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WafricNews – June 4, 2025

New Delhi, India — In a landmark moment for India’s space ambitions, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force is set to make history as he pilots the upcoming Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) to the International Space Station (ISS). Launching from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on 10 June, the mission marks India's return to space after four decades—and its first human presence aboard the ISS.

Shukla, a decorated fighter pilot with over 2,000 flying hours across aircraft like MiGs, Sukhois, and Jaguars, will serve as second-in-command on the four-member Ax-4 mission. His role places him directly alongside mission commander Peggy Whitson, a NASA veteran and one of the most experienced astronauts in human history.

For India, Shukla’s voyage carries weight far beyond the technical. It is a moment of national pride and futuristic ambition, with the 39-year-old becoming only the second Indian ever to reach space—after Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 Soviet Soyuz mission—and the first to visit the ISS.

“I carry not just instruments and equipment,” Shukla said before launch, “I carry the hopes and dreams of a billion hearts.”

India’s Leap Toward the Stars

The mission is operated by Axiom Space, a Houston-based private aerospace company, in collaboration with NASA, ESA, and ISRO, India’s space agency. It follows ISRO’s strategic investment of ₹5 billion ($59 million) to secure Shukla’s seat, training, and participation—part of a wider effort to boost India’s capabilities ahead of its 2027 Gaganyaan human spaceflight and eventual plans for a space station by 2035.

“The benefit we will gain from this mission is phenomenal,” said ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan, citing exposure to international research, operations, and long-duration crewed spaceflight.

Ax-4 Crew: A Global Alliance

Ax-4’s crew reflects a broad, symbolic coalition. Alongside India’s Shukla and America’s Whitson are Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary—both representing their nations in space after more than four decades. The mission also includes a whimsical fifth "crew member"—Joy, a small toy swan brought along for tradition and camaraderie.

“We are good for launch. The training is done. The team is strong,” said Whitson at a pre-flight press conference.

India has paid 5bn rupees ($59m; £43m) to secure a seat for Group Captain Shukla on Ax-4 and his training

Experiments, Education, and the Future of Space Farming

While on board the ISS for two weeks, Shukla and the Ax-4 crew will conduct over 60 scientific experiments, with seven projects from India—focusing on microgravity, biology, space agriculture, and digital cognition.

Key Indian experiments include:

  • Crop seed trials: Studying six varieties of seeds to understand how spaceflight affects their growth and genetics.

  • Microalgae cultivation: Identifying viable algae strains for space-based food and fuel systems.

  • Tardigrade adaptation: Analyzing how the famously resilient micro-animals survive in space.

  • Muscle loss studies: Exploring treatments for space-induced muscular atrophy.

  • Cognitive tech interaction: Measuring how screen-based information is processed under microgravity-induced stress.

These studies aim to strengthen ISRO’s scientific foundations as it gears up for long-duration space travel and even extraterrestrial agriculture.

From Fighter Pilot to National Icon

Born in Lucknow in 1985, Shukla’s journey to space began almost by chance. According to his sister, Shuchi Mishra, he only applied to the National Defence Academy after filling out a friend’s unused form. What followed was a career of quiet excellence—culminating in this trailblazing mission.

“He’s doing this for the nation and the next generation,” Mishra told the press. “He always says: dream big, and serve your country.”

Shukla is also one of four Indian Air Force officers shortlisted for ISRO’s 2027 Gaganyaan mission—making his Ax-4 flight not only a milestone but a stepping stone toward India’s independent spaceflight future.

ISRO plans to use the mission to inspire young minds, with interactive sessions between Shukla and Indian students while he floats above Earth.

The crew will spent most of their two weeks on ISS conducting scientific experiments
A Continental Inspiration

Shukla’s voyage is a testament not just to India’s ambitions, but to the growing role of Global South nations in shaping the next chapter of space exploration. In an era where space no longer belongs solely to superpowers, missions like Ax-4 redefine who gets to dream beyond Earth.

As Africa deepens its own space aspirations, India’s journey may light the path—reminding us that bold steps forward often begin with a single, skyward leap.


By WafricNews Desk.

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