New Delhi, July 15 — Nearly four decades after Rakesh Sharma’s iconic spaceflight, India has scripted a new chapter in its space journey with IAF Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla becoming the first Indian to reach the International Space Station (ISS).
Shukla, who launched aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft “Grace” on June 26 as part of Axiom Space’s Ax-4 mission, safely returned to Earth on Tuesday along with fellow astronauts from the US, Poland, and Hungary. His 20-day mission, a collaboration between NASA, SpaceX, ISRO, and Axiom Space, marks a significant milestone for India’s growing space ambitions.
Born in Lucknow, Shukla was selected by ISRO in 2019 following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2018 announcement to send an Indian into space. In January 2025, he was appointed the pilot for the Ax-4 mission — making him the youngest astronaut-designate under India’s Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme.
During his time on the ISS, Shukla carried out seven key scientific experiments focused on food and space nutrition, including research on Indian strains of tardigrades, myogenesis, sprouting of methi and moong seeds, and the study of microalgae and cyanobacteria. These studies are expected to contribute to future deep-space missions by improving life-support systems.
In a pre-mission interview, Shukla expressed his hope to inspire the next generation of Indians to pursue careers in space exploration, citing Rakesh Sharma as a personal inspiration.
As pilot of the Ax-4 mission, he assisted Commander Peggy Whitson in managing the spacecraft’s systems and ensuring safe navigation during transit.
Shukla’s successful journey has reinforced India’s position in the global space community and laid critical groundwork for the upcoming Gaganyaan mission, which is slated for launch in 2027.
