Shubhanshu Shukla Axiom-4 Launch: Shubhanshu Shukla was designated as astronaut number 634 by Commander Peggy Whitson in their first remarks aboard the International Space Station. Shukla expressed confidence about the experiments and other events planned for the next 14 days aboard the space laboratory. Earlier, the Axiom-4 Mission crew floated into the ISS through a hatch from the Crew Dragon Spacecraft.
What Shukla said: Earlier in the day, India’s Shubhanshu Shukla had greeted from space with a ‘Namaskar’. Shukla said he was “learning like a baby… how to walk and eat in space; this is a small step, but a steady and solid step towards India’s human space programme.” The Axiom-4 Mission is carrying Shukla and three other crew members to the ISS.
Difficult start: The mission had seen multiple delays since its initial schedule of May 29 due to various reasons, from problems in the launch vehicle and changes in pressure on ISS’ Zvezda module. The leak in Zvezda was first detected in 2019, and space agencies have been working for years to fix it. Repairs were carried out ahead of the Axiom-4 mission. The Dragon lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral, Florida, at 12.01 pm on Wednesday.
Hungary's Tibor Kapu, a mission specialist on Axiom-4, says people belonging to 11 nationalities are currently aboard the International Space Station.
Remarkably, seven of these nations are "first-time flyers," he says.
Shows how much space is expanding towards a new era
"Happy to represent my country..Truly a special feeling," he says, ending his short address.
From the Axiom website:
Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, of Poland, is a scientist and engineer making significant contributions to the fields of science and space exploration. As a member of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Astronaut Reserve Class of 2022, he emerged from a competitive pool of over 22,500 candidates, securing his place for future missions to the International Space Station (ISS) and beyond. Fluent in English and proficient in French, Sławosz brings a diverse linguistic background to his endeavours.
Sławosz joins Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) as mission specialist.
Astronaut No 635, Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, speaks next.
He's the designated mission specialist on Axiom-4.
Starts by thanking Commander Whitson and other crew aboard ISS.
Recalls the time they met at Houston and now meeting in space aboard ISS.
Says as scientiest can't wait for next 2 weeks and will try to do best for their countries.
Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla says a privilege to be astronaut number 634, as his colleagues aboard the ISS break into laughter.
Here's what he said
"It is a privilege to get a chance to see the earth from a vantage point. It has been a wonderful ride. It has been great. I was looking forward to come to space. It is something to look forward to. But the minute I entered the International Space Station... this crew (points at the Expedition-73 crew already aboard the ISS) made me feel so welcome. You literally opened the doors to your house for us. It was fantastic. I feel even better. Whatever expectations I had before coming here were surpassed by the view, of course — that's a big part of it — but you guys as well. So, thank you so much.
This was fantastic. This was wonderful and I am very confident that the next 14 days are going to be amazing doing — as you said — advancing science and research and working together. Thank you so much.
Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla carrying a soft toy swan named Joy during an in-flight update onboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, on Thursday. Crewmates — veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson (US) as commander, Polish engineer Sławosz Uznański, and Hungarian researcher Tibor Kapu also present. (ANI Video Grab)
A toy swan named Joy, with a connection to India's Shubhanshu Shukla, was seen floating in the Dragon spacecraft.
As astronauts interacted with mission control via a videolink on Thursday, this fifth crew member, a zero-gravity indicator first came to light.
It was carried by the astronauts of Axiom-4 because of Shukla's son Kiash's love for animals.
The history of flying a toy to mark the moment gravity gives way to weightlessness goes all the way back to the beginning of space flight.
Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space, started this and it has since become a ritual in space missions.
"We are here, not just the four of us, we also have with us our Zero-G indicator - Joy - that started to float with us just when we were injected into orbit. Joy is floating all over the capsule, sometimes we have to find him/ her here with us," Polish astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski said.
-With inputs from PTI
All the Axiom-4 Mission crew members have been handed what appear to be hydrant pouches.
Watch the moment the crew of Axiom-4 Mission entered the ISS.
Now, India's Shubhanshu Shukla, is greeted with smiles and hugs as he emerges from the hatch and into the frame.
Flight Engineers Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, part of Expedition 73 aboard the International Space Station, making way.
The hatch is open and the first astronaut from Axiom-4 mission is slowly coming into view.
Axiom-4 Commander Peggy Whitson is the first one.
Hugs and smiles all around.
Moments to go for Shukla to enter were marked by several announcements, updating the viewer and coordination centre personnel about the progress.
