Shubhanshu Shukla Becomes First Indian to Pilot Private Mission to ISS

New Delhi/Kennedy Space Center, June 25, 2025: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has made history by becoming the first Indian to pilot a commercial spaceflight to the International Space Station (ISS), lifting off aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft as part of the Axiom Mission 4.

Launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 12:01 PM IST, the mission includes three other astronauts: mission commander and former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, Sławosz Uznański‑Wiśniewski from Poland, and Hungary’s Tibor Kapu. The spacecraft is expected to dock with the ISS on June 26 after a 28-hour journey.

Shukla, a decorated test pilot from the Indian Air Force, is the first Indian to visit the ISS and only the second Indian in space after Rakesh Sharma’s mission in 1984. His journey marks India’s entry into the next era of global space exploration and is widely seen as a prelude to ISRO’s upcoming Gaganyaan mission in 2027.

The Axiom-4 mission is a collaboration between Axiom Space, SpaceX, and NASA and is focused on conducting over 60 scientific experiments contributed by 31 countries. These include India-led studies in microgravity biology, plant genetics, and human physiology. The findings are expected to advance medical science and space-based technologies globally.

In a proud cultural gesture, Shukla brought Indian food like halwa and mango nectar aboard the spacecraft. He stated before launch, “I carry the dreams of 1.4 billion Indians. This mission is not just mine it belongs to every Indian.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Droupadi Murmu, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hailed the achievement, calling it a landmark moment for India’s scientific and space ambitions.

This mission also reinforces India’s relevance in the evolving commercial space landscape and strengthens international collaboration in space research.