Subhanshu Shukla Set To Become First Indian Astronaut To Reach ISS Aboard SpaceX Dragon
Shubhanshu Shukla aims to showcase India’s cultural heritage by carrying artefacts from different regions and performing yoga poses in space.
Indian Air Force’s Shubhanshu Shukla is set to become the first Indian astronaut to fly to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard SpaceX Dragon as part of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4).
Shukla’s flight from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida is expected to take place in May 2025, marking a significant step in India’s participation in international space exploration.
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IAF Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, serving as a mission pilot aboard SpaceX Dragon, is one of four private astronauts participating in Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4).
Notably, Shukla, with over 2,000 flying hours, is also an astronaut-designate for India’s ambitious Gaganyaan human spaceflight program.
The Ax-4 mission will be commanded by former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, with Sawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary serving as mission specialists, according to an official statement.
Know About The Mission
During the 14-day mission, astronauts will conduct scientific experiments, educational outreach, and commercial activities in microgravity.
Shubhanshu Shukla aims to showcase India’s cultural heritage by carrying artefacts from different regions and performing yoga poses in space.
His participation highlights India’s expanding role in global space exploration, following Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian in space in 1984.
The partnership between NASA, Axiom Space, and ISRO marks a significant step in expanding private astronaut access to low Earth orbit, laying the foundation for sustainable space exploration.
As Shukla prepares for this mission, he sees it as a symbol of India’s collective aspirations, emphasising that his journey represents 1.4 billion people.
With this endeavour, India further solidifies its role in the global space community, inspiring the next generation of space enthusiasts and future astronauts.
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