The latest: SpaceX Dragon arrival configuration complete
The hatch between the ISS and the Crew Dragon spacecraft are open with the crew aboard the space laboratory awaiting the entry of the four astronauts from earth.
As the camera has come alive inside the ISS, we can see visuals of Node 2 Zenith hatch of the Harmony module.
Expedition 73 astronauts moving about, informs the live commentary. Axiom-4 spacecraft members continue post-dock operations.
Flight Engineer Nichole Ayers (in navy blue polo) is seen going into the pressurised adapter and continuing hatch opening procedures.
Alexey Ovchinin, the Expedition 73 Commander, is also seen (red polo).
The latest visuals show ISS and Crew Dragon orbiting the earth. Their current location is above Southeastern Australia during the night-time.
The orbiting laboratory currently has 7 people onboard. They will soon welcome astronauts part of the Axiom-4 Mission, taking the total to 11.
If you are following our live updates, you must have read about the Big Loop (comm checks and communication are underway on Big Loop).
But what does it mean?
Big Loop is the communication channel used by NASA during joint operations to connect different space agencies and control centres.
ISS and ISS flight control room communicating now.
The astronauts part of Axiom-4 will try to open the hatch from spacecraft side and will need to pressurise and maintain it at equal level on both sides.
The astronauts said they are trying to troubleshoot the Big Loop audio communication issues from earlier
This will mean ISS and Axiom crew will lose contact for around 5 minutes
More tests may be required and they will recheck.
The hatch has been opened.
Around 8.35 am central time (7.05 pm) welcome remarks will be delivered and soon after the Axiom-4 Mission team, the 4 astronauts including India's Shubhanshu Shukla, will make their way through the hatch and into the ISS
The Crew Dragon spacecraft docked with the International Space Station at 4.01 pm India time.
Here's all that has happened since
The "umbilical cords" between the Crew Dragon Spacecraft and the International Space Station have been connected.
This will allow for the power and communication lines to be connected.
Mission control Houston, the command centre back here at earth, welcomes astronauts aboard ISS.
The soft capture and the hard mating are complete.
The docking is complete, but it will be a while before the astronauts are able to get inside the International Space Station.
A ‘soft capture’ – when the spacecraft comes in contact with the docking port of the International Space Station – is followed by a ‘hard capture’ that secures the locking mechanism and seals it.
Pressure leak checks are then carried out.
Only after that doors are opened, first that of the ISS then that of the spacecraft, allowing the astronauts to get inside.
The entire process can take over an hour
Visuals show docking complete. The top black part of Crew Dragon spacecraft mixing with the background.
The commentary confirms that the post-docking cabin configuration can now begin.
The hard capture (mate) is complete, according to the SpaceX live feed.
All 12 hooks have closed between the Crew Dragon spacecraft and the International Space Station.
At 4 pm, the Dragon spacecraft was just about 20 metres away from the docking port of the Harmony module of the International Space Station.
Final go-ahead for docking was then given.
The spacecraft as well as International Space Station moving at the speed of nearly 26,500 km per hour.
The spacecraft piloted by Shubhanshu Shukla and carrying 3 others has arrived at the International Space Station.
A live feed shows the spacecraft is now only 5 metres away from the ISS
Shubhanshu Shukla and 3 others took off yesterday aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft.
Their spacecraft entered a 200-km orbit, according to ISRO Chairman V Narayanan, who is in the US.
Here's what will happen before the docking
Speaking from the Dragon spacecraft, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla said, " Namaskar from space! I am thrilled to be here with my fellow astronauts. What a ride it was." "Learning like a baby... how to walk and eat in space. This is a small step, but steady and solid step towards India's human space programme. Looking forward to spending time on the International Space Station and sharing my experiences with you."
A video released on the social media platform 'X' by Axiom Space- shows Axiom-4 Mission, carrying India's Shubhanshu Shukla, greeting from space on Thursday.
The Axiom-4 Mission, carrying India's Shubhanshu Shukla, greeted from space on Thursday.
In a post on social media platform X, Axiom Space wrote, " Over the next few hours, the #ax4 crew will travel to the @Space_Station for an approximate docking on June 26 at 7:00 AM EDT. Tune in for the live docking broadcast starting at 5:00 AM EDT."
Ten minutes into the launch of the Axiom-4 mission on Wednesday, Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla made a short statement. He said the lift-off was not just the start of his journey to the International Space Station (ISS), but also the beginning of India’s human spaceflight program.
His remark might not become as memorable as Rakesh Sharma’s reply 41 years ago — when asked by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi how India looked from space, Sharma had said, “Saare Jahan Se Achcha”. However, Shukla’s statement and voyage to the ISS are emblematic of India’s steady emergence as a major space faring nation.
