Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla to Become First Indian Astronaut on the ISS as Part of Axiom’s Ax-4 Mission
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla to Become First Indian Astronaut on the ISS as Part of Axiom’s Ax-4 Mission
New Delhi, April 30, 2025 — In a major leap for India’s space ambitions, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force is set to become the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS). He will launch aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft on May 29, 2025, at 10:33 PM IST, as part of the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4).
The mission marks India’s return to human spaceflight after over four decades, following Rakesh Sharma’s historic journey in 1984 aboard a Soviet Soyuz spacecraft. Ax-4 is a joint mission by Axiom Space, NASA, SpaceX, and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and represents a landmark in India’s growing role in international space collaboration.
Shukla, a seasoned test pilot with more than 2,000 flight hours, will serve as the mission’s pilot. The crew will be led by former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson and include astronauts from Poland and Hungary. Over the course of their two-week stay aboard the ISS, the crew will carry out scientific experiments, including research on cyanobacteria, a key component for future life support systems. Shukla will also support spacecraft operations and onboard system management.
Mark your calendars🚀
— Axiom Space (@Axiom_Space) April 29, 2025
The #Ax4 crew is scheduled to launch to the International Space Station on May 29 at 1:03pm EDT from Florida. https://t.co/fYRkWZEpkK
The Ax-4 mission serves as a precursor to India’s Gaganyaan program — its first indigenous human spaceflight mission — which is scheduled for launch in 2026.
Born on October 10, 1985, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, Group Captain Shukla began his career with the Indian Air Force in June 2006. Over the years, he has flown a wide range of aircraft, including the Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, and An-32. He was selected by ISRO in 2019 for astronaut training and later underwent rigorous preparation at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia.
On February 27, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi publicly introduced Shukla as one of the astronauts training under the Gaganyaan program during a formal announcement.
With his upcoming mission, Shukla is poised to inspire a new generation of Indian scientists and engineers, reaffirming the country’s commitment to advancing its space exploration efforts. His journey stands as a proud milestone in India’s aerospace narrative and a bold step toward its future in human spaceflight.
