In a groundbreaking achievement, astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla has become the first Indian to set foot on the International Space Station (ISS). The milestone was reached after the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission docked with the orbiting laboratory, and its four-member crew crossed over to the ISS during a live broadcast.
Led by former NASA veteran Peggy Whitson and piloted by Group Captain Shukla, Ax-4 lifted off on Wednesday from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The Ax-4 crew, which also includes Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary, will spend two weeks on the ISS conducting 60 scientific experiments, including seven designed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro).
Group Captain Shukla’s trip marks a significant moment for India’s space program, as he becomes only the second Indian to travel to space, 41 years after cosmonaut Rakesh Sharma’s historic flight aboard a Russian Soyuz in 1984.
The mission is a collaboration between NASA, Isro, the European Space Agency (ESA), and SpaceX. Isro has paid 5 billion rupees ($59m; £43m) to secure a seat for Group Captain Shukla on Ax-4 and his training.
According to Isro, the hands-on experience Shukla will gain during his trip to the ISS will help India in its human space flights. The Indian space agency has announced ambitious plans to launch its first-ever human space flight in 2027, set up a space station by 2035, and send an astronaut to the Moon by 2040.
During a live uplink with the astronauts on board, Group Captain Shukla spoke about his first 24 hours in space, saying, “What a ride!,” and adding that it has been “an amazing feeling to be just floating in space” and that “it’s been fun time.”
He also mentioned that he was not feeling great initially but has been sleeping a lot, which is a great sign. As he spoke, Joy, a small, white toy swan described as Ax-4’s “fifth crew member,” floated in and out of vision, symbolizing wisdom and the ability to discern what is important.
Commander Peggy Whitson revealed the name of their vehicle, Grace, saying it reflects the elegance with which they move through space against the backdrop of Earth and speaks to the refinement of their mission, the harmony of science and spirit, and the unmerited favor they carry with humility.
With the arrival of the Ax-4 crew, the total crew strength of the ISS is now 11. The mission marks a significant step forward for India’s space program and its collaboration with international space agencies.