India is celebrating a landmark achievement as Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla embarks on his journey into space, marking the nation’s first manned mission in over four decades. The Axiom-4 mission, featuring a diverse international crew, lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 02:31 EDT (06:31 GMT; 12:01 India time) on Wednesday.
Group Captain Shukla, who will become the second Indian ever to travel to space, is poised to dock with the International Space Station (ISS) in approximately 26 hours. This historic flight follows the legacy of Rakesh Sharma, India’s first cosmonaut, who ventured into space aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft in 1984.
The Axiom-4 mission, led by seasoned NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, includes an additional three crew members: Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. Both of these astronauts will also mark their respective countries’ returns to space after a substantial hiatus. This mission reflects a collaborative effort among NASA, India’s space agency ISRO, the European Space Agency (ESA), and SpaceX.
The upcoming experiences on the ISS are expected to significantly advance India’s future space endeavors. ISRO has expressed that the insights gathered by Group Captain Shukla will greatly contribute to their programs. At 39 years old, he was selected from a group of four Indian Air Force officers for the nation’s first human spaceflight, planned for 2027. India aims to establish a space station by 2035 and is working towards sending an astronaut to the Moon by 2040.
To facilitate Shukla’s training and secure a spot on the Axiom-4 mission, ISRO has invested 5 billion rupees ($59 million; £43 million). Shortly after liftoff, Shukla shared his excitement with India, stating, “We’re back in space after 41 years and what an amazing ride it’s been. Right now, we are orbiting Earth at a speed of 7.5 km per second. On my shoulder, I carry the Indian flag. This is not the start of my journey to the ISS; this is the beginning of India’s human spaceflight. I welcome all my fellow Indians to be a part of this journey and feel proud and excited.”
The historic launch, utilizing the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule aboard a Falcon 9 rocket, was streamed live, triggering celebrations across India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the successful launch, noting that Shukla carries the aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians.
In Lucknow, the astronaut’s hometown, his family joined students to witness the launch, greeted by a cheerful music band. Born on October 10, 1985, Shukla became a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force in 2006, accumulating over 2,000 hours of flying experience with various aircraft. Reflecting on the past year’s transformative journey, he expressed, “It has been an amazing journey so far, but the best is yet to come. As I go into space, I carry not just instruments and equipment, I carry hopes and dreams of a billion hearts. I request all Indians to pray for the success of our mission.”