India Sends Its First Astronaut into Space in 41 Years
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla embarks on historic space mission
- ISRO has hailed the mission as a vital opportunity for India
- Group Captain Shukla joined the Indian Air Force as a fighter pilot in 2006
Jubilant celebrations erupted across India following the successful launch of the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission, which carries a multi-national crew including Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla. He has become only the second Indian to travel to space.
In just over 26 hours, when the spacecraft docks with the International Space Station (ISS), Group Captain Shukla will make history as the first Indian to visit NASA’s orbiting laboratory — a milestone that comes 41 years after cosmonaut Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 spaceflight aboard a Russian Soyuz.
The Ax-4 mission, led by former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson — a seasoned space veteran with over 675 days in orbit and 10 spacewalks — lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday at 02:31 EDT (12:01 IST).
This commercial flight, operated by Houston-based Axiom Space, is a collaboration between NASA, India’s space agency ISRO, the European Space Agency (ESA), and SpaceX. Alongside Group Captain Shukla, the crew includes Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary, both returning their countries to space after decades.
ISRO has hailed the mission as a vital opportunity for India, emphasizing that the experience gained by Group Captain Shukla will significantly boost its human spaceflight ambitions. The 39-year-old pilot was among four Indian Air Force officers shortlisted last year for the country’s inaugural human spaceflight mission, set for 2027. India has also announced plans to establish its own space station by 2035 and send astronauts to the Moon by 2040.
ISRO reportedly paid ₹5 billion ($59 million) to secure Group Captain Shukla’s seat and cover his training on Ax-4.
Moments after launch, Group Captain Shukla shared a message with the nation:
“We’re back in space after 41 years, and what an amazing ride it’s been. Right now, we’re orbiting Earth at 750 kilometers per second. I carry the Indian flag on my shoulder. This is not just the start of my journey to the ISS; it’s the beginning of India’s human spaceflight. I invite all Indians to be part of this journey and share in the pride and excitement.”
The launch, carried out aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule atop a Falcon 9 rocket, was broadcast live and sparked widespread celebrations across India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Group Captain Shukla, saying he “carries with him the wishes, hopes, and aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians.”
In Lucknow, Shukla’s hometown, his parents joined hundreds of students in watching the launch, greeted with applause and a welcoming music band.
Born on October 10, 1985, Group Captain Shukla joined the Indian Air Force as a fighter pilot in 2006. He has logged over 2,000 flying hours piloting MiGs, Sukhois, Dorniers, Jaguars, and Hawks.
Describing the past year as “nothing short of transformative,” he recently told an online press conference, “It has been an amazing journey so far, but the best is yet to come. As I go into space, I carry not just instruments and equipment, but the hopes and dreams of a billion hearts. I request all Indians to pray for the success of our mission.”
