Shubhanshu Shukla Becomes First Indian on Private Space Mission to ISS

India’s Shubhanshu Shukla Becomes First Indian Pilot on Commercial Mission to ISS

Written by: Supriya Kadu

Edited by: Pinky Deshmukh

Last Updated: June 25, 2025

Summary: On June 25, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla became the first Indian to embark on a private mission to the International Space Station when he launched aboard Axiom Mission 4.

India marked a major milestone in space exploration as Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, a pilot with the Indian Air Force and ISRO astronaut, lifted off on Axiom Mission 4 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The launch took place from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 12:01 PM IST on June 25.

Shukla is now the first Indian to reach the ISS through a private mission, and only the second Indian in space after Rakesh Sharma in 1984. His participation in this international mission signals India’s growing presence in human spaceflight.

The Ax-4 crew includes Peggy Whitson (mission commander), Slawosz Uznański-Wiśniewski from Poland, and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. After docking with the ISS on June 26, they will spend around two weeks doing over 60 scientific experiments, seven of which will be led by Shukla.

The launch went well, even though it was delayed earlier because of bad weather and technical issues. Axiom Space, NASA+, and SpaceX all streamed the event live around the world.

Apart from being a personal achievement for Shukla, this mission is a great moment for India, paving the way for the 2027 Gaganyaan crewed expedition.