Shubhanshu Shukla is set to become the first Indian to reach the International Space Station, and only the second Indian ever in orbit. This achievement is something India hopes will be a stepping stone for its own maiden human space flight program. Ragini Sudheer Chaure reports.
So, how does India look from up there? I can say without any hesitation, it looks better than the whole world. That famous line from 41 years ago captivated a whole generation of Indians and made Rakesh Sharma a household name. On June 10, another Indian will make history by becoming the first to travel ISS After 41 Years.
Mission Details and Shukla’s Background
Shubhanshu Shukla will travel to the International Space Station onboard the Axiom Space Mission 4 and SpaceX Crew-4 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. The launch is scheduled for 12:22 GMT, which is 5:52 PM IST. He will dock at the ISS at 16:30 GMT, that’s 10 PM IST, on Wednesday the 11th.
Born on October 10, 1985, in Lucknow, Shukla was commissioned into the Indian Air Force in 2006 as a test pilot. Group Captain Shukla has logged over 2,000 hours of flying and has flown combat jets such as the Su-30MKI, Jaguars, and bombers.
Legacy from Rakesh Sharma to Shukla
The rugged AN-32 military transport aircraft was originally scheduled for the 6th of June, but the mission was rescheduled for operational reasons. However, the objective remains the same: sending India’s second astronaut into space.
It’s been 41 years since Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma’s historic journey in 1984. Back then, Sharma traveled aboard a Soviet Soyuz capsule, becoming the first Indian to orbit the Earth.
Now, his immortal words, “Sare Jahan Se Achha,” echo from space, putting India on the cosmic map. And now, Shukla is getting ready to carry that legacy forward. Shukla was one of four IAF.
Gaganyaan and India’s Space Future
The pilot was picked by the Indian space agency ISRO in 2019 for India’s first fully indigenous human spaceflight program called Gaganyaan, along with Group Captain Prashant Balakrishnan Nair, Group Captain Angad Pratap, and Group Captain Ajit Krishnan Shukla.
The mission gives India a rare chance to do a test run and gain crucial experience working in orbit ahead of Gaganyaan’s launch in early 2027. ISRO chairperson V. Narayan told us that the benefits India will gain from this mission are phenomenal, especially in terms of training, exposure to facilities.
Role of the Pilot and Mission Objectives
Experience of jointly conducting experiments in space. Shukla will pilot a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft launched on top of a Falcon 9 rocket.
Experts say the pilot plays a crucial role because they act as the mission commander’s second-in-command and support spacecraft operations during launch, docking, undocking, and return to Earth.
The crew is expected to spend 14 days at the International Space Station, engaging in science, diplomacy, and public outreach. While we’re on the station for two weeks, we’ll be performing a lot of experiments.
International Collaboration and Scientific Endeavors
Scientific experiments and running a bunch of outreach events—I know that right now, a whole team is working to make sure every minute we spend on the station is planned out with activities to make the best use of our time there.
I’m doing my best to train well and carry out this mission with top-notch professionalism. Joining Shukla on this historic journey are three other astronauts: Peggy Whitson, a veteran who holds the record for the most time spent in space by a U.S. astronaut and any woman worldwide, and Tibor Kápó from Hungary.
A Global Mission with National Pride
And Slawots Huz Nonski from Poland like Shukla, the Hungarian and Polish astronauts are also only the second space travelers from their countries. They’re bringing their flags back to orbit after a gap of four decades, mirroring India’s own space comeback.
Together, the crew will carry out more than 60 experiments, making X the most research-intensive mission Axiom has ever launched.
The studies involve researchers and agencies from 31 countries including India, the US, Poland, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, the UAE, and Brazil. The space disciplines include human.
A Step Towards Self-Reliance
Physiology, biological sciences, earth observation, and material science in microgravity. The Ax-4 mission is a collaborative effort between a private company called Axiom Space based in Houston, USA, NASA, ISRO, and the European Space Agency.
Shukla will be carrying personal and national mementos representing India to the International Space Station. I also have a personal goal of capturing my experience on board the station through photos and videos so I can share it with all the people back home in India. I want them to share this thrilling experience.
India’s Confident Step Among the Stars
Through my eyes, I truly believe that even though I’m just one person traveling to space, this is the journey of 1.4 billion people as India sets its sights on self-reliance in space exploration through the Gaganyaan mission.
Shubhanshu Shukla’s upcoming flight is more than symbolic—it’s strategic. It perfectly blends military precision, international partnerships, and scientific ambition. Incidentally, Shukla will lift off from the same launchpad used by Apollo 11.
Apollo 11 was a historic space flight conducted by the US in 1969 that landed the first humans on the Moon.
Moon, from the cockpit of a Sukhoi to the cabin of a spacecraft, Group Captain Shubanshu Shukla is now headed beyond Earth on June 10th. When the engine ignites and the Falcon 9 lifts off, it won’t just be one man going to space it’ll be a whole nation taking its next confident step among the stars.
