravity while enjoying breathtaking views of Earth.
Also making an appearance during the broadcast was a small toy swan named Joy, Ax-4’s symbolic “fifth crew member” and the mission’s zero-gravity indicator. Shukla explained its deeper meaning:
“Joy represents wisdom and the ability to focus on what truly matters. In today’s world of constant noise, that message feels especially powerful.”
The spacecraft docked at the ISS on Thursday
A Vision for India’s Space Future
ISRO’s investment in Shukla’s seat and training — worth ₹5 billion (approximately $59 million) — is not just symbolic. The agency says his real-time experience aboard the ISS will play a crucial role in India’s future human spaceflight missions.
India is preparing to launch its first indigenous human spaceflight by 2027, with long-term plans to build a space station by 2035 and send an Indian astronaut to the Moon by 2040.
The Ax-4 mission is also notable for marking the return of Poland and Hungary to space after more than four decades, making it a diverse and deeply collaborative scientific journey.
Axiom-4 lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida
'Grace' — A Mission with Meaning
Commander Peggy Whitson, a record-setting NASA astronaut, announced that their spacecraft has been named “Grace.”
“Grace is not just a name. It’s a reflection of how we move through space — harmonizing science with spirit,” she said. “This mission is a gesture of goodwill — for all of humanity.”
As India’s tricolour floats aboard the ISS once again, this time through a private, global partnership, Group Captain Shukla’s mission signals a bold new chapter for Indian space ambitions — and a proud moment for the nation and the Global South.
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