India Returns to Space After 41 Years as Shubhanshu Shukla Reaches ISS

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, of the Indian Air Force, has embarked on a historic space mission as part of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax‑4). Launched aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon capsule from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, this marks only the second time an Indian has traveled to space, and the first Indian to visit the International Space Station (ISS) .

Commanded by veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson, the Ax‑4 mission includes a four-person international crew: Shukla serves as pilot, alongside Peggy Whitson, Poland’s Sławosz Uznański‑Wiśniewski, and Hungary’s Tibor Kapu. It signifies a major step in private-sector space exploration and collaborative international efforts.

Within minutes of takeoff, Shukla expressed his pride via social media, stating, “We're back in space after 41 years… I carry the Indian flag… this is the beginning of India’s human spaceflight.” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the achievement, noting that Shukla “carries the wishes, hopes and aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians” .

Over his two-week stay aboard the ISS, Shukla will conduct approximately 60 experiments, seven of which are being conducted by ISRO. These experiments focus on agriculture (such as seed germination and microalgae cultivation), microgravity’s effects on muscle and cognition, and the survivability of robust lifeforms like tardigrades.

This mission is seen as a crucial precursor to India’s Gaganyaan manned space mission expected in 2027, as well as the country’s long-term goals of establishing a space station by 2035 and sending astronauts to the Moon by 2040 .

The Special Court is currently preparing the final order, which is expected to be released shortly.