All Eyes on Captain Shukla as India Eyes Gaganyaan Expertise Through First Human Spaceflight in 41 Years

Group Captain Shubanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force is set to make history as he joins the Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS). This marks India’s first human spaceflight since Rakesh Sharma's iconic 1984 journey.

The Indian Air Force extended its best wishes to Shukla and the entire Axiom-4 crew, calling it a proud moment for the nation’s space program. “Touch the sky with glory!” the IAF posted on social media, highlighting the mission’s symbolic importance for India's space legacy.

Image Source: thoughtsnanaly1 on X

The Axiom-4 mission, launching from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, is a collaborative commercial venture involving Axiom Space, SpaceX, NASA, and ISRO. The mission, scheduled for liftoff at 8:22 a.m. ET (5:52 p.m. IST) Tuesday, was postponed from June 10 due to weather. A backup launch window is set for June 11 at 8:00 a.m. ET.

Shukla, 39, a decorated pilot with over 2,000 flight hours, will serve as mission pilot alongside veteran astronaut and commander Peggy Whitson. Specialists Tibor Kapu of Hungary and Sławosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland complete the international crew. Notably, each astronaut is backed by their national government.

During the 14-day mission, Shukla will oversee seven Indian scientific experiments, including studies on muscle regeneration and microalgae growth. These are aimed at making contributions to India’s growing role in space-based research and exploration. 

The mission is expected to help lay the groundwork for India’s ambitious Gaganyaan human spaceflight in 2027. With a mission cost of ₹550 crore, the Axiom-4 launch signifies India’s rising footprint in global space partnerships and its return to human spaceflight after four decades.