Indian Air Force officer Shubhanshu Shukla has successfully launched to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the SpaceX Axiom-4 mission, marking a historic moment for India’s space journey. The mission lifted off on Wednesday from Launch Complex 39A at NASAโs Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It’s the same launchpad from which Neil Armstrong began the Apollo 11 moon mission in 1969. Group Captain Shukla is aboard SpaceXโs Crew Dragon spacecraft, which was launched using a Falcon-9 rocket. He is joined by three international astronauts on this Mission.
The Axiom-4 mission is being led by former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, who is serving as the mission commander of SpaceX. The international crew also includes Slawosz Uznanski from Poland (European Space Agency) and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. Both are on board as mission specialists. Representing India, Group Captain Shukla has joined the team as the mission pilot, a key role of high responsibility and precision.
Shukla becomes the second Indian to go to space after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma’s Soviet mission in 1984, a gap of 41 years. Ahead of the launch, Shukla had been in quarantine for over a month to ensure he remained healthy and mission ready.
๐จ ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฎ ๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ณ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฐ๐ญ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐!! ๐จโ๐
Grp. Cpt. Shubhanshu Shukla has officially become the 2nd Indian national to travel to space! ๐ฎ๐ณ
1. Rakesh Sharma (Soyuz T-11, 1984)
2. Shubhanshu Shukla (Axiom-4, 2025)* pic.twitter.com/HOdSsH4aXiโ ISRO Spaceflight (@ISROSpaceflight) June 25, 2025
Who is Shubhanshu Shukla?
Captain Shukla is a serving Group Captain in the Indian Air Force and one of the selected astronauts for India’s maiden crewed space mission, Gaganyaan. Born on October 10, 1985, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, he holds a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science from the National Defense Academy (NDA).
He began his career as a fighter in 2006 after joining the fighter wing of the Indian Air Force. He has logged over 2000 hours of flight experience. Over the years he has flown various aircraft, including the Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, Jaguar, and Hawk. Known for his expertise and leadership in aviation, he was promoted to the rank of group captain in March 2024. He was selected for both the Gaganyaan and Axiom space missions due to his outstanding performance and experience.
Captain Shuklaโs parents get emotional, watching the launch
Captain Shukla’s proud parents, Shambhu Dayal and Asha Shukla, grew emotional as they watched their son lift off into space. They joined teachers and students at his alma mater in Lucknow, where a live telecast of the launch was arranged on a large LED screen.
A visual shared by the news agency ANI showed the atmosphere was filled with pride and joy. The school had organized a special gathering to celebrate the landmark achievement of its former student, who is now only the second India to enter space.
#WATCH | Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh: Parents of IAF Group Captain & astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, celebrate as #Axiom4Mission lifts off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, US.
The mission is being piloted by India’s IAF Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla. pic.twitter.com/SeRGTUiQeV
โ ANI (@ANI) June 25, 2025
