Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla has achieved a monumental milestone by becoming the first Indian to set foot on the International Space Station (ISS). On Wednesday, Group Captain Shukla launched on the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission, which he is piloting. This journey also includes a multi-national crew, featuring former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, Poland's Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski, and Hungary's Tibor Kapu. A video shared by Axiom Space captured their floating moments inside the spacecraft on Thursday, with the crew scheduled to spend two weeks at the ISS.
Shukla is only the second Indian in history to travel to space, marking an event 41 years after Rakesh Sharma, India’s first astronaut, flew on a Soviet Soyuz. The Axiom-4 mission took off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 02:31 EDT (06:31 GMT; 12:01 India time). The spacecraft is expected to dock with the ISS on Thursday at 07:00 EDT (11:00 GMT; 16:30 India time). This mission is a collaboration involving NASA, India's ISRO, the European Space Agency (ESA), and SpaceX. Notably, the two European astronauts also mark their return to space after more than four decades.
Throughout their two-week mission, the crew will conduct 60 scientific experiments, seven of which have been developed by ISRO. The Indian space agency has invested 5 billion rupees ($59 million) for Shukla's seat and training, highlighting the mission's importance for India's aspirations in human spaceflight. ISRO plans to launch its inaugural human space flight by 2027, with long-term goals of establishing a space station by 2035 and sending an astronaut to the Moon by 2040.
During an uplink with Axiom Space, Group Captain Shukla described his initial experiences in space, exclaiming, "What a ride!" He shared the exhilaration of floating in space, despite initial discomfort during the launch. He humorously remarked about his adaptation to zero gravity, likening it to a baby learning to walk, eat, and read. Adding a touch of whimsy, a small white toy swan, dubbed Joy and referred to as Ax-4’s "fifth crew member," floated beside the astronauts, symbolizing wisdom amidst a complex era.
Commander Peggy Whitson also addressed the crew’s spacecraft, naming it Grace. She explained the significance of the name, reflecting both the elegance of their journey through space and the human spirit's synergy with scientific endeavors. Whitson emphasized that space exploration transcends engineering feats, serving as a humanitarian act benefiting all of humanity.
Shukla is only the second Indian in history to travel to space, marking an event 41 years after Rakesh Sharma, India’s first astronaut, flew on a Soviet Soyuz. The Axiom-4 mission took off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 02:31 EDT (06:31 GMT; 12:01 India time). The spacecraft is expected to dock with the ISS on Thursday at 07:00 EDT (11:00 GMT; 16:30 India time). This mission is a collaboration involving NASA, India's ISRO, the European Space Agency (ESA), and SpaceX. Notably, the two European astronauts also mark their return to space after more than four decades.
Throughout their two-week mission, the crew will conduct 60 scientific experiments, seven of which have been developed by ISRO. The Indian space agency has invested 5 billion rupees ($59 million) for Shukla's seat and training, highlighting the mission's importance for India's aspirations in human spaceflight. ISRO plans to launch its inaugural human space flight by 2027, with long-term goals of establishing a space station by 2035 and sending an astronaut to the Moon by 2040.
During an uplink with Axiom Space, Group Captain Shukla described his initial experiences in space, exclaiming, "What a ride!" He shared the exhilaration of floating in space, despite initial discomfort during the launch. He humorously remarked about his adaptation to zero gravity, likening it to a baby learning to walk, eat, and read. Adding a touch of whimsy, a small white toy swan, dubbed Joy and referred to as Ax-4’s "fifth crew member," floated beside the astronauts, symbolizing wisdom amidst a complex era.
Commander Peggy Whitson also addressed the crew’s spacecraft, naming it Grace. She explained the significance of the name, reflecting both the elegance of their journey through space and the human spirit's synergy with scientific endeavors. Whitson emphasized that space exploration transcends engineering feats, serving as a humanitarian act benefiting all of humanity.
