USA
History Made: Shubhanshu Shukla Becomes First Indian in Space After 40 Years: Cape Canaveral, June 25 — In a moment that rekindles India’s stellar ambition, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force has become the first Indian in 40 years to travel to space, following in the historic footsteps of Rakesh Sharma. Shukla is piloting the SpaceX Dragon as part of the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), which successfully launched at 12:01 p.m. on Wednesday, heading to the International Space Station (ISS).
Shukla’s journey marks a monumental milestone. He is not only the first Indian aboard the ISS but also a symbol of renewed international collaboration in space, as Ax-4 includes astronauts from Poland, Hungary, and the United States.
Importantly, Shukla, an astronaut with ISRO, was selected for this opportunity just a week before arriving at Axiom. Despite the short notice, he embraced the mission with humility and pride. “It has been an amazing journey,” he said in a YouTube video released by Axiom. “These are moments that remind you you’re part of something much bigger. I hope my story ignites curiosity in the next generation.”
Joining him on the mission are Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut and mission commander, along with mission specialists Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. The launch is also historic for Poland and Hungary, both sending astronauts to space for the first time in decades.
Born on October 10, 1985, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, Shukla is among the elite astronauts selected for India’s upcoming Gaganyaan mission. He joined the Indian Air Force in 2006 and is a seasoned test pilot with over 2,000 flight hours on aircraft like the Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, and Jaguar.
During the 14-day mission, the Ax-4 crew will conduct nearly 60 scientific experiments aboard the ISS. Notably, Shukla will lead seven of these, focusing on microgravity research and space technology.
Following successful docking on Thursday, Shukla officially became the first Indian to enter the International Space Station, reigniting a space legacy that began with Sharma’s eight-day mission aboard Salyut 7 in 1984.
As India eyes its next leap into space, Shubhanshu Shukla’s mission symbolizes more than personal achievement—it’s a national moment of pride, inspiration, and limitless possibility.
