The Axiom-4 mission made history as it lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, carrying Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla along with three other crew members from Hungary, the United States, and Poland. The launch took place at 12:02 PM IST and is an important step in advancing India’s space exploration efforts.
Shubhanshu Shukla, a Group Captain in the Indian Air Force, is making headlines as he is the first Indian to pilot a spacecraft. Moments after the launch, Shukla excitedly addressed the world, stating, “We’ve reached space after 41 years. I have the Indian tricolor on my shoulder. This is the beginning of India’s human spaceflight era.” His journey marks an important milestone since Rakesh Sharma, who was the first Indian in space back in 1984.
The Axiom-4 mission is a significant collaborative effort between NASA, SpaceX, and Axiom Space. Following a planned 28-hour journey, the crew is expected to dock with the International Space Station (ISS) at around 4:30 PM IST on June 26. This mission aims not only to facilitate space travel but also to conduct scientific research and experiments.
Axiom Mission 4 successfully docked with the@Space_Station.
— Neo Science Hub (@neosciencehub) June 27, 2025
Welcome ceremony of #Axiom4 #crew completed on ISS. Mission pilot Shubhanshu Shukla is 634th Astronaut to be in Space.https://t.co/zHFin8AQSL#ISRO #NASA #Ax4Mission #SpaceDocking #Space #India #neosciencehub
The astronauts will work on a total of 60 experiments during their time aboard the ISS. Shukla will be responsible for seven experiments, which include research on stem cells and crop seeds. These experiments are contributed by 31 different countries, aiming to enhance our knowledge of human capabilities in space and biological research.
The crew has also planned to engage with students and experts through live sessions during their mission, fostering a greater interest in space science.
Before the launch, the astronauts underwent a strict quarantine period of four weeks starting May 25, which was the longest before any mission in history. Speaking about the training process, Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair emphasized the extensive knowledge shared among the astronauts, which will greatly benefit future missions.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Shukla and the entire crew on this remarkable achievement, highlighting that the mission carries the hopes and dreams of 1.4 billion Indians. The success of Axiom-4 is expected to play a crucial role in preparing for India’s very own Gaganyaan mission, scheduled for launch in 2027.
-Rashmi Kumari