New era for ISRO
Shukla’s trip marks the start of a new phase in India’s space program, where human spaceflight would become as routine as satellite launches. Although the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) missed its ambitious aim of sending a human into space by 2022, the challenge put new energy into the space agency and forced it to work urgently on the Gaganyaan program. The project involves a series of manned missions to space.
“The first Indian astronaut, Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, travelled to space in 1984. I grew up reading about him in textbooks and listening to his stories from space. I was deeply, deeply impressed by him,” Shukla says in a video on the Axiom website.
Shukla also says that he learnt he would be going on the Axiom mission a week before arriving at the mission centre. “It has been an amazing journey. These are moments that really tell you that you are getting to be a part of something that is much larger than yourself,” he says.
About what he hopes to do through the mission, Shukla says, “It is my sincere endeavor through my mission to inspire an entire generation back home in the country. I want to use this opportunity to ignite curiosity among kids. Even if this story, my story, is able to change one life, it would be a huge success for me.”
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the Indian Air Force officer piloting Axiom-4 Mission, has sent a powerful message to India from aboard the Dragon spacecraft as it orbits the Earth. His words, brimming with emotion and patriotism, marked a historic return for the nation to space after a 41-year gap.
“Namaskar, my dear countrymen, what a ride. We are back in the space once again after 41 years. It’s an amazing ride. We are revolving around the Earth at a speed of 7.5 kilometres per second. The Tiranga embossed on my shoulders tells me that I am with all of you. This journey of mine is not a beginning to the International Space Station (ISS) but to India’s Human Space Programme. I want all of you to be part of this journey. Your chest, too, should swell with pride. You all also show excitement. Together, let’s initiate India’s Human Space Programme. Jai Hind! Jai Bharat!” Shukla said. Click here to watch video
Chants of "Hip Hip Hurray", spontaneous bhangra and quiet tears. It was a morning to remember at the City Montessori School as Lucknow boy Shubhanshu Shukla lifted off into space -- and history -- on board the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Centre (KSC) in Florida on Wednesday.
As the rocket pierced through Florida skies, Group Captain Shukla became only the second Indian in history to travel to space after Rakesh Sharma in 1984, and the first Indian astronaut to travel to the International Space Station (ISS).
"It's a great moment not just for us but for our country. What can we say at this moment, I am struggling for words now. My blessings are always there with my son," his father Shambhu Shukla told PTI.
"I have nothing more to say at this moment. I am delighted," Shubhanshu's mother Asha Shukla said. "I know he will be successful. Though I am eagerly looking forward for him to return after a successful mission, I also know that even after returning to earth, it will take a while before he actually gets back among us. We are all overwhelmed with pride... Our son has made history," she told PTI.
The proud parents were there with many others at CMS Kanpur Road's World Unity Convention Centre (WUCC) auditorium to witness the launch live.
Among those gathered were his sisters, senior defence personnel, CMS faculty, the city's who's who and wide-eyed students. There were thunderous applause, cheers and impromptu bhangra as the rocket lifted off. Some students were also heard chanting 'Bharat Mata ki Jai'.
PTI
Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati and Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi also congratulated Shukla. Kambhampati said, “Congratulations to Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla on becoming India’s second astronaut in space after 41 years…His journey aboard Axiom Mission 4 embodies the spirit of New India — bold, ambitious, and visionary. A proud moment for our nation!”
President Droupadi Murmu said the whole nation is excited and proud of Shukla’s space expedition and noted that the wide-ranging experiments to be performed by the crew will lead to new frontiers of scientific studies and space exploration.
The President wrote in a post on X, “As Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla creates a new milestone in space for India, the whole nation is excited and proud of an Indian’s journey into the stars. He and his fellow astronauts of Axiom Mission 4 from the US, Poland, and Hungary prove the world is indeed one family – ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’. My best wishes for the success of this mission, which reflects the enduring partnership between NASA and ISRO. The wide-ranging experiments to be performed by the crew will lead to new frontiers of scientific studies and space exploration.”
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Shubhanshu Shukla's space mission: "... We welcome the successful launch of the space mission carrying astronauts from India, Hungary, Poland and the US. The Indian astronaut, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, is on the way to become the first Indian to go to the International Space Station. He carries with him the wishes, hopes and aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians. The cabinet wishes him and other astronauts all the success..."
Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Wednesday hailed mission pilot Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla on Axiom-4's successful liftoff.
