India Returns to Space After 41 Years with Historic Launch of Axiom-4 Mission

NDC DESK

Cape Canaveral/Lucknow ,June 25 : In a proud moment for India and its growing space ambitions, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla became only the second Indian ever to travel to space as part of the international Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission, marking the nation’s return to human spaceflight after 41 years.

The Ax-4 mission, a collaborative effort between NASA, ISRO, the European Space Agency (ESA), and private space firm Axiom Space, lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 2:31 a.m. EDT (12:01 p.m. IST) on Wednesday. It features a four-member international crew, with representatives from India, Poland, and Hungary each returning to spaceflight after decades-long hiatuses.

Commanded by seasoned astronaut Peggy Whitson, who has previously logged over 675 days in space and conducted 10 spacewalks, the mission is heading to the International Space Station (ISS), where it is expected to dock approximately 26 hours post-launch.

Group Captain Shukla, a 39-year-old Indian Air Force fighter pilot, becomes the first Indian to visit NASA’s orbiting laboratory and the first since cosmonaut Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 mission aboard a Soviet Soyuz spacecraft.

“This is not just the beginning of my journey to the ISS”, said Shukla in a message moments after liftoff. “This is the beginning of India’s s human spaceflight journey. On my shoulder, I carry the Indian flag, and in my heart, I carry the hopes of a billion Indians”.

Celebrations erupted across India, with students, scientists, and citizens glued to the live broadcast. Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the launch, stating that the astronaut carries with him the wishes, hopes, and aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians.

In his hometown of Lucknow, his parents joined hundreds of schoolchildren at a local event to watch the launch. The atmosphere was electric, with music bands and loud applause greeting the moment of liftoff.

Shukla was one of four IAF officers shortlisted by ISRO last year for Gaganyaan, India’s upcoming indigenous crewed mission set for 2027. As part of his Ax-4 preparation, ISRO invested 5 billion (approximately $59 million) for his training and mission participation.

The Ax-4 mission, flown aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule atop a Falcon 9 rocket, also includes astronauts Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary. Both countries, like India, are returning to spaceflight after over four decades.

“This past year has been nothing short of transformative”,Shukla remarked during a recent virtual press conference. “As I go into space, I carry not just instruments and equipment, I carry the dreams of a billion hearts. I request all Indians to pray for the success of our mission”.

ISRO sees Shukla’s participation as a vital step in its broader ambitions, which include establishing an Indian space station by 2035 and sending an astronaut to the Moon by 2040.

Born on October 10, 1985, Shukla joined the Indian Air Force in 2006 and has flown an array of aircraft including MiGs, Sukhois, Jaguars, Dorniers, and Hawks, with over 2,000 hours of flight experience to his name.

As India watches with pride, Shukla’s words continue to resonate: “We are back in space after 41 years”and what an amazing ride it’s s been.