Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla becomes the first Indian to reach the ISS under a commercial mission, marking a historic milestone for India in space exploration.
25 June 2025, New Delhi
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force has sent his first message from space, expressing wonder and humility at his new experience aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The 39-year-old astronaut reached the ISS as part of the Axiom-4 mission, launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida aboard SpaceX’s Falcon-9 rocket.
Shukla sent out an emotional message shortly after entering orbit:
“Greetings to everyone from space! I’m really happy to be here alongside my fellow astronauts.
What a journey it has been! When I was on the capsule at the launch site, I had one thing to say – let’s go!”
Describing the launch, Shukla said it felt as though he was being pushed back into his seat, and then, suddenly, everything became still — as if he were floating in nothingness.
“I’m learning how to walk and eat in space like a kid. It is unreal,” he said.
A Historic Achievement
Shubhanshu is joined on the Axiom-4 mission by Commander Peggy Whitson from the United States (a former NASA astronaut with three previous spaceflights), Tibor Kapu from Hungary, and Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland.
With this mission, Shubhanshu Shukla has become the first Indian citizen to reach the ISS under a commercial spaceflight program. Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma made history in 1984 when he flew to space on a Soviet mission.
Celebrations Across Nations
The launch was watched live in multiple countries, including India, Hungary, Poland, and the United States. There were public watch parties in places such as Lucknow, Budapest, Gdańsk and Houston, where Shukla’s family and thousands of viewers marked this milestone moment together.
Many Delays Prior to Lift-off
The Axiom-4 launch was planned for May 29, but was delayed several times due to weather and other technical factors. After nearly a month of addressing issues related to the rocket and capsule by SpaceX, NASA and Axiom, they finally achieved a successful launch.
With Shubhanshu Shukla now safely in the ISS, India has taken another major step in its journey into space. In this regard Shukla is expected to continue to share his voyage in the coming days, which people across the nation and the world are following eagerly.