Taking to his official X account, he said, "Congratulations Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla -- you are the first Indian Astronaut set to embark on a mission to the International Space Station. Indeed a proud moment for India! #isro's growing global collaborations, after the reforms introduced by the government headed by PM Narendra Modi, have placed India as a frontline nation in Space exploration".
Here's the list of seven microgravity experiments that Shubhanshu Shukla will carry out during the Axiom-4 mission
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Shubhanshu Shukla and other astronauts for the successful liftoff of the Axiom-4 Mission.
He hailed Shukla on becoming the first Indian to go to the International Space Station.
"We welcome the successful launch of the Space Mission carrying astronauts from India, Hungary, Poland and the US," PM Modi said in a post on X.
"The Indian Astronaut, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is on the way to become the first Indian to go to International Space Station. He carries with him the wishes, hopes and aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians.Wish him and other astronauts all the success!" he added.
Rakesh Sharma, who became the first Indian to travel to space in 1984, wished Shubhanshu Shukla and other astronauts on Axiom-4 good luck.
Shukla, in a video on the Axiom website, said that he grew up reading about Shrama and was inspired by him.
“The first Indian astronaut, Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, travelled to space in 1984. I grew up reading about him in textbooks and listening to his stories from space. I was deeply, deeply impressed by him,” Shukla said in the video.
He also said that he learnt he would be going on the Axiom mission a week before arriving at the mission centre. “It has been an amazing journey. These are moments that really tell you that you are getting to be a part of something that is much larger than yourself,” he said.
The Axiom-4 Mission crew share their launch-day playlist.
- Commander Peggy Whitson
Thunder by Imagine Dragons
- Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla
Yun Hi Chala Chal by Udit Narayan, Hariharan, Kailash Kher, AR Rahman and Javed Akhtar
- Mission Specialist Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski
Supermoce by Igo, Mrozu and Vito Bambino
- Mission Specialist Tibor Kamu
Búvóhely by Quimby, Gábor Barbinek, Tamás Meleg and Gábor Subicz
Here's what Shukla's crewmates have said about him
Tibor Kapu, from Hungary, says in the video, “Shux (nickname for Shubhanshu) has wisdom. The knowledge that he possesses, he could be 130 years old.”
Peggy Wislon, who has served as NASA’s Chief Astronaut, says, “For me, having him as my pilot in the Dragon capsule is great. He already has that operational savvy. You know, he’s just wicked smart when it comes to spacecraft technologies.”
Polish astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski says, “He is very focused and he will basically go 1234 in, in a record time. I don’t even know how he gets there so fast.”
"Namaskar, my dear countrymen; we have reached space after 41 years. It was a great ride," Shukla said from the spacecraft, ten minutes after the launch after the spacecraft had got into an orbit around the Earth.
"We are orbiting earth at a speed of 7.5 km per second, I have Indian tricolour on my shoulders: Shubhanshu Shukla from Dragon spacecraft," he said.
"Tricolour tells me I am with you all, it is not just the start of my journey to ISS but also of India's human spaceflight: Shubhanshu Shukla," he added.
Dragon has separated from Falcon 9’s second stage.
WATCH
Indian Shubhanshu Shukla astronaut has headed to International Space Station along with three others in historic moment.
WATCH
Ax-4 is go for launch!
Axiom-4 mission set to lift off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
WATCH
Set to script history, Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and three others boarded the Dragon spacecraft at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida for their sojourn to the International Space Station as part of a commercial mission by Axiom Space on Wednesday.
(PTI)
The Dragon spacecraft being used for this mission has done 52 spaceflights till now, including 17 human spaceflight missions in which 66 astronauts from 17 countries have flown to space.
"T-35 minutes until liftoff. Propellant load of Falcon 9 is underway and Dragon’s escape system is armed," SpaceX said in a post.
Astronauts are waiting inside the spacecraft as final set of processes ahead of the launch are completed. A small troubleshooting that was going on for the last few minutes has been completed. All clear has been declared for launch.
WATCH LIVE
Wednesday, June 25
12:30 a.m. – Axiom Space and SpaceX launch coverage begins.
1:40 a.m. – NASA joins the launch coverage on NASA+.
2:31 a.m. – Launch
NASA will end coverage following orbital insertion, which is approximately 15 minutes after launch. As it is a commercial launch, NASA will not provide a clean launch feed on its channels.
Thursday, June 26
5 a.m. – Arrival coverage begins on NASA+, Axiom Space, and SpaceX channels.
7 a.m. – Targeted docking to the space-facing port of the station’s Harmony module.
