Indian Astronaut Soars to Space After 41 Years, Marking Historic Milestone

Florida, US June 25: India celebrated a historic moment today as Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla lifted off aboard the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) to the International Space Station (ISS), becoming the first Indian astronaut to journey to space in over four decades. 

The launch, which took place at 12:01 PM IST from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marks India’s triumphant return to human spaceflight since Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma’s landmark mission in 1984 aboard the Soviet Soyuz T-11.

Shukla, a seasoned Indian Air Force test pilot, is piloting the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft alongside a diverse crew, including former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, Poland’s Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski, and Hungary’s Tibor Kapu. 

The mission, initially postponed due to unfavorable weather, successfully launched today, with the crew set to dock at the ISS on June 26 for a 14-day mission. During their stay, they will conduct nearly 60 scientific experiments, including seven from India, aimed at advancing microgravity research and studying the effects of spaceflight on crop seeds.