Historic Voyage: Indian Astronaut Embarks on Journey to ISS

Shubhanshu Shukla becomes the first Indian astronaut to reach the International Space Station during the Axiom-4 mission, a collaborative effort involving NASA, ISRO, and SpaceX.

Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is making headlines as he becomes the first Indian to set foot on the International Space Station (ISS) during the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission. Launched on Wednesday, this historic trip marks Shukla’s role as the mission’s pilot and includes a diverse crew of former NASA veteran Peggy Whitson, Poland's Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski, and Hungary's Tibor Kapu. On Thursday, Axiom Space shared a video of the crew floating in their spacecraft as they prepared for a two-week stay aboard the ISS.

Group Captain Shukla is only the second Indian to venture into space, following in the footsteps of Rakesh Sharma, who went to space aboard a Russian Soyuz in 1984. The Ax-4 mission lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, timed to perfection at 02:31 EDT (06:31 GMT, 12:01 India time). Following a successful launch, docking is scheduled to occur on Thursday at 07:00 EDT (11:00 GMT, 16:30 India time). This commercial flight, run by Axiom Space in collaboration with NASA, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the European Space Agency (ESA), and SpaceX, is the first of its kind to facilitate human space travel for astronauts from multiple nations after decades.

During their two-week mission, the crew will engage in nearly 60 scientific experiments, seven of which have been designed by ISRO. The Indian space agency has invested 5 billion rupees (approximately $59 million) for Shukla’s seat and training as part of its ambitious goal of launching its inaugural human spaceflight by 2027, alongside plans for a space station by 2035 and a lunar mission in 2040.

In an uplifting update from aboard the vessel, Shukla expressed his joy saying, “What a ride! It’s been an amazing feeling just floating in space.” Reflecting on his first 24 hours, he noted his initial discomfort during launch, humorously adding he had been sleeping a lot—an indication of his adjustment to weightlessness. “I’m enjoying the view, the experience of learning to control myself, eat, and read again,” he shared with excitement.

Adding a whimsical touch to the mission, Ax-4 features a small white toy swan named Joy, described as their “fifth crew member” and serving as a zero-gravity indicator. Shukla emphasized Joy's symbolic importance, remarking on the task of "discernment" in today's distraction-filled society. Commander Peggy Whitson further named their vessel “Grace,” signifying the elegance of space travel and the collaborative spirit inherent in their mission, emphasizing that spaceflight transcends engineering, representing goodwill for humanity.