(NASA)
The space agencies, NASA and ISRO, are taking part in five joint science investigations and two in-orbit science, technology, engineering, and mathematics demonstrations, said NASA. “NASA and ISRO have a long-standing relationship built on a shared vision to advance scientific knowledge and expand space collaboration,” NASA said in a statement on its website.
“NASA’s mission responsibility is for integrated operations, which begins during the spacecraft’s approach to the space station, continues during the crew’s approximately two-week stay aboard the orbiting laboratory while conducting science, education, and commercial activities, and concludes once the spacecraft exits the station,” the space agency said.
ISRO, in a statement, said that its ‘Gaganyatri’ will carry out shortlisted Indian microgravity research experiments onboard ISS.
“ISRO has shortlisted seven microgravity research experiments proposed by Indian Principal Investigators (PIs) from various national R&D laboratories/ academic institutions for implementation on International Space Station (ISS) during the upcoming Axiom-4 mission with ISRO’s Gaganyatri,” the Indian space agency said.
The crew will travel to the ISS on a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and is scheduled to spend up to 14 days aboard the orbiting laboratory.
The crew’s approximately two-week stay includes conducting a mission comprising science, education, and commercial activities
It will conclude when the spacecraft exits the space station.
Among the crew members, 39-year-old Indian Air Force pilot Shubhanshu Shukla will be the second Indian to travel to space after Rakesh Sharma, who undertook a spaceflight in 1984. Shukla is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA), Pune. He was commissioned into the Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter wing in June 2006 and became Group Captain in March 2024. Shukla has 2,000 hours of flight experience across various aircraft, including the Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, and An-32.
After receiving a call from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in 2019, Shukla underwent rigorous training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Moscow, Russia. In February 2024, the pilot was picked as the prime astronaut for ISRO’s maiden human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan, scheduled for 2026.
The SpaceX launch director has given final instructions to the crew.
This is the first flight for the Dragon supporting this mission, adding a fifth Dragon to the fleet to support human spaceflight missions, said SpaceX.
Space Strategist PK Ghosh said that today's Axiom-4 Mission launch will be significant for ISRO as India is soon coming up with the Gaganyaan Mission, which Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will helm.
"I think this is a very significant day for Indian, for ISRO and each and every citizen of the country because we are sending an astronaut for the second time after 1984. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is going to be at International Space Station for 14 days...For us, this is a very important day because very soon we are going to have the Gaganyaan coming up...At that time, he will be the only person who will be experienced and he will obviously command the Gaganyaan Mission. He is going to be heading the 3-4 astronauts who will go from India," Ghosh said.
"But at the moment, Commander Peggy is going to head the Axiom 4 Mission and he (Group Captain Shukla) is going to be the navigator. They are going to carry out some experiments...I am eagerly looking forward to it and I would like to salute NASA for selecting such a nice astronaut and I know that it is going to be a big success and he is going to come back after 14 days, fully experienced...I think all 1.4 billions are looking forward to it," he added.
The Axiom-4 mission features an international crew from the United States, India. Poland and Hungary.
Former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, Peggy Whitson, will command the commercial mission, and ISRO astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will serve as pilot.
The private mission also carries ESA (European Space Agency) project astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary.
The SpaceX, in a post on X, said that the Dragon’s hatch was closed, the suit checks were completed successfully and the seats are rotated as the crew is all set for the launch.
"Dragon’s hatch is closed, all communication and suit checks are complete, the seats are rotated, and the Ax-4 crew is ready for launch," SpaceX wrote in a post on X.
The crew of Commander Peggy Whitson, Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla, and Mission Specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski and Tibor Kamu are aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft as the launch is set to take place from Kennedy Space Centre’s Complex 39A at around noon.
WATCH LIVE
Watch Falcon 9 launch Dragon and @Axiom_Space's Ax-4 mission to the @Space_Stationhttps://t.co/OJYRpM5JCF
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) June 25, 2025
After multiple delays since the initial launch of May 29, the Axiom-4 Mission is finally set to take off on Wednesday (June 25).
SpaceX, in a post on X, said that the systems were "looking good" for the launch and the weather is 90 per cent favourable for lift off.
"All systems are looking good for Wednesday’s launch of @Axiom_Space’s Ax-4 mission to the @Space_Station and weather is 90% favorable for liftoff," SpaceX said in a post.
All systems are looking good for Wednesday’s launch of @Axiom_Space’s Ax-4 mission to the @Space_Station and weather is 90% favorable for liftoff. Webcast starts at 12:30 a.m. ET → https://t.co/6RXoybzInVpic.twitter.com/988o685PVF
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) June 24, 2025
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