Indian Air Force Test Pilot and Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is set to make history as the first ISRO astronaut to journey to space. He will be part of the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), a collaborative venture involving NASA, ISRO, Axiom Space, and SpaceX. The mission, scheduled for June 10, 2025, aims to fulfill the joint commitment made by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former US President Donald Trump to send an Indian astronaut into space, underscoring the growing partnership between India and the United States in space exploration.
The launch is planned from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, occurring at 8:22 am local time. The mission will utilize the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, propelled by a Falcon 9 rocket. The spacecraft is expected to dock with the International Space Station (ISS) around 12:30 pm on June 11.
Leading the crew will be Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut and now Director of Human Spaceflight at Axiom Space, with Shubhanshu Shukla serving as the pilot. The crew will also include Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary, marking a first for Polish and Hungarian astronauts aboard the ISS.
The astronauts will spend approximately two weeks on the ISS, conducting scientific experiments, promoting STEM education, and engaging in commercial activities. Shukla, a native of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, and a graduate of the National Defence Academy, brings extensive experience as a combat leader and test pilot, with around 2,000 hours of flight time across various aircraft.
