The mission’s spacecraft will dock with the ISS on Thursday after a 28-hour journey. Once aboard, the astronauts will spend 14 days conducting over 60 scientific experiments
India’s Shubhanshu Shukla scripted history by embarking on a space odyssey along with three others to the International Space Station as part of a commercial mission by Axiom Space on Wednesday, 41 years after astronaut Rakesh Sharma’s spaceflight onboard a Russian spacecraft.
SpaceX’s Falcon-9 rocket blasted off from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida at 12:01 pm IST carrying the astronauts of the Axiom-4 mission towards the ISS amid cheers from watch parties organised across the world, including at Shukla’s City Montessori School in Lucknow where his parents witnessed the historic launch.
The astronauts began orbiting the Earth 10 minutes after the launch, prompting Shukla to announce India’s return to human spaceflight after 41 years.
The Axiom-4 mission, which also includes veteran astronaut and mission commander Peggy Whitson, Poland’s Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski, and Hungary’s Tibor Kapu, lifted off at 12:01 pm IST to rousing applause across the globe. Among the most emotional scenes were those at City Montessori School in Lucknow, where Shukla’s proud parents and school community watched the live launch with teary eyes and hopeful hearts.
Roughly ten minutes post-launch, the Dragon capsule successfully entered orbit, circling the Earth at a speed of 7.5 kilometres per second and an altitude of 200 kilometres.
“It was a great ride,” Shukla remarked from space, shortly after the spacecraft was confirmed to be in stable orbit. Speaking in Hindi, he added, “Namaskar, my dear countrymen; we have reached space after 41 years.”
“This is not just my journey to the ISS, but the beginning of India’s human spaceflight journey,” Shukla said, donning a flight suit adorned with the Indian tricolour. “I hope every citizen joins in as we embark on this new chapter together.”
The mission’s spacecraft, named Grace, is scheduled to dock with the ISS around 4:30 pm IST on Thursday after a 28-hour journey. Once aboard, the astronauts will spend 14 days conducting over 60 scientific experiments focused on human physiology, space technology, and Earth observation.
In a nod to cultural pride, the crew also brought along traditional foods from their home countries. Shukla will be sharing Indian curry and rice, paired with mango nectar, while his colleagues brought Hungarian paprika paste and Polish pierogies.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has lauded the “indomitable spirit” of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who is piloting the Axiom 4 Mission that lifted off to the International Space Station from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on Wednesday.
Taking to its social media platform X, the IAF wrote, “From conquering the skies to touching the stars — a journey powered by the indomitable spirit of the IAF Air Warrior.”
The Air Force remembered Squadron Leader Rakesh Sharma’s space odyssey and called it a ‘dèja-vu moment for India’.
“Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla sets forth on a landmark Space Mission, carrying the pride of the nation beyond Earth. This is a dèja-vu moment for India, 41 years after the mission of Sqn Ldr Rakesh Sharma, who first carried our Tricolour beyond Earth,” the post read.
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the successful launch of the Axiom 4 mission and stated that Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is carrying the wishes, hopes and aspirations of 1.4 billion Indian citizens.
PM Modi said that Group Captain Shukla will be the first Indian to go to the International Space Station and also lauded the astronauts from Hungary, Poland and the US.
“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 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!” PM Narendra Modi’s ‘X’ post read.
Earlier, Union Minister Jitendra Singh lauded the successful lift off of Axiom 4 mission piloted by Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla stating that “India’s ascent to the pedestal of Viksit Bharat has started via space.”
“Congratulations Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla — you are the first Indian Astronaut 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,” the Union Minister said in a post on X .
