Shubhanshu Shukla makes milestone marks India’s return to human spaceflight after more than four decades, following Rakesh Sharma’s iconic 1984 mission aboard a Soviet Soyuz spacecraft.
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| The Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4)Crew: Shubhanshu Shukla (Pilot), Peggy Whitson (Commander), Slawosz Uznanski (Poland), and Tibor Kapu (Hungary) |
A 40-year old Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, an Indian Air Force pilot, is all set to make history as became the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS). He's been selected as the pilot for Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), a private astronaut mission launching aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft in Spring 2025.
How Shukla is selected:
- Shukla is a decorated test pilot with over 2,000 hours of flying experience in Indian Air Force.
- He was selected for India’s astronaut program in 2019.
- He underwent rigorous training in Russia and Indiam and the US.
Mission Details:
- Launch Site: NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida
- Spacecraft: SpaceX Dragon spacecraft
- Crew: Shubhanshu Shukla (Pilot), Peggy Whitson (Commander), Slawosz Uznanski (Poland), and Tibor Kapu (Hungary)
- Mission Duration: Up to 14 days.
- Objective: Conduct scientific experiments, commercial activities, and microgravity research on the ISS.
Shukla's Role:
- Assist in conducting essential spacecraft operations, such as navigation and docking.
- Support scientific research by setting up microgravity experiments.
- Conduct five experiments aboard the ISS as part of the Ax-4 mission.
Mission Launch:
The Indian astronaut will launch aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft on May 29 at 10:33 PM IST as part of the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4).
This mission marks a significant milestone in India's space exploration journey, with Shukla becoming the first Indian astronaut to travel to space since Rakesh Sharma's 1984 mission in a Soviat Soyuz Spacecraft. The Ax-4 mission will play a crucial role in advancing India's space capabilities and preparing for the Gaganyaan project.
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