In a historic milestone for Indian space exploration, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla successfully reached the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday, becoming the first Indian astronaut in 41 years to do so. The achievement comes nearly four decades after Rakesh Sharma’s landmark mission in 1984. The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft flawlessly docked with the ISS’s Harmony module, orbiting 418 km above Earth at speeds exceeding 17,000 km per hour.
Shukla, serving as mission pilot aboard the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission, was launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida and completed a 28-hour journey through space.
The Ax-4 crew includes mission commander Peggy Whitson (USA), and mission specialists Sawosz Uznanski (Poland) and Tibor Kapu (Hungary). This mission also marks the first time astronauts from both Poland and Hungary have reached the ISS, highlighting the global collaboration driving today’s space exploration.
‘Namaskar from Space’: Shukla’s Emotional Message from Orbit
Ahead of the docking, Shukla sent a heartfelt message from space to the people of India. “Namaskar from space,” he began. “Floating in the vacuum, it’s indescribable. An amazing, humbling feeling. I want to thank everyone who made this possible. This isn’t just my achievement – it’s a collective one, shared by so many people back home.”
Moment the spacecraft was seconds away from docking with the ISS.
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Reflecting on his initial days in orbit, Shukla admitted to sleeping more than expected and struggling to adapt to zero gravity. “I’m still getting used to zero gravity – like a baby learning how to walk, figuring out how to move and control myself. But I’m really enjoying every moment,” he said, adding with a laugh, “It’s okay to make mistakes – in fact, it’s even more fun watching someone else make them too!”
Ax-4 to Undertake Record-Breaking Research Aboard the ISS
The Ax-4 crew is set to spend approximately 14 days aboard the ISS, working alongside Expedition 73 members. With over 60 scientific experiments and outreach programs scheduled, this mission holds the most ambitious research agenda of any Axiom mission to date.
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Key focus areas include cancer research, DNA repair, and innovations in advanced manufacturing — all aimed at leveraging space-based science for Earth-based impact. The mission reinforces the expanding role of commercial and international partnerships in pushing the boundaries of human spaceflight.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Shukla and the entire Ax-4 crew, calling the mission “a symbol of India’s rising stature in global space endeavours.”
As Shukla begins his two-week journey aboard the ISS, his historic feat stands as a beacon of aspiration for India’s future space explorers and a proud moment of international scientific unity.
