Cape Canaveral / Lucknow, June 25, 2025: On a cloudless morning in Florida, a thunderous roar from Falcon 9 engines pierced the sky—and with it, India marked a historic return to human spaceflight. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, a test pilot-turned-astronaut from the Indian Air Force, has become the second Indian to journey into space, and the first to reach the International Space Station (ISS).
The 39-year-old pilot launched aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft as part of the Axiom Mission-4 (Ax-4) from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, alongside astronauts from the USA, Poland, and Hungary. As the spacecraft pierced the atmosphere, history was rewritten—over four decades after Rakesh Sharma’s legendary voyage in 1984. And just like that, India is back among the stars.
From Lucknow’s Skies to Earth’s Orbit
Born in 1985, a year after Rakesh Sharma’s mission, Shubhanshu Shukla grew up with space stitched into his destiny. A graduate of the National Defence Academy and an ace test pilot with experience flying aircraft like the MiG-21, MiG-29, Sukhoi-30 MKI, and the AN-32, Shukla has long been among India’s most skilled aviators.
Today, he has added a new feather to his cap—India’s face in international space cooperation, and a critical link to the nation’s upcoming Gaganyaan Mission.
A Delayed But Dazzling Launch
The road to launch wasn’t smooth. Originally set for May 29, seven delays due to weather concerns and technical checks kept the team grounded for weeks. During that time, the astronauts remained in strict quarantine, refining their training while biological research samples were replenished.
But when liftoff finally arrived, it was flawless.
नमस्कार मेरे प्यारे देशवासियों! हम 41 साल बाद एक बार फिर अंतरिक्ष में वापस आ गए हैं। यह एक अद्भुत सफ़र है। हम 7.5 किलोमीटर प्रति सेकंड की रफ़्तार से पृथ्वी की परिक्रमा कर रहे हैं। मेरे कंधों पर उभरा हुआ तिरंगा मुझे बताता है कि मैं आप सभी के साथ हूँ:ग्रुप कैप्टन #ShubhanshuShukla pic.twitter.com/UIQHZYnT8G
— SansadTV (@sansad_tv) June 25, 2025
The Falcon 9’s reusable first stage executed a textbook return, while Dragon continued its journey into Low Earth Orbit (LEO), heading towards its cosmic home: the ISS, 400 kilometers above Earth.
An Astronaut Among Legends
A Proud Moment For India. After Rakesh Sharma, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is going to the International Space Station after 41 years. Ax-4 mission Jai Bharat@isro🇮🇳 #ShubhanshuShukla #AxiomMission4 #SpaceX pic.twitter.com/9iBk1gSFPf
— A D V A I T H (@advaithspeaks) June 25, 2025
Shubhanshu—affectionately called “Shux” by his crewmates—shares this historic journey with a star-studded team:
- Dr. Peggy Whitson (USA): Commander of the Ax-4 mission and the most experienced American astronaut ever, with 675 days in space. Her calm leadership is considered a mission asset.
- Sawosz Uznanski (Poland): A CERN physicist and ESA astronaut, Uznanski is Poland’s second spacefarer. He brings scientific depth in particle physics and microgravity experiments.
- Tibor Kapu (Hungary): A leader in Hungary’s HUNOR space program and an expert in polymer technology and radiation shielding.
Together, they form a diverse team committed to scientific exploration aboard the world’s most sophisticated flying laboratory.
India’s Science Takes Flight
During his 14-day mission, Shukla will conduct seven Indian-designed experiments focused on advancing India’s space medicine and life sciences:
- Growing superfoods like moong and methi in zero gravity
- Studying microbe behavior in space
- Investigating cellular aging and muscle loss
- Exploring mental health impacts from prolonged screen exposure
- Testing the growth of edible algae as sustainable astronaut food
Each experiment is a small step toward preparing Indian astronauts for long-term missions to the Moon and Mars.
Shukla will also interact with Indian schoolchildren live from space, igniting the dreams of a new generation.
A Training Ground for Gaganyaan
India’s Gaganyaan program, set to send its first homegrown astronauts into space in the near future, stands to benefit immensely from the Ax-4 experience.
Shubhanshu Shukla is one of the four astronauts shortlisted for Gaganyaan, and his time aboard the ISS will serve as a blueprint for India’s human spaceflight strategy. From pre-launch quarantine and crew coordination, to microgravity diagnostics and space-based research protocols, every moment of this mission will strengthen India’s operational readiness.
More Than a Mission: A National Moment
As Shukla’s Dragon capsule arced above the Earth, millions of Indian hearts looked skyward. In Lucknow, streets erupted in celebration. In classrooms and homes across India, children and elders alike watched in awe. In that single lift-off, India’s ambition soared beyond borders, proving that the dreams of one can represent the aspirations of billions.
Back on Earth, his wife and children watched tearfully from the launchpad as he disappeared into the heavens. Shubhanshu Shukla carried not just a payload, but the hopes of a nation.
“He is not just orbiting Earth. He’s carrying 1.4 billion dreams with him,” said a visibly moved ISRO official. The Dragon spacecraft will soon dock with the ISS, where Shukla and his crewmates will begin their mission in earnest. From monitoring experiments to executing daily tasks aboard the space station, Shukla’s every move will ripple through India’s scientific and strategic space programs.
A Star Among the Stars
With this historic journey, Shubhanshu Shukla is now more than a pilot. He is a trailblazer, a role model, and a national icon. His courage has reignited India’s cosmic journey—and reminded the world that in the realm of space, India is not just catching up—it is leading.
