From Earth to Orbit: Shubhanshu Shukla’s Journey to the ISS Begins May 29

India is set to mark a historic milestone in its space journey as Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will be the first Indian astronaut to fly to the International Space Station (ISS) and the first Indian to enter space in over 40 years. He will serve as the pilot of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), a commercial mission organized by Axiom Space and launched via SpaceX. This mission will also carry out scientific experiments, including seven Indian microgravity research projects, and represents a major step in international collaboration and human spaceflight by India.

Why in the News?

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, an Indian Air Force officer and one of ISRO’s Gaganyaan astronaut-designates, is set to become the first Indian to travel to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4).

Launch & Crew

• Scheduled launch: May 29, 2025, no earlier than 1:03 p.m. EDT.
• Launch site: NASA Kennedy Space Center, Florida (USA).
• Spacecraft: SpaceX Dragon.
• Duration: Up to 14 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

Crew Members

• Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla (India) – Pilot
• Peggy Whitson (USA) – Commander, former NASA astronaut
• Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski (Poland) – European Space Agency astronaut
• Tibor Kapu (Hungary) – Payload specialist

Scientific Research & Experiments

• Mission includes ~60 scientific studies representing 31 countries.

7 Indian microgravity experiments selected by ISRO, involving,

• Growth of microalgae and cyanobacteria
• Muscle regeneration in space
• Sprouting experiments (e.g., green gram/moong, fenugreek)
• Tardigrade resilience studies
• Human-computer interaction in space
• Indian institutions involved: National R&D labs and top academic institutions.
• Focus on India-centric food research for space sustainability.

Importance for India

Shubhanshu Shukla becomes,

• The first Indian to go to ISS.
• The first Indian in space after Rakesh Sharma (1984).
• Aligns with India’s space ambitions including the Gaganyaan mission.
• Enhances India’s role in international space collaboration.