India is on the cusp of a historic leap in space exploration as the Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is set to become the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS). Scheduled for launch on May 29 at 10:33 PM IST, Shukla will lift off aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft as part of the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4).
Axiom Mission 4, the fourth private astronaut mission to the @Space_Station, is targeted to launch no earlier than 1:03 p.m. EDT, Thursday, May 29, from @NASAKennedy in Florida. 🚀
Private astronaut missions to the station help pave the way toward NASA’s efforts in developing a… pic.twitter.com/H5lojNQQWg
— NASA Space Operations (@NASASpaceOps) April 29, 2025
A highly skilled test pilot with over 2,000 hours of flying experience, Shukla was selected for India’s astronaut program in 2019 and has since undergone rigorous training in both India and Russia. On the Ax-4 mission, he will serve as the pilot, flying alongside a diverse international crew that includes veteran NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, as well as crewmates from Poland and Hungary.
The mission is being undertaken through a joint effort involving NASA, SpaceX, Axiom Space, and India’s own ISRO, and is widely seen as a strategic milestone ahead of India’s much-anticipated Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission, targeted for 2026.
During his 14-day stint aboard the ISS, Shukla will be involved in a range of scientific experiments, notably including research on cyanobacteria—a key component for the development of life support systems for future Indian crewed missions. He will also play a vital role in assisting spacecraft operations and managing ISS systems.
This landmark mission marks India’s triumphant return to human spaceflight after a 41-year hiatus, following Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma’s iconic journey aboard a Soviet Soyuz spacecraft in 1984.
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