New Delhi: In a landmark announcement for India’s space program, Union Minister for Space and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh confirmed that Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the Indian astronaut-designate, will fly to the International Space Station (ISS) next month. The mission, part of a private commercial venture, marks India’s return to human spaceflight after four decades.
Describing the moment as a “defining chapter” in India’s space journey, Dr. Singh said, “An Indian astronaut is set for a historic space mission as ISRO charts bold new frontiers. India’s space dreams are soaring higher with Gaganyaan preparations, the ISS mission, and a summer of launches.”
Group Captain Shukla, a decorated test pilot from the Indian Air Force, will serve as pilot on the Axiom Space Ax-4 mission, launching aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA. The four-member crew will travel in a Crew Dragon capsule to the ISS.
India has reportedly paid over $60 million to secure a seat on the mission. This is a critical part of India’s strategic investment in human spaceflight capabilities and experience.
The Ax-4 mission will be commanded by veteran NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, now with Axiom Space. The other crew members include Slawosz Uznanski, a European Space Agency astronaut from Poland, and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. Both will serve as mission specialists.
This mission will be the first time an Indian astronaut visits the International Space Station, and Shukla will also be the first Indian in space since Rakesh Sharma’s legendary flight in 1984.
Shukla, 40, has been undergoing intensive training with NASA and Axiom Space for the past eight months. He was selected by ISRO under its Human Spaceflight Program (HSP) and is considered one of the top candidates for the upcoming Gaganyaan mission—India’s first indigenous crewed orbital flight.
Dr. V. Narayanan, Secretary of the Department of Space and ISRO Chairman, confirmed Shukla’s readiness, stating, “This mission will give him invaluable hands-on experience in spaceflight operations, microgravity, and emergency protocols—skills vital for India’s future space endeavors.”
Unlike earlier symbolic spaceflights, this mission focuses on operational readiness and global collaboration. It highlights India’s growing role in international space partnerships and its ambition to become a major player in human space exploration.
Minister Singh emphasized that India’s current space efforts are both scientific and strategic. “India is ready for its next space milestone,” he said, pointing to the importance of public-private and international collaborations in realizing India’s vision of a self-reliant, spacefaring nation.
As India continues to scale up its space capabilities, Group Captain Shukla’s mission is poised to inspire a new era of ambition, global participation, and technological advancement in the country’s evolving space narrative.
