Wed Jun 25 09:40:00 UTC 2025: **Indian Astronaut Reaches for the Stars Aboard Axiom-4 Mission, Marking Historic Return to Space**
**Cape Canaveral, FL** – India is celebrating the successful launch of the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission, a landmark event that sees Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla become only the second Indian to ever travel to space, and the first to visit the International Space Station (ISS). The Ax-4 mission, a collaboration between NASA, ISRO, ESA, and SpaceX, blasted off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 12:01 PM India time.
Group Captain Shukla, who is piloting the mission, will conduct vital scientific experiments during his two-week stay aboard the ISS. His voyage comes 41 years after Rakesh Sharma’s historic flight on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft in 1984.
“We’re back in space after 41 years and what an amazing ride it’s been,” Group Captain Shukla said shortly after liftoff. “This is not the start of my journey to the ISS, this is the beginning of India’s human spaceflight. I welcome all my fellow Indians to be a part of this journey and feel proud and excited.”
The Ax-4 mission is led by former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson and also includes Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary, marking their respective countries’ return to space after decades.
The flight has ignited tremendous interest in India, with ISRO officials emphasizing the invaluable experience Group Captain Shukla will gain for India’s own ambitious space program, including plans for a manned spaceflight in 2027, a space station by 2035, and a lunar mission by 2040. ISRO invested 5 billion rupees ($59 million) to secure Shukla’s seat and training.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the launch, stating that Group Captain Shukla carries the “wishes, hopes and aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians” with him. Celebrations erupted across India, including in Shukla’s hometown of Lucknow, where his parents watched the launch alongside hundreds of students.
During his time on the ISS, Group Captain Shukla will participate in 60 scientific experiments, including seven developed by ISRO. These experiments will focus on the effects of space on biology and microgravity, including studies on crop seeds and microalgae. He will also interact with Indian students and potentially Prime Minister Modi.
This historic mission marks a significant step forward in India’s burgeoning space program and signals a renewed commitment to space exploration.
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